Post by: dreamingbig on February 14, 2014, 12:05:34 AM
Send them to: Written comments may be e-mailed to: WILDTHING@dfw.wa.gov subject: Game Regulations 2014
or mailed to: Wildlife Program, Game Regulations 2014, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia,. WA 98501
Thanks for reading!
The letter:
ttn: Phil Anderson, WDFW Director
Members of the Fish and Wildlife Commission
Dave Ware, WDFW Game Division Manager
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to you today to provide my written comments and objections to the current proposed game regulations for the 2014. I specifically object to four main areas.
The Archery Coalition of Washington (made up of board members from the WSAA, WSB and the TBW) wrote to you previously on some of these same issues and I am writing to you to show my support of their position.
The issues are:
1. Change the early archery elk season back to a fixed time frame of September 8th to the 21st as it was prior to the 2009-2011 seasons and add our 1 day back that was taken away in 2009. Archery is a hard sport and one that does not need further handicaps. By limiting us to 13 days afield and starting on September 2nd (2014) makes a difficult sport much, much harder. We are forced to compete with the Labor Day hiking/camping crowd plus deal with potential fire closures that most frequently happen during the first week of September. For example, the last two years the private timber companies shut down their land during the first week of archery elk season. Imagine how many days we will lose this year as wildfires and extreme heat are likely to be a problem again. In addition, compared to most other western states (Idaho, Oregon, & Montana) our archery elk season is only half as long (13 vs. 30 days). Another fact to consider is that the current proposed modern firearm season for western Washington elk season is 12 days, only 1 day shorter! I strongly urge you to please reconsider and reestablish the fixed season of September 8th to the 21st. You are already allowing modern firearm permits during the peak rut (Sep 22 to 26th this year plus Oct 1 to 10th in gmu 346) so you can't continue to fall back on the seasons having too much impact on breeding. Last time I checked, elk manage to breed okay in Montana, Oregon and Idaho with no problems.
2. Bring back the early archery anterless/spike elk hunt in GMU 346 (Little Naches) as there are plenty of animals as witnessed by the 500 proposed modern firerarm anterless permits. This opportunity was taken away from archery hunters after the 2012 season. How can the game department view this as a balanced and equitable approach to the opportunity within this unit? The proposed increase in anterless permits from 250 to 500 for modern firearm vs. ZERO permits for archery hunters is absurd! I strongly urge you to add back the early archery elk season in GMU 346 fore spike or antlerless or at minimum issue 250 anterless elk permits for archery hunters. The archery user group deserves the opportunity to harvest some of these animals. GMUs can not consciously be set aside for one particular user group without recognizing that there is in an inequity among user groups. We have noticed what you have done and we will fight to get this inequity reversed!
3. Object to "peak rut" hunts for eastern washington modern firearm quality elk hunts increasing from 1 to 3 permits??? Archery hunters have long been told by the game department that we will never have an archery season during the peak rut (last week of September) however peak rut permits were added in 2009 to allow modern firearm hunters to hunt bulls during the last week of September. Now I am shocked to read that the number of permits is proposed to be increased from 1 to 3? I object at this! These permits should be offered to every user group (archery, muzzleloader and modern firearm) not just MF. This is another example of the continued inequality that the game department is promoting between user groups. We aren't blind; we are noticing. This is a pure money grab play for increased revenue. Why not really increase the revenue and make the permit open to any weapon?
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter and for the work you do for our state. However, I strongly urge you to consider making these changes prior to approving the next three year package. We as bowhunters are not asking for much, but rather a return to what we had as an user group as recently as 2008. The 2006 to 2008 seasons were much more equitable between all user groups than this current proposal. I am a life resident of Washington State, I am currently 34 years old and I have been hunting since I could walk. As soon as I could legally be afield with my own license I was and I have been bowhunting from day one. I love this sport and this state and I am only asking that we get an equitable piece of the pie. I look forward to hearing your response and witnessing your action.
Post by: elk247 on February 14, 2014, 12:26:38 AM
Post by: PolarBear on February 14, 2014, 02:30:09 AM
Post by: dreamingbig on February 14, 2014, 04:07:40 AM
All good points. Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought we were supposed to be back to the sept. 8 opener in 2015?
The next 3yr package is not out yet and nothing is guaranteed. Fight for your right; why can't we have a full two weeks and have it fixed to start on the 8th every year? It worked perfectly fine in 2006 to 2008.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: trophyhunt on February 14, 2014, 05:34:32 AM
Post by: dreamingbig on February 14, 2014, 05:41:42 AM
I am encouraging folks to let them know how we feel; not enough do it IMHO.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Skyvalhunter on February 14, 2014, 05:45:58 AM
Post by: dreamingbig on February 14, 2014, 05:47:27 AM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: billythekidrock on February 14, 2014, 05:49:50 AM
You object to 4 but only mention 3.
Post by: dreamingbig on February 14, 2014, 06:08:44 AM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: dreamingbig on February 14, 2014, 06:09:41 AM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: trophyhunt on February 14, 2014, 06:16:25 AM
I am only asking for 14 days, not 30. They reduced our season from 14 to 13 for no apparent reason other than they needed to be "fair."i over looked that! Then I agree with your letter! I will forward, thanks!
I am encouraging folks to let them know how we feel; not enough do it IMHO.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: D-Rock425 on February 14, 2014, 06:35:10 AM
Post by: dreamingbig on February 14, 2014, 06:55:26 AM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: swalker on February 14, 2014, 07:02:34 AM
Post by: jstone on February 14, 2014, 07:21:58 AM
Post by: dreamingbig on February 14, 2014, 07:25:45 AM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: bearpaw on February 14, 2014, 07:52:51 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on February 14, 2014, 08:19:03 AM
Post by: bobcat on February 14, 2014, 08:26:15 AM
It's not really much of an argument to bring up the three rifle rut permits that are available in a few units. That's a very limited number of hunters compared to what there would be if the general archery season were open at that time.
Maybe a later season would work if the state did away with the general seasons and were able to cut the number of hunters each year by 50%. I assume the biologists who work for the WDFW have a good reason for limiting hunting pressure during the peak of the rut. This state has a ridiculous number of elk hunters in the woods at one time, during all general seasons. I could see where it might be detrimental to the elk, but I really don't know since I'm not a biologist so I have not done the studies.
Post by: pianoman9701 on February 14, 2014, 08:29:00 AM
Post by: The scout on February 14, 2014, 08:33:39 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on February 14, 2014, 08:36:48 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on February 14, 2014, 08:43:30 AM
Post by: The scout on February 14, 2014, 08:46:31 AM
Post by: Jonathan_S on February 14, 2014, 08:47:24 AM
I would be okay with a later start for archery elk season, but I do beleive they have a reason for starting and ending it early as it is now. They're trying to keep most of the hunting pressure outside of the peak of the rut, so the elk can do their thing. So with archery ending in mid September and early muzzleloader not starting until the first week of October, the elk get to do their breeding without much hunting pressure.
I agree that's their goal but I don't think it makes much of a difference. Elk are so good at escaping and holding in cover where they're safe. Most actual breeding is done at night isn't it, especially when it's warm?
Post by: bobcat on February 14, 2014, 08:51:09 AM
I would be okay with a later start for archery elk season, but I do beleive they have a reason for starting and ending it early as it is now. They're trying to keep most of the hunting pressure outside of the peak of the rut, so the elk can do their thing. So with archery ending in mid September and early muzzleloader not starting until the first week of October, the elk get to do their breeding without much hunting pressure.
I agree that's their goal but I don't think it makes much of a difference. Elk are so good at escaping and holding in cover where they're safe. Most actual breeding is done at night isn't it, especially when it's warm?
Yes, I assume that is true, but again, I'm no biologist and haven't done any studies to prove that one way or another.
I suppose keeping archery season out of the peak of the rut could also be to keep success rates down.
Maybe the biologists think enough elk are being taken with the earlier season, and they don't want to increase the harvest.
Post by: D-Rock425 on February 14, 2014, 09:01:47 AM
Carefull dreamingbig I've sent wdfw very similar e-mail's, and since been put on a do not draw list for qp's:chuckle:
Post by: dreamingbig on February 14, 2014, 09:24:42 AM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: mossback91 on February 14, 2014, 10:38:12 AM
Carefull dreamingbig I've sent wdfw very similar e-mail's, and since been put on a do not draw list for qp's:chuckle:
Think I was put on that list when I was born!!!
Post by: motg9_6 on February 14, 2014, 01:49:26 PM
Post by: KFhunter on February 14, 2014, 02:26:48 PM
This year the Elk moved off the bait stations early and left a lot of guys sitting on empty bait stations, I waved to a few cameras :chuckle:
If they do move the season into the rut I'd prefer that obviously as that's the quintessential Elk hunt. It's always irritated me that we only get to hunt the early pre-rut.
I'm defiantly in favor of a later season. What archer doesn't want to hunt screaming bulls? Popping one out of a tree stand while it's eating apples seems anti-climatic, but you got a freezer full so I won't knock it. My freezer doesn't have any Elk in it :'(
Post by: buglebrush on February 14, 2014, 03:05:48 PM
Post by: snowpack on February 14, 2014, 03:12:31 PM
Post by: buglebrush on February 14, 2014, 03:45:37 PM
Post by: motg9_6 on February 14, 2014, 05:51:00 PM
Post by: hughjorgan on February 14, 2014, 06:22:37 PM
Post by: bobcat on February 14, 2014, 06:25:18 PM
Post by: sakoshooter on February 14, 2014, 06:32:12 PM
Post by: dreamingbig on February 14, 2014, 06:34:54 PM
Actually I remember a couple of years recently where the fîrst week of September was cool and maybe even wet, and the timber company lands open. Then the second week of September got hot and dry, and the timber companies closed their lands to all access.. Seriously, you are no help. :)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: 4fletch on February 14, 2014, 08:22:10 PM
Post by: buglebrush on February 15, 2014, 07:16:45 AM
Actually I remember a couple of years recently where the fîrst week of September was cool and maybe even wet, and the timber company lands open. Then the second week of September got hot and dry, and the timber companies closed their lands to all access.
Are you in the Northeast Corner? I believe I was specific that I was commenting about where I hunt not the whole state.
Post by: motg9_6 on February 15, 2014, 09:58:49 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on February 15, 2014, 01:51:32 PM
Our early season is to early, they need to set up a fixed date like we used to have. No one has mentioned that we lost five days of our late season, I would like to see that back as well.I think our late season is on a rotating start date also is why it was short this last season
Post by: hughjorgan on February 15, 2014, 01:56:43 PM
Our early season is to early, they need to set up a fixed date like we used to have. No one has mentioned that we lost five days of our late season, I would like to see that back as well.I think our late season is on a rotating start date also is why it was short this last season
I believe that is correct, used to start nov. 20 and go through Dec. 8, but the the last few seasons have been starting later and later resulting in lost days a field.
Post by: bobcat on February 15, 2014, 03:28:21 PM
Late season starts the same day every year- the day before Thanksgiving.Our early season is to early, they need to set up a fixed date like we used to have. No one has mentioned that we lost five days of our late season, I would like to see that back as well.I think our late season is on a rotating start date also is why it was short this last season
I believe that is correct, used to start nov. 20 and go through Dec. 8, but the the last few seasons have been starting later and later resulting in lost days a field.
Post by: dreamingbig on February 15, 2014, 03:55:43 PM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: motg9_6 on February 15, 2014, 07:01:47 PM
Post by: dreamingbig on February 17, 2014, 06:16:05 PM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Fullabull on February 18, 2014, 10:08:06 PM
I would even give up a couple days of the late season to get the 8th start date every year.