Changing hunting in Washington

[JimmyHoffa]

I haven't counted the days, but this year I was probably 3:1 on days for predators to days per game. (mostly due to short game seasons and a buddy moved away)  The year before was much higher because he had lots of nightvision and a semi-auto .50 BMG, so we'd go for yotes a few times a week.  For cougars we'd go each weekend until the snow got too deep and then changed locations until the rain drove him nuts.
For wetside NF, the yotes are shorter than most of the brush, so hard to find.  Usually see them in the road and have the passenger jump out when the yote first jumps in the bushes and then the driver goes past that spot where the yote entered and gets out....then try to triangulate in on the yote.  Until the snow melts out up high kind of stuck looking for forest yotes.  Once the snow melts, more yote shooting begins...just find the marmot colonies and shoot the yotes that come around.
But I'll be going for yotes tomorrow while dropping off mineral blocks for elk, and the thing that really sucks is there are at least 3 cougars in the area....but I can't shoot them until Sep, and only one at that.

[Dhoey07]

"earn a buck" was a joke, hence the wink face.

Still, not one of the guys on here said they spend more time predator hunting then deer or elk hunting. If you think to many predators is the main problem, why aren't you doing something about it? 

How much free time do you have?!

[Branden]

How much free time do you have?!

I work 2 weeks on, 1 week off. So I have about 17 1/3 weeks off a year

Ok guys. Out of all the ideas proposed and brought up, what do you guys think would be the best?

Personally I would be down with what I proposed. I would also be down with choosing species of deer every year. Or choosing regions. Or, if you draw a special tag you don't get to hunt general season. There were probably more that I am missing, but I don't want to go back and read the whole thread.

[3nails]

 Leave it as is. I still think hunting in WA is damn good!

[Dave Workman]

Here is an idea I had.

A couple thoughts on allowing guys to hunt deer every year.  All tags that are otc right now, would be a guaranteed draw. Like if you wanted to hunt archery early season it would be guaranteed, but you would have to choose your unit. No hunting late season in the Swakane or late whitetail. Same with the high hunt. You are guaranteed to get drawn, but no regular general season, or late whitetail general season. Also, if you apply for a "general season tag" which you would be guaranteed to draw, you would not be allowed to apply for a "premium tag". All of our quality buck tags would be a "premium tag".

It would reduce hunting pressure in a lot of areas, since you can't first hunt the high hunt, then hunt the opener of regular season, then hunt the late whitetail season. It would also reduce how long it takes to get drawn for a late season hunt since a lot of guys would want to hunt every year.

What do you think of something like that for deer? I know its not exactly a draw system that would limit hunters, but it would spread hunters out for a better hunting experience.

I think you've been drinking out of the WDFW toilet and ought to have a frontal lobotomy.
 

    

The WDFW would LOVE to turn this into a permit state, and they have to start somewhere.  Spread people out. Further limit their opportunity and time afield.

[bearpaw]

"earn a buck" was a joke, hence the wink face.

Still, not one of the guys on here said they spend more time predator hunting then deer or elk hunting. If you think to many predators is the main problem, why aren't you doing something about it? 

I have a very good friend who says "earn a buck" accomplished what they wanted, a reduction in deer numbers. He lives near Madison and is a very active hunter, he usually kills numerous deer every season under that rule. However, isn't our the goal in WA to have more deer?

Before the state limited my use of methods and closed hound hunting my hunting time was about 70% predators and 30% turkey/deer/elk every year. Now due to state restrictions that has switched, but If I had my choice I would still be hunting cougar every day for the length of the season and chasing bear from August 1 to early October.

Brandon, I think the deer herds are nowhere near the numbers we used to have resulting in poorer hunting in many areas, but to keep restricting hunters is the wrong answer, as predator numbers grow this problem will only worsen and hunter opportunity will continue to decline. Hunters need to draw the line and tell the WDFW it's time to start managing predators.

[buckfvr]

 Hunters need to draw the line and tell the WDFW it's time to start managing predators.
[/quote]

    And not just wolves.....ESPECIALLY once we see where nov elections take us, it will be time to bombard the new Gov and WDFW.  WDFW will be considerably more sensative and vulnerable if we get the right governor in  there.

[Huntbear]

Until we hunters stand united and tell WDFW enough is enough, and start changing who is actually making the decisions there, nothing that is done will work.

THAT SAID,,,,, NO WAY IN HELL I WOULD EVER GO WITH MORE RESTRICTIONS ON MY HUNTING!!!!  WE HUNTERS HAVE GIVEN UP OR HAVE HAD TAKEN AWAY TO MUCH ALREADY!!!!!

Bearpaw, you are on the right track, adn I agree with your comments..

[washelkhunter]

I dont have an issue with seasons as they are structured now. My issues are the expense associated with the licencing and the now incessant petty, greedy nickel and diming the state is engaged in.

[buglebuster]

  I can't believe I'm agreeing with this guy for once 

[Wacenturion]

Dave....you said....

"I think you've been drinking out of the WDFW toilet and ought to have a frontal lobotomy.
 "

That is hilarious.  Just spit coffee on my computer screen.

[Elkaholic daWg]

Dave....you said....

"I think you've been drinking out of the WDFW toilet and ought to have a frontal lobotomy.
 "

That is hilarious.  Just spit coffee on my computer screen.

 But in my case it was a n Alaskan Amber

[aer212]

"earn a buck" was a joke, hence the wink face.

Still, not one of the guys on here said they spend more time predator hunting then deer or elk hunting. If you think to many predators is the main problem, why aren't you doing something about it? 

I spend way more time hunting predators than deer or elk. The reason? I have a chance with predators. I had my best season on coyotes ever this past winter but I also targeted them the most. I called in a bear and it was killed. I called in a cougar and didn't get a shot. I spend as much time as I can for deer and elk but the predators have the numbers down so I would agree that the predator problem needs to be addressed. One guy can't do it by himself though. The only EFFECTIVE way to manage the bigger predators is with hounds. I would love be able to run cougars and bears with hounds, in order to manage the population of cougar and bears, bring the hounds back.

[runamuk]

"earn a buck" was a joke, hence the wink face.

Still, not one of the guys on here said they spend more time predator hunting then deer or elk hunting. If you think to many predators is the main problem, why aren't you doing something about it? 

I spend way more time hunting predators than deer or elk. The reason? I have a chance with predators. I had my best season on coyotes ever this past winter but I also targeted them the most. I called in a bear and it was killed. I called in a cougar and didn't get a shot. I spend as much time as I can for deer and elk but the predators have the numbers down so I would agree that the predator problem needs to be addressed. One guy can't do it by himself though. The only EFFECTIVE way to manage the bigger predators is with hounds. I would love be able to run cougars and bears with hounds, in order to manage the population of cougar and bears, bring the hounds back.

The couple years I had a bear tag I spent way more time looking for bears, bobcats, and yotes.... if I had my druthers I would mostly predator hunt but cant afford tags, let alone fuel, so when someone buys me a deer tag I am gonna hunt deer  last year I had approximately 4 days to hunt and it was spent looking for deer, kept hoping to get out for coyotes and simply couldn't .... some day I will fill a tag, figure I am only going on season 4 .... figure if I give it another 20 years it might happen  , if they dont make tags draw only or some other stupidity then I wont be able to hunt at all....

[shoot-em-dead]

The thread was started with the idea that we could change the things we complain about most. From what I have heard, seen, and bitched about myself-
The number 1 thing is closed roads. Now I give credit to you guys who pack in 15 miles to get away- But in the last 15 years that I have lived here I see year after year where road access get shorter and shorter and now lots of these roads are closed out to the asphalt. Open the roads and you will see much of this problem go away.
The number 2 thing would be predators- While a valid point was made that we should be hunting predators more often- I also find it insulting considering the only legal method here is rely on luck putting one foot in front of the other. Yes coyotes and bears can be called- but cougars are another story all together- I've talked with loggers who have spent their entire lives in the woods and have never seen one. And we can't hunt wolves. So the two predators ( cougars and wolves) that have the biggest impact on deer and elk populations are really not that hunt-able.
The number 3 complaint is prices- The last few years have been tough for everyone and with the cost of living (everything from licenses to bread and gas and rent)  increasing and wages staying the same there are a lot of us who cannot afford to hunt near as much as we did in the good times.
 
 Fix these things first and we can avoid paying for another draw system.