Hunting with a bow during muzzleloader season

[Bob33]

It's not just hearsay.  Read the proposed regulations here:  http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/2012/wsr_12-04-098.pdf

Both deer and elk now specify that archery equipment ("bow and arrow" for elk) are legal.  However, there is conflicting information for deer since it states that hunting method is "muzzleloader only". When the final regulations come out I suspect this will be cleaned up.

MUZZLELOADER DEER SEASONS
Hunting Method: Muzzleloader only.
Special Notes: Muzzleloader tag holders can only hunt during muzzleloader seasons and must hunt with muzzleloader equipment (WAC 232-12-051) or archery equipment (WAC 232-12-054).


Muzzleloader General Elk Seasons
Hunting Method: Muzzleloader as defined under WAC 232-12-051 or bow and arrow as defined under WAC 232-12-054.

[Wildsau]

It's bad enough having to contend with Muzzies during late season.  Nothing against Muzzy Hunters, but they hunt a lot different than Archery, as do MF.  I have been sitting in a stand, during late season elk, and all of a sudden it sounded like WWIII had broken out.  Too lound for my taste.  Sorry.

You hunt with a muzzleloader during late season and don't like to contend with the other muzzleloader hunters? I don't get it? Why don't you switch to bow hunting then?

Bobcat, have another cup of coffee and re-read what I wrote.  Having to contend with Muzzies has to mean that I am not a Muzzy Hunter.  In fact I don't have any MFa or MLs, here in the USA; they are all in Germany.  I hunt, here, with my bow.  I would hunt Europe with my bow, but most countries don't allow it; yet. 

[bobcat]

Thanks Bob, I guess I didn't look close enough. That will be great for me. I can purchase a muzzleloader tag, and hunt the private property during muzzleloader season with my bow. That helps in my decision as to whether or not to apply for the multi-season deer tag. I think this just saved me $180.

[bobcat]

It's bad enough having to contend with Muzzies during late season.  Nothing against Muzzy Hunters, but they hunt a lot different than Archery, as do MF.  I have been sitting in a stand, during late season elk, and all of a sudden it sounded like WWIII had broken out.  Too lound for my taste.  Sorry.

You hunt with a muzzleloader during late season and don't like to contend with the other muzzleloader hunters? I don't get it? Why don't you switch to bow hunting then?

Bobcat, have another cup of coffee and re-read what I wrote.  Having to contend with Muzzies has to mean that I am not a Muzzy Hunter.  In fact I don't have any MFa or MLs, here in the USA; they are all in Germany.  I hunt, here, with my bow.  I would hunt Europe with my bow, but most countries don't allow it; yet. 

How did you know I've only had one cup of coffee?   

Sorry but I still don't really get what you're saying. If you hunt archery season how do the muzzleloader hunters affect you? Is the unit you hunt open for both at the same time?

[Bob33]

Thanks Bob, I guess I didn't look close enough. That will be great for me. I can purchase a muzzleloader tag, and hunt the private property during muzzleloader season with my bow. That helps in my decision as to whether or not to apply for the multi-season deer tag. I think this just saved me $180.

You can send the $180 check to me.  Heck - I'll even be nice and accept just half of it.

I think this is another case of WDFW listening to hunters.  Good for them.

[JimmyHoffa]

So how many of the archers will be after multi-season tags?  That gives them a lot of season--all of them actually.  But at the same time I have to wonder how the seasons will shape up--currently the muzzy elk (early) units near me get really crowded--now mix in the archers.  Hopefully they would open up a few more areas to spread the hunters around.

[Wildsau]

bobcat; it was easy to see.  Based on some of your other comments, on other threads, you weren't thinking clearly, yet.

Have, yet another cup of ocffee, drain out the first two, and re-read what I wrote.  I wrote, "I have been sitting in a stand, during late season elk".

[bobcat]

bobcat; it was easy to see.  Based on some of your other comments, on other threads, you weren't thinking clearly, yet.

Have, yet another cup of ocffee, drain out the first two, and re-read what I wrote.  I wrote, "I have been sitting in a stand, during late season elk".

Seems you're the one needing a little more caffeine. You forgot to answer my question. Is the unit you hunt open for both archery and muzzleloader at the same time.? If not, what you're saying makes no sense.

[bobcat]

So how many of the archers will be after multi-season tags?  That gives them a lot of season--all of them actually.  But at the same time I have to wonder how the seasons will shape up--currently the muzzy elk (early) units near me get really crowded--now mix in the archers.  Hopefully they would open up a few more areas to spread the hunters around.

I doubt muzzleloader seasons would be any more crowded due to this. If a person is strictly a a bow hunter, they are still going to purchase an archery tag, and in that case, they will not be hunting during muzzleloader season.

[Curly]

So how many of the archers will be after multi-season tags?  That gives them a lot of season--all of them actually.  But at the same time I have to wonder how the seasons will shape up--currently the muzzy elk (early) units near me get really crowded--now mix in the archers.  Hopefully they would open up a few more areas to spread the hunters around.

I doubt muzzleloader seasons would be any more crowded due to this. If a person is strictly a bow hunter, they are still going to purchase an archery tag, and in that case, they will not be hunting during muzzleloader season.

If they have a multi-season permit they will be hunting the muzzleloader season.  I could see where some archers may not have a ML but could have a modern rifle so they would be hunting rifle seasons and archery seasons but skipping ML seasons; now those people will have the option of hunting all 3 seasons with their bow.

This decision could help increase multi-season permit sales.......(even though in your case it may cause you to not go with the ms permit; but your case is unusual I suspect).

[JimmyHoffa]

Bobcat, I guess it would depend on how important it is to hunt closer to the rut or a specific GMU. 
Also, there is season overlap.  GMU 621 allows all three tags in the wilderness during the high hunt, and I know 618 has late muzzy elk over the same days as late archery deer.

[bobcat]

Bobcat, I guess it would depend on how important it is to hunt closer to the rut or a specific GMU. 
Also, there is season overlap.  GMU 621 allows all three tags in the wilderness during the high hunt, and I know 618 has late muzzy elk over the same days as late archery deer.

Yes, everybody will have a different perspective on this depending on their particular situation. I could see this change making the multi-season tag more attractive to those who already hunt archery and modern firearm, but don't own a muzzleloader. It could make the $180 price tag a little easier to swallow, knowing that you'll get to hunt all three seasons, and not have to invest any money in muzzleloader equipment. Overall, I don't think this change will have any significant negative consequences.

[bobcat]

I guess this also gives the archery hunters who have been complaining about their elk season being too early, and that the muzzleloader season is at a better time.

I don't agree with that thinking, but for those who don't like the early archery elk seasons, they will now be free to buy a muzzleloader tag and hunt the "better" season with a bow.

[Curly]

I don't like the proposal myself.  There are so few ML units as it is and overcrowding (at least in elk season) that I don't like the idea of increasing any more numbers of hunters in the units.  Now if WDFW would open up some more units to ML hunters I could get behind this idea.

[whacker1]

I don't like the proposal myself.  There are so few ML units as it is and overcrowding (at least in elk season) that I don't like the idea of increasing any more numbers of hunters in the units.  Now if WDFW would open up some more units to ML hunters I could get behind this idea.

Do you think that many people will actually buy a muzzleloader tag to hunt in that unit with a bow.  I see a few situations like bobcat's situation where it is limited to a bow by the landowner.  But most of the time, it would be the same people utilizing a particular unit with the multi-season. 

I just don't see large numbers of people buying a muzzleloader tag with the intention of hunting with a bow.