Post by: Todd_ID on February 24, 2014, 04:07:52 PM
This is your chance to voice what changes you think should be made to the seasons before you grumble about what came out in the pamphlet. It's opening a can of worms to ask for suggestions, but I think patterns may emerge which could lead to meaningful change for all bowhunters.
If you were setting the seasons, then what changes would you make and WHY?
Post by: addicted2hunting on February 24, 2014, 04:34:06 PM
Post by: gasman on February 24, 2014, 04:50:50 PM
This early Sept hunting is crap :bash: :bash: :bash:
Post by: hughjorgan on February 24, 2014, 05:08:23 PM
later early elk season to allow cooler weather and of course more vocal animals.
:yeah:
Post by: Terry Dean on February 24, 2014, 06:42:50 PM
Post by: D-Rock425 on February 25, 2014, 08:58:26 AM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on February 25, 2014, 10:39:38 AM
Archery will never get the last week of September, and because of the feedback asking for 2 full weekends, calendar differences year to year make it difficult to achieve with only 13 says in the season.
I say let us have the day back (14 days) and start on the 8th every year, but that will never happen, more than likely we will have a 12 day season, 11 day, ... soon it will only be a week -10 days like ML and MF.
Then we will all be buying multi or hunting elsewhere...
Post by: D-Rock425 on February 25, 2014, 11:03:26 AM
Post by: bobcat on February 25, 2014, 11:36:09 AM
2nd Saturday of sept would be best.
How about this but then only a 9 day season? That would still give two weekends, although with it being only one week, the weekdays would probably be more crowded. But it would be a later season like everyone seems to want. The problem with a longer season is in certain years you'd have issues of overlapping with muzzleloader hunts and modern firearm permit hunts.
Post by: D-Rock425 on February 25, 2014, 11:56:00 AM
Post by: Todd_ID on February 27, 2014, 11:13:43 AM
Pushing the season closer toward the rut would likely slightly increase the bull harvest. Anterless harvest likely wouldn't change significantly. Therefore, to get the date changed to keep the allocation numbers in line would take a reduction in overall anterless harvest.
The single best thing having a later season would do is to add another week onto the weather patterns. We'd likely see cooler average temperatures and, therefore, less lost meat.
Post by: pianoman9701 on February 27, 2014, 02:06:48 PM
Take the opener for Sept elk back to the 8th and end on the 21st :tup:
This early Sept hunting is crap :bash: :bash: :bash:
:yeah:
Post by: northwesthunter84 on February 27, 2014, 08:32:22 PM
Post by: SPHTR on March 18, 2014, 12:20:40 PM
Post by: kodiak 907 on March 18, 2014, 04:17:26 PM
I think early elk season should be the focus get it set to the 8th again. The other thing I would like to see is more late season blacktail areas open like gmu 448. 407 is open but is hard to find public areas to hunt. 448 has a ton of public land.
We will never see a late archery season in 448. :bash: DFW wants to protect all of the elk in that unit from any kind of pressure. It is a real shame too. Late season up there has some toad bt's running around.
Post by: D-Rock425 on March 19, 2014, 07:10:11 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on March 19, 2014, 07:24:35 AM
448 has an open season on elk for all user groups. Even a late archery season until Dec 15.I think early elk season should be the focus get it set to the 8th again. The other thing I would like to see is more late season blacktail areas open like gmu 448. 407 is open but is hard to find public areas to hunt. 448 has a ton of public land.
We will never see a late archery season in 448. :bash: DFW wants to protect all of the elk in that unit from any kind of pressure. It is a real shame too. Late season up there has some toad bt's running around.
Post by: kodiak 907 on March 19, 2014, 07:46:51 AM
Post by: et1702 on March 19, 2014, 08:31:04 AM
Getting a later archery season for elk is certainly a common theme in any discussion about seasons these last few years since we lost the hard start date of the 8th. We certainly have this as a recommendation to get changed. The problem comes in when you look at overall success rates between user groups (the main way seasons are allocated). Archery hunters account for 24.8% of the hunters and 31% of the total elk harvested in general seasons but only 19.9% of the bulls.
Pushing the season closer toward the rut would likely slightly increase the bull harvest. Anterless harvest likely wouldn't change significantly. Therefore, to get the date changed to keep the allocation numbers in line would take a reduction in overall anterless harvest.
The single best thing having a later season would do is to add another week onto the weather patterns. We'd likely see cooler average temperatures and, therefore, less lost meat.
Rather than a hard start date (i.e., the 8th) for Archery Elk, I'd vote for a floating start date to coincide with the Second Saturday of the month and running a full two weeks (i.e., three weekends). Three weekends would still give the people with less vacation time an opportunity to hunt. As is the case now, the start date would sometimes be earlier in the month (warmer and less rut activity) and sometimes later (cooler and more vocal animals). Biggest benefit would be cooler temps, less chance of meat loss, and potentially more vocal animals. The overall success rate would still be only about 10%. It's not any higher in states that have a month long archery season. Also, the eastside ML and rifle seasons would be unaffected (i.e., no overlap). The only eastside tag holder that would potenially be affected would be the one lucky SOB that draws the Rifle rut tag in late Sept. There are already bear hunters out there with rifles. One more guys isn't going to require us to wear orange. I'm not a westside elk hunter, so I haven't looked to see if there are any overlap issues. But, likely it would be very similar to eastside. This option would also avoid conflicts with other non-hunting user groups (i.e., Labor day weekend crowd).
Thanks,
ET
Post by: bobcat on March 19, 2014, 10:06:01 AM
And by the way, the Memorial Day is in May so that shouldn't be an issue. :chuckle:
Post by: et1702 on March 19, 2014, 10:48:36 AM
If it started the second Saturday and ran thru three weekends, the last weekend would overlap with muzzleloader deer season. I'm pretty sure the WDFW won't go for that.
And by the way, the Memorial Day is in May so that shouldn't be an issue. :chuckle:
Thanks for the edit. Already thinking about scouting elk Memorial weekend...lol.
Yep, looks like deer would overlap by two days. So, push ML deer opener back a week, plus rifle, etc. and give the critters a week break between the various seasons like they do now.
ET
Post by: Curly on March 19, 2014, 11:14:57 AM
If you were setting the seasons, then what changes would you make and WHY?
I would eliminate all muzzleloader early seasons. They get in the way of archery seasons and there isn't enough units open to ML anyway........might as well just eliminate them. ML guys can use their ML's during modern season. :twocents:
Please don't string me up guys; that is just what I would do if I were in charge. :twocents:
Post by: grundy53 on March 19, 2014, 11:25:49 AM
I'm sure the muzzy guys would love that.....If you were setting the seasons, then what changes would you make and WHY?
I would eliminate all muzzleloader early seasons. They get in the way of archery seasons and there isn't enough units open to ML anyway........might as well just eliminate them. ML guys can use their ML's during modern season. :twocents:
Please don't string me up guys; that is just what I would do if I were in charge. :twocents:
sent from my typewriter
Post by: Curly on March 19, 2014, 11:34:09 AM
I'm sure the muzzy guys would love that.....If you were setting the seasons, then what changes would you make and WHY?
I would eliminate all muzzleloader early seasons. They get in the way of archery seasons and there isn't enough units open to ML anyway........might as well just eliminate them. ML guys can use their ML's during modern season. :twocents:
Please don't string me up guys; that is just what I would do if I were in charge. :twocents:
sent from my typewriter
Yeah, I know. And I am a muzzy guy. But it just seems impossible to make everyone happy, so might as well stop worrying about the ML guys (not many left anyway) and get some good seasons for the archery guys. :twocents:
:peep:
(Don't worry though, my idea would never happen........so I won't even bring it up to WDFW). Just saying what I would do. Seems like that is what they do in some other states. :dunno:
Post by: buckfvr on March 19, 2014, 11:37:48 AM
Wish all you want, there is only so much they can do, and none of it will be done for the few......................
Post by: dreamingbig on March 27, 2014, 12:24:12 PM
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Post by: Rainier10 on March 27, 2014, 12:38:26 PM
Post by: ELKBURGER on March 27, 2014, 02:57:57 PM
Post by: washelkhunter on March 27, 2014, 03:05:43 PM
Post by: bobcat on March 27, 2014, 03:23:09 PM
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Post by: RadSav on March 27, 2014, 03:27:32 PM
Post by: brianb231 on March 27, 2014, 03:39:13 PM
2015 Sept. 5-12. Or always start the 1st Sat. and end on the 2nd Sat.
I know these are just suggestions, but this 5-12th is basically what we have now only less days, I don't understand how this is better. Guys wait many years to finally draw early archery Bull Elk tags and with it so close to Labor day it can really affect the hunt for the Majority. Now I know there are select group that like the pre Rut and Early stage of the Rut but I think the majority would like to see there hard earned dollars and vacation days and time waiting on a draw to increase their odds by moving the date back to at least the 8th like it was and run for two weeks.
Just my :twocents:
Post by: dreamingbig on March 27, 2014, 11:50:33 PM
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Post by: D-Rock425 on March 28, 2014, 07:32:50 AM
Sept 8-21 sounds good to me and I'd also like to ask for the muzzleloader season to be Sept 22-30.if you did that you'd double the amount of muzzloader tags sold.
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Post by: ELKBURGER on March 31, 2014, 09:01:45 AM
EASILY! maybe triple....Sept 8-21 sounds good to me and I'd also like to ask for the muzzleloader season to be Sept 22-30.if you did that you'd double the amount of muzzloader tags sold.
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Post by: hogslayer on March 31, 2014, 09:20:30 AM
Post by: washelkhunter on March 31, 2014, 09:40:55 AM
Post by: jackelope on April 02, 2014, 11:08:29 AM
If you were setting the seasons, then what changes would you make and WHY?
I would eliminate all muzzleloader early seasons. They get in the way of archery seasons and there isn't enough units open to ML anyway........might as well just eliminate them. ML guys can use their ML's during modern season. :twocents:
Please don't string me up guys; that is just what I would do if I were in charge. :twocents:
Better yet, do the floating weekend start date thing as Ed suggested, then just push everyone else back a week. Hunting would be better all around.
:twocents:
The more weekends, the better for a guy like me with not a ton of vacation time. I'm sure that I'm not alone there, and probably am in the majority of hunters.
:dunno:
Post by: jackelope on April 02, 2014, 11:12:07 AM
Post by: Curly on April 02, 2014, 12:47:01 PM
I agree with that weekend idea . Vacation time is really hard to come by. I don't get much time as it is and even if I do have time on the books it is very hard to take off for more than a couple days at a time.If you were setting the seasons, then what changes would you make and WHY?
I would eliminate all muzzleloader early seasons. They get in the way of archery seasons and there isn't enough units open to ML anyway........might as well just eliminate them. ML guys can use their ML's during modern season. :twocents:
Please don't string me up guys; that is just what I would do if I were in charge. :twocents:
Better yet, do the floating weekend start date thing as Ed suggested, then just push everyone else back a week. Hunting would be better all around.
:twocents:
The more weekends, the better for a guy like me with not a ton of vacation time. I'm sure that I'm not alone there, and probably am in the majority of hunters.
:dunno:
Post by: snarkybull on April 03, 2014, 12:34:21 PM
Post by: D-Rock425 on April 03, 2014, 01:09:39 PM
p.s. pretty crazy to me that this thread has gotten significantly less views than a public schools/social skills thread that has been open for a lot less time on a Washington state hunting forum. Really makes me wonder.the problem is a lot of people think we just get what we get and that's it. They don't realize that there are people and groups fighting for them.
Post by: dreamingbig on April 04, 2014, 07:03:37 PM
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Post by: hughjorgan on April 04, 2014, 07:21:12 PM
I write letters and they never address the issues with real answers; it gets old which is their point I guess but I won't stop
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Would the wdfw take bow hunters more seriously if more of us were part of the wsb or other organizations that lobby for our seasons? Lots of guys out there that hunt the archery season and don't really have a voice because they aren't a member of any the groups that lobby for our seasons. Then they wonder why we have crappy seasons. IMO, the more people that join these organizations the the stronger our lobby looks when negotiating for a better season.
Post by: dreamingbig on April 04, 2014, 08:00:13 PM
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Post by: jackelope on April 05, 2014, 01:28:57 PM
I have been a member the past few years (expired at the moment) but they need more organization to be effective. To me it seems like the WDFW puts more imprt on the gmac but who only knows how the gmac reaches consensus. Anyone ever been asked by them for real input?
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There are at least 2 regularly contributing huntwa members who are on the GMAC. I'll let them say out loud who they are if they want to but they both post pretty regularly on here. I'll speak for Todd, the new president of WSB and say that part of their goal of better organization was the creation of this forum board for the club. Hopefully there is more contribution from members given the ability to speak in here.
Post by: dreamingbig on April 05, 2014, 02:32:57 PM
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Post by: buckfvr on April 05, 2014, 02:41:58 PM
Post by: huntnphool on April 06, 2014, 09:14:58 AM
Sept 8-21 sounds good to me and I'd also like to ask for the muzzleloader season to be Sept 22-30.
That would be perfect, then they could back up the 9 day general east side deer season to start the first weekend in Oct, just remind them of that and you have a real chance in them considering it Bobcat.
Post by: huntnphool on April 06, 2014, 09:20:41 AM
I never had a paid day off in my life and neither did/have most of the guys I hunt with for many years.........Better seasonal timing, ie. later in the month is more important than weekends. :twocents:And don't you think WDFW know that? :chuckle:
Post by: buckfvr on April 06, 2014, 09:28:34 AM
I never had a paid day off in my life and neither did/have most of the guys I hunt with for many years.........Better seasonal timing, ie. later in the month is more important than weekends. :twocents:And don't you think WDFW know that? :chuckle:
I often find myself wondering what they do know versus dont...........maybe we should insert understand in place of know.
Post by: huntnphool on April 06, 2014, 09:47:12 AM
:chuckle:I never had a paid day off in my life and neither did/have most of the guys I hunt with for many years.........Better seasonal timing, ie. later in the month is more important than weekends. :twocents:And don't you think WDFW know that? :chuckle:
I often find myself wondering what they do know versus dont...........maybe we should insert understand in place of know.
My point being, they know/understand when the best time for each group to hunt is and they purposely avoid those times with their season setting policies. They are not gong to give away things they can generate revenue from......period!
Post by: ken1010 on May 05, 2014, 06:47:46 PM
Post by: RadSav on May 05, 2014, 06:56:54 PM
I would like to see a traditional barebow only season on elk and deer. Recurve, longbow, no sights. Anyone else?
I'm afraid of the five day week seasons so we can have Traditional archery, modern archery, crossbow, traditional muzzleloader, modern muzzleloader, modern firearms, women archery, Women muzzy, women modern, youth archery, youth muzzy, youth modern, father daughter archery, grandson and grandparent muzzy, sibling modern and all the other different seasons. Because you know it all has to be fair, right?
Oregon has a traditional season for two weeks in the Strawberries, but their season is also three times as long as it is in Washington. And as far as I know no user group has sued over fairness yet.
Post by: ken1010 on May 05, 2014, 07:18:35 PM
Post by: RadSav on May 05, 2014, 07:43:57 PM
Good point! I concur on your perspective. We don't want a more convoluted set of seasons. But I would settle for the last week of August on Elk for traditional barebow only. :chuckle:
Me too! Especially since the talk around here from archery hunters is that early of a season would suck :chuckle:
Post by: bowhunterty on May 05, 2014, 08:03:31 PM
Post by: popeshawnpaul on May 09, 2014, 03:51:00 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on May 09, 2014, 04:29:19 PM
Ken1010.... Are you suggesting that you would like to have a separate season and user group? I would have no problem with a traditional user group who had a five day season the last week in August.
I believe The Oregon units Rad is reffering to still get to hunt normal archery season, they simply get "first crack" if using traditional equipment. I don't think thats a good idea for reasons already mentioned, shorter season here, much, much less area.
Typically when I have seen the idea of trad seasons. Its followed by a suggestion to move that season to the most premium time to hunt .___..insert species here. The problem I see with moving all "non traditional"(whatever that means) muzzy and archery seasons to wherever, and Making a traditional season the 10 th of sep to the 10th of October for bulls and the month of November for bucks . Is that it will be great for maybe 5 to 10 years. At which point enough hunters will have converted to traditional for the better season and "traditional technology" will have caught up with demand. You have now created demand and equipment AND hunters that push the envelope will be right behind. Round and round we go.
Post by: ken1010 on May 09, 2014, 05:50:33 PM