WDFW rejects eletronic duck calls, but expands elk hunting

[woodywsu]

NEWS RELEASE
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/
April 16, 2012
Contact: Commission Office, (360) 902-2267
WDFW Wildlife Program, (360) 902-2515
Commission expands elk hunting,
rejects electronic duck decoys
OLYMPIA - New hunting rules approved by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission for the 2012-14 seasons will expand hunting opportunities for elk and cougar, but leave intact the statewide ban on using electronic decoys to attract waterfowl.
The commission, a nine-member citizen panel that sets policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), took action on those and dozens of other proposed rules during a public meeting March 13-14 in Olympia.
With most of the state's 10 elk herds increasing in size, the commission increased the number of bull-elk permits for the Nooksack, Blue Mountain and Yakima herds. Permits for antlerless elk were also increased in the Blue Mountain, Yakima, and Colockum areas.
In addition, a day was added to the general season for elk hunters using modern firearms in western Washington, giving those hunters a total of 12 days in the field this year.
"The health of our elk herds has shown real improvement since 2001, when the department started developing management plans specific to each herd," said Commission Chair Miranda Wecker. "Most of our elk herds are now at or near the population goals established under those plans."
The commission also expanded hunting seasons for cougar, reflecting changes in laws and management models for the species. Starting Sept. 1, the general hunting season will run through March 31 statewide, so long as harvest guidelines are not exceeded.
In addition, the commission added two landowners to the state's Landowner Hunting Permit Program, which sets terms for special hunts on participants' property. With the new additions in Spokane and Walla Walla counties, nine landowners are now enrolled in the program, all of them in eastern Washington.
But the commission rejected a proposal to lift the statewide ban on using electronic decoys to attract waterfowl. Also not adopted was a proposal to allow the use of illuminated arrow nocks, which make it easier for bow hunters to recover their arrows. The commission did, however, indicate a willingness to revisit that issue next year.
"The commission has struggled with the issue of allowing new technologies in hunting," Wecker said. "It raises questions of fair chase, equal opportunity among hunters and the very tradition of the sport. The commission has to uphold those standards, and some of us believe we have to draw the line at the use of electronics."
All of the changes approved by the commission will be posted on WDFW's website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/ ) and incorporated into the state's 2012 Big Game pamphlet, available later this month.
In other business, the commission approved a request by WDFW to purchase 1,144 acres along Asotin Creek in Asotin County and 49 acres on the Methow River in Okanogan County to maintain habitat for fish and wildlife.
Both properties support salmon and bull trout populations listed for protection under federal endangered species laws. The Asotin property also features shrub-steppe habitat beneficial to sharp-tailed grouse, elk, and bighorn sheep.
Also approved was a Statement on Wolves in Washington, developed by the commission to guide WDFW's implementation of the state's wolf plan. The final statement will be posted later this week on the commission's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/ . 
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[grundy53]

Well it looks like there will be a bunch of folk with their panties in a bunch.... as well as a lot of folk that are pleasantly surprised... lol

[dreamingbig]

WOW! They voted down illuminated nocks!

[bobcat]

Well, not allowing illuminocks and electronic waterfowl decoys is a big surprise, at least to me.

[grundy53]

Well, not allowing illuminocks and electronic waterfowl decoys is a big surprise, at least to me.

I agree. I think most thought it was a forgone conclusion... which is why I think there will be quite a few folks pleasantly surprised...

[pendoreilleadventures]

Surprised me

[Curly]

Did they decide whether or not they will allow archery gear during ML season?

[bobcat]

Did they decide whether or not they will allow archery gear during ML season?

I'm sure the change was adopted since there wasn't any opposition to it.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

“The commission has struggled with the issue of allowing new technologies in hunting,” Wecker said. “It raises questions of fair chase, equal opportunity among hunters and the very tradition of the sport. The commission has to uphold those standards, and some of us believe we have to draw the line at the use of electronics.”


I think I really like the Commission chairperson Ms Wecker....

[bearpaw]

I wonder what happened with the bull elk season in the Colockum.

[huntnphool]

I think I really like the Commission chairperson Ms Wecker....

 Even though they added a day to the modern elk season but didn't give back the day taken from archery?

[NWWABOWHNTR]

I think I really like the Commission chairperson Ms Wecker....

 Even though they added a day to the modern elk season but didn't give back the day taken from archery?

It took the modern firearm guys over 5 years to get there season back to its original length, hopefully we can get our day back sooner, and also set our early season start date back to where it was previously. 

[cryfowl]

"The commission has struggled with the issue of allowing new technologies in hunting," Wecker said. "It raises questions of fair chase, equal opportunity among hunters and the very tradition of the sport. The commission has to uphold those standards, and some of us believe we have to draw the line at the use of electronics."

Hmmmmm?  If we held to tradition I would be hunting with a black powder shotgun and over live decoys.  Times change and so has our equipment.  Semi auto guns, blow molded decoys and state of the art camo has improved our sport.  Electronic decoys is just the next step.  Disappointed as usual.

And the illuminated nocks? Really?  How is there an unfair advantage to finding your arrow after you shoot it?    Once again Wa takes a back seat to every other State in the nation.

I was always told common sense rules the world.......but apparently ignorance is what it takes to write the laws that govern it.

[Snapshot]

Once again Wa takes a back seat to every other State in the nation.

I respectfully disagree. I think Washington is one of the handful of states in the nation with the intestinal fortitude to stand on principled values instead of opening it's legs to anything that is thrown at it. My hat is off to Chairwoman Wecker and the commissioners who upheld the current, hard won rule that prohibits electronics in archery hunting. I'm going to the local watering hole to raise a Quilter's Irish Death (brewed in Ellensburg, thus supporting local economy) to the commission!

[JLS]

Once again Wa takes a back seat to every other State in the nation.

I respectfully disagree. I think Washington is one of the handful of states in the nation with the intestinal fortitude to stand on principled values instead of opening it's legs to anything that is thrown at it. My hat is off to Chairwoman Wecker and the commissioners who upheld the current, hard won rule that prohibits electronics in archery hunting. I'm going to the local watering hole to raise a Quilter's Irish Death (brewed in Ellensburg, thus supporting local economy) to the commission!

WA is one of more than a few states that do not allow illuminated nocks.

[MtnMuley]

I think Washington is one of the handful of states in the nation with the intestinal fortitude to stand on principled values instead of opening it's legs to anything that is thrown at it.

That's the funniest crock of chit I've read in a while.  I will tip one of Golden Colorado's finest to that though.

[buckfvr]

That may be a bit far reaching, Dale...... Even though I will remain in support of equipment status quo for archery, I have to disagree and point out that I think the States legs are stuck open.......

[Wea300mag]

I'm waiting to see all these extra permits they are going to offer. My guess in the Nooksack will get 1 or 2 more permits which also means the Natives will get the same.

[bobcat]

If you want to see the permits for this year you can look at the proposals:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/2012/wsr_12-04-098.pdf

[Wea300mag]

If you want to see the permits for this year you can look at the proposals:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/2012/wsr_12-04-098.pdf

I don't see any difference in the Nooksack permits???

[bobcat]

If you want to see the permits for this year you can look at the proposals:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/2012/wsr_12-04-098.pdf

I don't see any difference in the Nooksack permits???

I don't pay much attention to Nooksack but I believe the numbers in the proposals are the numbers they accepted.

[3Under]

I think I really like the Commission chairperson Ms Wecker....

 Even though they added a day to the modern elk season but didn't give back the day taken from archery?

Maybe if we spent more time lobbying for better seasons rather than relaxing equipment restrictions, we would get that day back?     If we can avoid bickering with each other over divisive issues and stand together on the ones that will benefit all bowhunters, we might actually get somewhere.

[Rainier10]

I think I really like the Commission chairperson Ms Wecker....

 Even though they added a day to the modern elk season but didn't give back the day taken from archery?

Maybe if we spent more time lobbying for better seasons rather than relaxing equipment restrictions, we would get that day back?     If we can avoid bickering with each other over divisive issues and stand together on the ones that will benefit all bowhunters, we might actually get somewhere.

One line of thinking is that the lighted nock thing was just a red herring to keep people talking about that instead of fighting to get the day back of archery season.  Lighted nock guys said if we can get this passed we can worry about the extra day next time.  In the end no lighted nock and no extra day.  Mission accomplished, divide and conquer.  The commistion did say they will revisit the lighted nock issue next year, translation keep our minds occupied with that instead of getting the day of the season back.  Just my 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I don't think we should stop at a day archery  hunters should have longer seasons period.  And they should also have the same or greater options as far as special hunts go.  It is sad when a unit offers a late season buck tag for rifle hunters, but nothing for bow hunters.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

sounds like more of the same to me.
As an Archer who does not really care what kind of equipment you use, I am still reluctant to allow electronics.
Just to  a little, how many of the states that do allow them (Electric lumenocs), also have a "case law" where all bows must be cased during non-hunting hours ?

[CoryTDF]

It may be time to move out of the Communist Republic of Washington..... Wonder what they decided to do about spotlighting coyotes???

[bobcat]

It may be time to move out of the Communist Republic of Washington..... Wonder what they decided to do about spotlighting coyotes???

Nothing was changed with the night hunting rules, if that's what you mean.

[bobcat]

Here's a post of mine from another thread:

If you go to the agenda they have posted for the March meeting, and click on the pdf summary, you will find an agency response in there in reply to some of the comments they received from hunters who were not in favor of the proposed night hunting rules.

Here is that response:

Thank you for your thoughts. We received a
significant amount of comment on this
regulation, and as a result, we have modified our
recommendation. We are no longer
recommending this proposal even though we
continue to have significant concerns. It is just
too easy for a deer or elk spot-lighter to claim
they are hunting something else.
The caliber restrictions were designed to make it
possible for legitimate predator and raccoon
hunters to continue their hunting. It was also our
intent that the distance from a vehicle restriction
would balance the legitimate predator hunter’s
needs while creating a greater impediment for
deer and elk spot lighters

[CoryTDF]

Here's a post of mine from another thread:

If you go to the agenda they have posted for the March meeting, and click on the pdf summary, you will find an agency response in there in reply to some of the comments they received from hunters who were not in favor of the proposed night hunting rules.

Here is that response:

Thank you for your thoughts. We received a
significant amount of comment on this
regulation, and as a result, we have modified our
recommendation. We are no longer
recommending this proposal even though we
continue to have significant concerns. It is just
too easy for a deer or elk spot-lighter to claim
they are hunting something else.
The caliber restrictions were designed to make it
possible for legitimate predator and raccoon
hunters to continue their hunting. It was also our
intent that the distance from a vehicle restriction
would balance the legitimate predator hunter’s
needs while creating a greater impediment for
deer and elk spot lighters

Thank GOD! It was never going to stop poachers in the first place. You leave you house with a light and the mindset to kill a deer or elk you have already decided that your going to break the law. Creating a new one was not going to solve that. Plus the shotgun rules was borderline inhumane. Nothing bigger than #6??? That is just stupid!