Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: johng on October 16, 2013, 08:27:06 AM
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Howdy,
So I have yet to consult the regs but I read on another site that it is illegal to hunt grouse with a dog during deer season. Is this indeed the case?
Thanks,
jg
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not true,.. it would be the same thing as saying you can't hunt pheasant this coming up weekend with your dogs because deer season is opened.
you just can't hunt deer with your dogs,..
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I would be grouse hunting right now if modern firearm wasn't going on. No way in hell I am sending my dog out there, even with an orange vest and a cowbell. I have seen too many deer hunters shoot first and ask questions later during rifle season.
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Only if the dog were a very disciplined close working dog...........PLUS odds of encountering deer hunters were slim. :twocents:
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Personally I think WDFW should do what other states do, block off 10-15 days for modern firearms season, tell the grouse hunters and their dogs to stay out of the woods (as in suspend the grouse season during that time) and let them back in when it's over. I believe several of the midwestern states do this and most grouse hunters there don't mind. Then again, I'd imagine for a lot of them it gives them an excuse to get a deer. If you can hunt all Fall with the dog it feels like a waste to not go out and use that dog.
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Personally I think WDFW should do what other states do, block off 10-15 days for modern firearms season, tell the grouse hunters and their dogs to stay out of the woods (as in suspend the grouse season during that time) and let them back in when it's over. I believe several of the midwestern states do this and most grouse hunters there don't mind. Then again, I'd imagine for a lot of them it gives them an excuse to get a deer. If you can hunt all Fall with the dog it feels like a waste to not go out and use that dog.
But how about archery season. Hou can't just let the modern guys only be with themselves. You have to give the archers time to be without grouse hunters too.
I suppose that's a good point. But in the states I'm thinking of bow hunters and grouse hunters share the woods and both are kicked out during modern firearms season, mostly out of safety and to avoid conflicts.
At the risk of offending some, a different type of hunter shows up during rifle season. They have a limited amount of time and unlike a grouse or bow hunter it's the only time they can get out. For them the stakes are high. To make matters worse, some aren't really the greatest woodsmen or the most safety conscious. I'm not trying to brand the whole group, but you know the type I'm talking about. Jojo eating guys with a box of wine on the seat and rifle at the ready or Joe Bob city kid who has never hunted a day in his life looking to shoot something with his new gun and will crap himself and just start shooting at what he perceives to be a bear.
Unless it's a firearms restricted zone, I won't be out until rifle is over.
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One more thing on bow hunters and grouse hunters. A lot of bow hunters don't realize this, but more experienced ones do. A grouse hunter and his dog can actually improve your odds, particularly if you're sitting in a tree stand, but also if you're actually stalking and hunting them. On rainy or hot days deer will often hunker down and not be on the move. A grouse hunter coming through with a dog will change that picture and increase the odds that a bow hunter will see his quarry and get a shot within range.
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Personally I think WDFW should do what other states do, block off 10-15 days for modern firearms season, tell the grouse hunters and their dogs to stay out of the woods (as in suspend the grouse season during that time) and let them back in when it's over. I believe several of the midwestern states do this and most grouse hunters there don't mind. Then again, I'd imagine for a lot of them it gives them an excuse to get a deer. If you can hunt all Fall with the dog it feels like a waste to not go out and use that dog.
But how about archery season. Hou can't just let the modern guys only be with themselves. You have to give the archers time to be without grouse hunters too.
I suppose that's a good point. But in the states I'm thinking of bow hunters and grouse hunters share the woods and both are kicked out during modern firearms season, mostly out of safety and to avoid conflicts.
At the risk of offending some, a different type of hunter shows up during rifle season. They have a limited amount of time and unlike a grouse or bow hunter it's the only time they can get out. For them the stakes are high. To make matters worse, some aren't really the greatest woodsmen or the most safety conscious. I'm not trying to brand the whole group, but you know the type I'm talking about. Jojo eating guys with a box of wine on the seat and rifle at the ready or Joe Bob city kid who has never hunted a day in his life looking to shoot something with his new gun and will crap himself and just start shooting at what he perceives to be a bear.
Unless it's a firearms restricted zone, I won't be out until rifle is over.
:yeah:
You have to give the archers time to be without grouse hunters too.
as far as banning grouse hunters with dogs from the woods during modern firearm I think it would be a good idea that would affect very few people in this state. as far as the other deer seasons go, it is a non issue.
In all my years of grouse hunting I have only ran into three different people hunting grouse with dogs, while I have seen countless deer hunters of every variety. A grouse hunter with a dog is a rare thing to come through and ruin your deer hunt, might as well ban grouse hunters with unicorns while you are at it.
I have even talked to more than a couple bow hunters that wanted me to work a certain area in hopes that I would push a deer their way.
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Thanks guys for the clarification....
Gotta love Aspenbud's quote here of, "Jojo eating guys with a box of wine on the seat and rifle at the ready or Joe Bob city kid who has never hunted a day in his life looking to shoot something with his new gun and will crap himself and just start shooting at what he perceives to be a bear."
I think upon further reflection Opie and I will stay out of the woods until deer season is over!!!
- Jg