new proposals are out

[bearpaw]

I have used my 220 swift on big game in other states and it is lethal......

Maybe I am reading it wrong, but I took those rules to apply year around for night hunting?

[Fowlweather25]

That's how I took it.

[Bob33]

I think the rule is flawed, one way or the other.  I do think there is more to it that what appears obvious.  I am speculating that the restriction on shot size is not based in any way on lethal killing power for coyotes.  It may be safety related, or my suspicion is that it's enforcement based because it appears they have lifted the ban on night hunting during September, October, and November.

We all have to remember these are not final.  There are often errors in the preliminary regulations that are later corrected, in some cases after the "final" regulations are released.

I'm looking at the bulk of the changes as positive, and want to credit WDFW for doing some good things for hunting.  I will also forward comments to them where I don't agree or think further clarification is necessary.

[bullcanyon]

Is there much chance any of these proposals will change? Dang it these idiots have me mad. Still strongly considering not buying my license this season. Idaho might get all my money this season. Heck I can take my kids over there for not much more than here.

[hughjorgan]

Is there much chance any of these proposals will change? Dang it these idiots have me mad. Still strongly considering not buying my license this season. Idaho might get all my money this season. Heck I can take my kids over there for not much more than here.

Make sure to let them know you don't like there proposals at wildthing@dfw.wa.gov

[bullcanyon]

Trust me. I've been sending emails out since I read this.

[carpsniperg2]

I just spent about a hr working on a letter to wdfw on the new proposals for night hunting. The changes are not going to help anything and limit the amount of coyotes taken. They had it right. No spotlighting during the months of deer and elk seasons. If someone is already breaking the rules and they get caught then they are up to no good. I have taken well over 200 coyotes with legal use of a spotlight in this state. Helping deer numbers/upland birds and many other game animals and birds. With these rule changes they are only hurting the honest guys that do things right. There is hundreds of yotes killed a year by spotlight in this state maybe even more. You let those yotes live and see the added number of game birds and big game animals affected by them. Very poor move by wdfw and for them to use " so we can determine who is using legal spotlighting" as a factor to write these new changes to the law. Give me a break. ITS VERY EASY to know when people are breaking the law when spotlighting. Heck if you have one on during certain times of the year you are already breaking the law if you are hunting. How could it be any more clear then that I tell you I am getting tired of the avg joe that does thing the legal way paying the price because some desk jokey thinks they know how the laws will help. People that have no idea and have no real clue as to the results of there dumb laws.

A few of our tracks of ground are next to release sites for pheasant. I call a lot on these areas and hit them hard during the times of year when it is legal to spotlight. I have taken many yotes out of areas where they would be hunting those birds 24/7. You think I am going to burn my time and gas money targeting those areas over others to help protect the birds they release for the hunters and the pheasant population now? HELL NO! What do I care if a yote decides to make a meal out of those state paid for birds. If they are going to take away and limit my rights to harvest coyotes of all animals then they will get no help from me controlling them in areas that benefit there released birds.

[grundy53]

Weapons - Any weapon should be legal. Under this ridiculous proposal if I go coyote hunting during the day with my .257, when it gets dark I would have to go home and get a .22 or shotgun with inneffective shot size that will only lame a coyote or raccoon. This is about as ignorant as a proposal could be, who is the idiot who thinks this *censored* up. 

Obviously, the person who thought this up, is not a hunter, and does not know anything about hunting and firearms.

 

[grundy53]

I think they are limiting the night hunts like this on purpose. Make it too much of a pain in the butt and require inadequate shot and many people will quit hunting at night. This is how you stop night hunting with out banning it and causing an uproar...

[Bob33]

Make it too much of a pain in the butt and require inadequate shot and many people will quit hunting at night.

Wouldn't that imply that the person who thought it up knows something about firearms and hunting? 

[grundy53]

Make it too much of a pain in the butt and require inadequate shot and many people will quit hunting at night.

Wouldn't that imply that the person who thought it up knows something about firearms and hunting? 

yes. At first glance I thought it was a lack of knowledge and/or incompetence. But the more I think about it I think it's all by design...

[dreamingbig]

I see they are pushing the Archers further from the rut each year. Elk is starting on 4th and ends on 16. I believe in 2014 it's starts the 2nd of September.
For late season whitetail, added another day past peak. Went from November 24th to 25th each year. 

I
could be wrong but I think the next year after the three mentioned will jump back to the 7th or 8th.   (Day after laborious day)
Next year the 3rd then2 nd then1st.......then 7th

Nope, they are proposing it always be the monday after labor which is the 2nd in 2014.  Absolute garbage.  And they didn't give the day back (only 13 days) and GMU 356 still getting the shaft with no cows for archery (btw giving out 10 cow permits for modern/muzzle).  Take, take, take and no give.  This state sucks.  I keep telling them so but they don't change their minds.  Man, I am saving my pennies for an out of state over the counter backcountry hunt where they care about more than just MONEY!

[dreamingbig]

I see they are pushing the Archers further from the rut each year. Elk is starting on 4th and ends on 16. I believe in 2014 it's starts the 2nd of September.
For late season whitetail, added another day past peak. Went from November 24th to 25th each year. 

The early archery elk is currently set as the first Tuesday after Labor Day, instead of the 8th like it was previous to 2009.  If you don't like it... which most of us don't start sending emails NOW to Dave Ware, Jerry Nelson and everyone else at the WDFW.

Yeah that.  I am sending one to each of them every day until the comment period ends!

[Special T]

I would say this is by design... Here are the less than deviouse reasons for it tho.
Helps law inforcement... They are trying to make it easier to catch poatchers and make it easier to identify and enforce.

Helps keep hunting less visable. No lights means less ability for people tell its going on.

Good legislation is hard to write. They obviously have not talked to any hunters if thier motivation is pure. Pretty stupid... so it leaves me, and other hunters suspect as to the motives.
   

[Gringo31]

The next "phase" is to give permits to what they take away....

Special tags for special seasons

or

Maybe a "spotlighting" permit? 

I'm with Carp on this one....I spotlight a fair amount of coyotes as they get pretty brazen around livestock at night.