Hello all this is a response I received from our friends

at the DFW the email I sent them is at the bottom of the column. It looks like we will be stuck with this law until 2015 thanks to some special interest groups. Also this is the first time I have ever posted anything on a forum so forgive me if I did it wrong. Just posting to see what else you folks think.
P.S. If anyone know any of the organized groups that were for this I would like to contact them to ask why they wanted to see this implemented.
Thank You for contacting the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Please forgive our delayed response.
The Fish and Wildlife Commission supported a request from several
organized northeast Washington hunting groups and county commissioners
to implement a four-point antler restriction for white-tailed deer in
Game Management Units 117 and 121.
Between 2008 and 2011, we have received a lot of input from hunters on
this issue. Opinion has always been divided and the split depends on
the group and location. Both sides have been very passionate. The
bottom line is that several organized hunting groups in the northeast
asked for antler point restrictions for many years and the Commission
supported their local request.
We don't expect the antler point restrictions to have any negative
consequences for white-tailed deer conservation and management. We do
anticipate increased yearling buck survival. We have also restricted
antlerless hunting opportunity significantly to allow the population
to rebound more quickly from the winters of 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Just as with all game species - the Department will be assessing the
status of the northeast white-tailed deer population in making future
recommendations on hunting seasons. However, as a newly adopted
change for 2011, the Department does not plan to revisit the antler
point restriction issue this summer during the development of the
2012-14 season setting process.
Sincerely,
Customer Service Section
Wildlife Program
360-902-2515
My email to DFW.......
Hello, I just wanted to give you my 2 cents about the new antler minimum for the 117 and 121 game units. I have lived in Stevens County for most of my life and hunted our family farm and surrounding areas in southwest end of the county. I did notice the deer population was down from years past but I do not feel that it was down far enough for the state to implement a four point minimum. Starting with a three point minimum is in my opinion far more realistic but I feel that it is still not necessary. As a general rule for my family and friends we only allow people to shoot 3 points or higher on our farm unless they are a young hunter. Ultimately I feel that this will hurt some of the sates revenue and small towns around the 117 and 121 game units because they are known to be some of the highest producers of deer in the State of Washington. Also you can see from your 2010 harvest report that 4 points and 3 point were the most commonly harvested animals in the 117 and 121 units. I think I speak for most hunters when I say that we want to shoot mature deer and not one year old bucks. With any luck the state will see the population is not in any danger and will also see that a lot of hunters did not buy tags and hunt the 117 and 121 game units.
Respectfully