Post by: deerhunter_98520 on June 08, 2014, 10:58:58 AM
Post by: Dbax129 on June 08, 2014, 11:25:22 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on June 08, 2014, 11:26:33 AM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on June 08, 2014, 11:31:04 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on June 08, 2014, 11:36:55 AM
Post by: bobcat on June 08, 2014, 12:01:32 PM
Post by: Nice Racks on June 08, 2014, 05:09:16 PM
Post by: jackelope on June 08, 2014, 05:26:25 PM
Next year it will start on the 8th
This.
Post by: grousetracker on June 08, 2014, 06:46:14 PM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on June 08, 2014, 08:17:42 PM
Post by: bowguy on June 08, 2014, 08:35:27 PM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on June 08, 2014, 10:44:05 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on June 09, 2014, 03:12:56 AM
but when I draw, I get THIS on public land, with low hunting pressure, all over the unit... :IBCOOL:
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on June 09, 2014, 08:15:13 AM
Post by: mxryder909 on June 09, 2014, 09:14:50 AM
Just need to find them, follow the kitties tracks and you'll see them.
Post by: Gamblin Guy on June 09, 2014, 09:20:27 AM
Next year it will start on the 8th
Next year it is supposed to start on the 8th but that assumes they dont change it. I wouldn't put it past them to come up with some bs story to make us start before Labor Day again. They pushed us off the 8th-21st because they wanted to give the elk a few days before the rifle rut tags started....that way they make more money selling applications for those tags....its all about money...not the resource or the users
.
Post by: ridgefire on June 09, 2014, 09:44:12 AM
Post by: Bean Counter on June 09, 2014, 12:25:36 PM
That's the problem here...every raghorn gets shot and they don't make it that big that often....I know where 2 are and one is in a new weyco pay to play area I won't be hunting and another should be that size this year if he wasn't shot last year
I remember my second or so elk hunting season and I finally saw a full herd of elk in Forks. This was the November rifle season. a few dozen cows, a couple of spikes, and a rag horn 4x2. I remember practically losing my mind hoping he would step the right direction for a safe, ethical shot. That never happened. One you get an elk or two under your belt, much of that desperation goes away but what I'm more glad has gone away is the desperation to kill the first legal animal I see. Bull to cow ratios are about 25-40 per 100 in many other states and hunter success can be 40%+ instead of 8% like up there. i'll take that anyday over an OTC zoo. After a while its just as fun to help your buddies who drew a tag IMHO.
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on June 09, 2014, 03:34:56 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on June 09, 2014, 04:14:43 PM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on June 09, 2014, 04:30:18 PM
Post by: huntnnw on June 09, 2014, 11:30:08 PM
Post by: Todd_ID on June 10, 2014, 12:55:54 AM
What can we do as hunters to get the archery hunt closer to the rut again? Ive been archery hunting but only 7 years and the way things are going in another 7 years we will be hunting in august... is there anything we can do to change these season dates towards the end of sept? Do we just need to write to the Wdfw?The way seasons are set in WA is so that all user groups get an equal percentage harvest according to the percentage of hunters for that group versus total hunters (i.e., 15% of the hunters should kill exactly 15% of the bulls). Resource allocation is the proper term. When the allocations (percentages) get out of whack favoring one group over another, then the seasons change. The answer to your question of what you can do to affect change toward what you would like to see for archery is to do 2 things:
1. Join Washington State Bowhunters and let us know what you want to see, and back it up with facts of why.
2. Do some research based on actual harvest numbers. Present this research in a well thought out manner to WSB as well as WDFW via emails and meetings. Many people don't believe it, but WDFW really does listen to hunters: especially those with facts and strong arguments.
When the allocation is out of line in a District (there're 18 of them in the state), then seasons/dates/restrictions/areas are changed to bring the numbers back in line in that District so everyone gets an equal harvest. WSB has an exceptionally strong voice in the allocation process, and the archery elk season dates are just one of many things we are fighting for. The time is NOW to do these two simple steps because once the seasons are set for the next 3 year package, then little change is made for those 3 years.
Just saying that you want this area opened or that season lengthened isn't enough. Changes are only made based on herd health, harvest data and hunter participation. That takes research on a pain-staking level, but it's very worth it if you can find a reason that your area needs a change. If you can prove through facts that your idea has merit and would help bring harvest numbers back in line, then we'll certainly argue for it, and your voice will be heard by those making the decisions on what your seasons will look like when you pick up the 2015 regs book at your local hardware store.
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on June 10, 2014, 05:11:29 AM
Post by: cryder on June 10, 2014, 06:19:14 PM
Post by: blindluck on June 11, 2014, 06:58:52 AM