Quality Elk vs Bull Elk Special Permit?

[Fireant11]

Can someone explain to me the definition of a "Quality Elk" hunt and the definition of "Bull Elk" hunt?   

I'm looking at the special permits and I'm scratching my head.  As an example, I archery hunt in the Rimrock GMU.  The archery and muzzle loader bull tags for Rimrock are considered "Quality Elk Hunts", yet the the modern firearm tag is considered a "Bull Elk Hunt" (yes, there is 1 tag for modern firearm that is in the "Quality Elk Hunt" section and it should be; it's a rut hunt with its own season, where no one else is hunting).

The archery, muzzle loader and modern firearm special permits are all during the general season for those weapons.  You don't have any advantage because you're not out with special permit holders only.   What makes the archery and muzzle loader "Quality Elk Hunts"? 

Since they tie the archery season to Labor Day, it pushes this season outside (before) the rut, so there's nothing more "Quality" about this hunt than modern firearm "Bull Elk" hunt!

This comparison isn't unique to the Rimrock GMU. 

The only difference I see in these three hunts is the money the state gets!  The state charges more for a "Quality Elk Hunt" special permit than the "Bull Elk Hunt" special permit.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[kirkl]

one is a rut hunt (quality) and one isnt (bull elk)

[CP]

$6.60 vs $13.20

[D-Rock425]

I wouldn't call many off the archery ones quality but its really the only options we get.

[Chesapeake]

Yeah, rifle gets the rut for quality and archery gets shafted.

If your WA or WM you dont hardly have to choose what to put in for. They dont offer up any choices.

[Fireant11]

Kirk,  It would make sense if it was based on hunting during the rut, but that isn't the case.  The Eastern Archery hunts aren't in the rut, yet they are listed as "Quality Hunts".

Again, what makes the "Quality Hunt" permit better than the "Bull Elk Hunt" permits?

Is it really just about money?  "$6.60 vs $13.20".  Another category of special permits to get people to apply for (which again is more revenue for the state)?

[Curly]

The category thing is simply a money grab and WDFW had to come up with some hunts to place in the "Bull" category so that they could sell those permit apps.  Once you realize that, it will make more sense.

[Elkaholic daWg]

The category thing is simply a money grab and WDFW had to come up with some hunts to place in the "Bull" category so that they could sell those permit apps.  Once you realize that, it will make more sense.

 Yep, it has been a progressive  thing whereas in 2008 or 9 they would have got  about $6 for all elk draws (with 4 choices) but now they can bilk you out of $27.90 0r if over 65/youth/disabled.........$35.00.  Then you have Deer, then the OIL's, and let's not forget your discover pass......

[kirkl]

Yeah, rifle gets the rut for quality and archery gets shafted.

If your WA or WM you dont hardly have to choose what to put in for. They dont offer up any choices.

The rifle hunts have about 1 tag in each gmu for quality. boy there really throwing the tags at the rifle guys during the rut.

[Chesapeake]

Yeah, rifle gets the rut for quality and archery gets shafted.

If your WA or WM you dont hardly have to choose what to put in for. They dont offer up any choices.

The rifle hunts have about 1 tag in each gmu for quality. boy there really throwing the tags at the rifle guys during the rut.

Its not about tag numbers per unit. Some would argue that 1 tag per unit makes for better quality. Its about a quality hunt. The rifle guys get twice the units, and 1 hunter in the unit at the peak of rut. Archery gets less than half the units with about a dozen hunters in the unit before the rut.

Just seems odd to me to give the peak of the rut to Rifle and not Archery. But they pose to get more money from rifle apps than from archery apps, so in that aspect it makes perfect sense.

[NWBREW]

Yeah, rifle gets the rut for quality and archery gets shafted.

If your WA or WM you dont hardly have to choose what to put in for. They dont offer up any choices.

The rifle hunts have about 1 tag in each gmu for quality. boy there really throwing the tags at the rifle guys during the rut.

I'm not sure but I believe you can hunt with your bow during rifle season if you have a MF tag.  Always an option.

[dreamingbig]

The reason:  It allows the modern firearm hunters to apply for both the rut hunt and the regular season bull hunt.  If it was all in quality they would have to choose thus they made a separate bull category.  It also allows the game department to make more money.

[D-Rock425]

Quality archery hunts are all during the general season and its been moved up out of most of the rut.  Rifle guys get a ton of bull hunts for only 6.60 and all the archery guys get is so called quality hunts during the general season for 1320.

[Skyvalhunter]

There was a strong rifle hunters advocacy group that gave strong input to allow more rifle hunting during the surveys. It worked, if other methods of hunting group organized and made input on the surveys they would be more skewed  results or evened out more.

[Fireant11]

The reason:  It allows the modern firearm hunters to apply for both the rut hunt and the regular season bull hunt.  If it was all in quality they would have to choose thus they made a separate bull category.  It also allows the game department to make more money.

I agree with you on the modern firearm; to allow the opportunity (however slight) to hunt for a bull elk in the rut.  I can see possibly for muzzle loader, to give them an opportunity for a bull during their season (which is more in the rut than archery).  But outside of greed (i.e. increased price for the special permit catagory), why aren't the archery bull hunts listed as "Bull Elk Hunts"? 

As it stands, these aren't "Quality" hunts!  They are the opportunity to harvest a bull elk during your normal archery season.