Hunting with a bow during muzzleloader season

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Other than those who are dedicated bowhunters, who might have relatives theyt wish to hunt with that are muzzleloaders.  I pulled the multi season tag last year... and now if I ever do it again I will hunt all 3 seasons with my 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.

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.

I don't know but I always here bowhunters complaining about how ML seasons are the best for elk, but they don't want to switch to ML because they love bowhunting so much.  I would expect that a bunch of those guys would want to switch..........    

It is not one of the issues that I'm dead set with my opinion.........I sure won't be complaining to WDFW if they do make the change.

[JimmyHoffa]

Agree Curly.  I hear how many want to hunt the first week of Oct. 
Last look for elk:  25% bought archery tags, 12% bought ML tags, and 63% MF.  I used numbers from harvest reports.  I would wonder if enough people moved to another season if they would move season days over too. 

[dreamingbig]

If they don't make a few changes to the early archery season I am very much considering buying a muzzleloader tag and hunting with my bow.  The season length and timing is very appealing and the opportunity is growing (chances of drawing are not a lot worse than archery is some units); besides trying to shoot a spike only is a lot easier with a muzzleloader than a bow.

I was wondering how long it would take for this rule change to surface.  I do think that it caters nicely to the multiple season permit.

[Fullabull]

I like the idea, I would love to hunt with my bow during ML season. Better rutting dates 

[et1702]

I have already booked an out of state Archery bull elk pack-in hunt (i.e., don't think I have enough points to pull a Quality Bull tag here), and was considering applying for ML this year in WA.  If I can hunt with my bow or my ML, it makes the option a win-win!  I'll definitely be applying for ML too.

[Jrzbullelk]

Sorry to change the subject a little but I wonder why they don't let people hunt with a crossbow during ML season any ideas 

[bobcat]

Sorry to change the subject a little but I wonder why they don't let people hunt with a crossbow during ML season any ideas 

It's probably just a question that's never been asked. If they start getting people asking for a change, then it might happen.

[Skyvalhunter]

To guess why they don't allow it would only be throwing out assumptions at this point. If you are a disabled hunter with a crossbow special use permit you can hunt with a crossbow during a season that allows archery equipment

[deleted BGS]

Big deal,  isnt archery supposed to be harder than a ml anyway? I have done both and see nothing wrong with it, what reasons do you people not like this? I am curious to your reasons

[fair-chase]

Big deal,  isnt archery supposed to be harder than a ml anyway? I have done both and see nothing wrong with it, what reasons do you people not like this? I am curious to your reasons

Draw odds on quality ML permits will drop dramatically if this is allowed to happen. Currently muzzle loaders are the smallest user group by far, hence less competition for the draws. In addition if harvest levels increase during ML season as a result of archers joining in then I would expect the season to be shortened with fewer opportunities as well. Of course with the increased number of multi season tags available this is probably inevitable anyways.

[JimmyHoffa]

I think that the muzzle loader hunters also have the least amount of GMUs available to them.  So you might be able to expect the crowding to increase.

[bobcat]

Big deal,  isnt archery supposed to be harder than a ml anyway? I have done both and see nothing wrong with it, what reasons do you people not like this? I am curious to your reasons

Draw odds on quality ML permits will drop dramatically if this is allowed to happen. Currently muzzle loaders are the smallest user group by far, hence less competition for the draws. In addition if harvest levels increase during ML season as a result of archers joining in then I would expect the season to be shortened with fewer opportunities as well. Of course with the increased number of multi season tags available this is probably inevitable anyways.

I sure wouldn't expect an increase in harvest success rates. Why would that happen? I could possibly see the harvest numbers increasing, if there is an increase in the number of hunters, but the success rate should not increase.

How many archery hunters are really going to buy a muzzleloader tag anyway? I don't think very many.

[dreamingbig]

I think the increase will be through the multi-season permit but it will be limited.  There are a lot of bowhunters that didn't hunt during the muzzleloader season previously when they had the multi-season permit.  I had the deer multi twice and my dad once we didn't hunt the muzzleloader season but would now.

The muzzleloader elk season is very intriguing especially if you hunt out of state for archery elk and then come back and hunt muzzie season in October with your bow.  Another possible increase.

[bobcat]

It works out well for me this year, with one of the units I hunt being open for late archery deer and late muzzleloader elk at the same time, I can hunt with my bow and be legal for both deer and elk. Without the change in the law, I would have to pick one or the other.