Hunting with a bow during muzzleloader season

[washelkhunter]

Word for Word out of the proposed regs:

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).

Does WAC just designate what "class of equipment is acceptable".

[fair-chase]

Yeah, I was reading the same thing. Somehow I was thinking that the WAC cited after "or archer equipment" was a direct reference to the rule change itself. I think it's time for bed when I can read the exact same thing and not comprehend it.   

Sending out emails and calls in the morning Washelkhunter.

[washelkhunter]

Yeah, I was reading the same thing. Somehow I was thinking that the WAC cited after "or archer equipment" was a direct reference to the rule change itself. I think it's time for bed when I can read the exact same thing and not comprehend it.   

Sending out emails and calls in the morning Washelkhunter.

Right on Dude! And thank you again. Im all about fair chase. 

[BAR C3]

Look if they are going to allow archery into ML then we might as well do away with the 3 seasons right? Im ok with that. lets go back to the way it used to be back in the day. Hunt the last week of oct and the first 2 weeks of nov for both deer and elk; and you hunt with whatever weapon you want. hunt with a friggin spear for all i care. But given the way it is now. Choose your weapon and stay in the designated season! Stop trying to poach the other guys time. Its unnecessary and its down right selfish.   I wont have any influence? I already am and because i care about it i will win on behalf of the ML community. This encroachment is just plain wrong and frankly i would expect a universal rejection of such by the upstanding archers in this state. You are out there am i right?

Not sure who your directing this at, but I don't agree with it. I think it's BS. I don't support anything this game department does. They manage people not game. As far as me poaching your time, no worries! I will hunt in my backyard if this passes. I will screw myself for hunting in some other areas, but with gas as much as it is, I will take what I can get. I'm just stating facts. I know guys will take advantage of your dates. I was a muzzleloader and when they started taking hunting time, I went to archery. Alot less archers then. Now everyone watches these hunting show thinking Lee and Tiffany, Primos and etc.. are out hunting hard for these trophies. Everyone bought a bow. You guys probably have the least amount of hunters until the game department pulled this.

[dreamingbig]

Yeah, I was reading the same thing. Somehow I was thinking that the WAC cited after "or archer equipment" was a direct reference to the rule change itself. I think it's time for bed when I can read the exact same thing and not comprehend it.   

Sending out emails and calls in the morning Washelkhunter.

. I still don't know how you guys didn't see this when it first came out? 

[Snapshot]

Can you say, "Head in the sand"?

[bobcat]

Yeah, I was reading the same thing. Somehow I was thinking that the WAC cited after "or archer equipment" was a direct reference to the rule change itself. I think it's time for bed when I can read the exact same thing and not comprehend it.   

Sending out emails and calls in the morning Washelkhunter.

. I still don't know how you guys didn't see this when it first came out? 

You might notice that I started this thread on February 19th. I didn't see washelkhunter post anything in this thread until today! And now it's 5 weeks past the deadline to provide public comments, and he wants to send in his complaints.   

[washelkhunter]

Can you say, "Head in the sand"?

Can you say full time employment and better things to do than try to be parasites on another user groups allocated season!

Bobcat.   In the future we would all appreciate your putting a deadline for response on your new threads. That way those of us who attempt to join in can just be shut out and not have to risk stepping on anyones delicate toes. Thank you.

[ing]

When can we start hunting with a rifle during archery season???  I'm ready..

[bobcat]

Bobcat.   In the future we would all appreciate your putting a deadline for response on your new threads. That way those of us who attempt to join in can just be shut out and not have to risk stepping on anyones delicate toes. Thank you.

I'm not sure I get what you're saying but you're free to post in this thread whenever you want. Bring it back up to the top 6 months from now if you want, and post in it again. What I found funny is that February 21st was the deadline for public comments on the 2012-2014 hunting seasons and rules. Today is March 30th and you are wanting to write letters to the WDFW and various politicians regarding this issue.

I don't know how I can make it any more clear:  YOU MISSED THE DEADLINE!

[Snapshot]

Never was I more busy defending hunting opportunity than when I was not only working my full-time job but also raising up my two kids (now both in their twenties and living elsewhere), taking them places & being there for them. I was sleeping damn little largely because I didn't grow apathetic towards paying attention to what was going on in the world of hunting politics. I threw out that "head in the sand" remark because I've long observed  that most hunters are completely apathetic towards this sort of thing until they get bit in the butt. And even then most just complain about it after the fact. I commend that you've rolled your sleeves up and taken some action; and yet I won't be surprised if the response that comes back is something like, "The public comment period was run according to law and is closed on the matter."

[bobcat]

Never was I more busy defending hunting opportunity

I'm not sure what your position is on this particular issue, if you've said I don't recall-  But, here they are giving us hunters MORE opportunity and some want to complain about it. The WDFW has a tough job because no matter what they do, people are going to complain.

This was done, I am sure, because hunters requested it. I've read many complaints on here in the past from people that didn't like that they couldn't use their archery equipment during muzzleloader season. The WDFW listened to those people and made a change for only one reason- it is what their "customers" wanted. It's kind of hard to fault them for that.

[Snapshot]

This issue doesn't affect me, Bobcat, because I'll never hunt outside the archery season so long as there is an archery season to hunt.

True, the department is damned if they do, damned if they don't, because they can't please everyone. And I believe you are right that they are simply catering to their top-dollar customers.

[washelkhunter]

What i find confusing is that you have the nerve to backhand me for being proactive on an issue that concerns ML. I reread all the posts and you didnt bother to mention a deadline until the middle of page 5. And then you have the nerve to post this:

(I'm not sure I get what you're saying but you're free to post in this thread whenever you want. Bring it back up to the top 6 months from now if you want, and post in it again. What I found funny is that February 21st was the deadline for public comments on the 2012-2014 hunting seasons and rules. Today is March 30th and you are wanting to write letters to the WDFW and various politicians regarding this issue.

I don't know how I can make it any more clear:  YOU MISSED THE DEADLINE)

I may have missed the official comment period but i still have time to change this misguided addition. Why because the regs have yet to be published, and even if they are i can still halt it afterwards for further review hopefully by the legislature. ML season is for ML's period. If you archers really want to open a can of worms maybe well just ask for a quid pro quo. Im a ML and im disabled and i want to hunt archery season. I guess you archers will be cool with that right?

[dreamingbig]

Im a ML and im disabled and i want to hunt archery season. I guess you archers will be cool with that right?

Sure, you are welcome to pick up a bow or a cross bow (since you are disabled) and join us!  I think the spirit is that you should be allowed to hunt with an equal or lesser weapon than the season provided.  The archery members on the GMAC did not push for this change to happen so it is unclear where it came from.  My best gues is that they thought it would provide incentive for more archery hunters to apply for the multiple season tag as most archery hunters won't hunt with a muzzleloader or rifle.  Some do but the majority will not.

For your information, the process is the same every year with public comments due in Feburuary with meeting in March and final in early April.  Mark your calendar now for next year!  Good luck getting anything to change at this time.