Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: bobcat on February 11, 2015, 12:06:25 AM

Title: Change in Late Muzzleloader Blacktail Season
Post by: bobcat on February 11, 2015, 12:06:25 AM: This is not a real big deal but it's always irritated me that the late muzzleloader season for blacktail deer would open on Thanksgiving, while late muzzleloader elk, late archery elk, and late archery blacktail would open the day before Thanksgiving. I never could understand why it was that way, and I even wrote to the WDFW a few times complaining about it and asking why it was like that.

Never did get an answer to that question, but I see now they have got it right. The 2015 proposal has archery and muzzleloader, deer and elk, all beginning on November 25th, the day before Thanksgiving. It never happened to me but I always figured someday I'd be hunting elk on that first day of late muzzleloader season, and stumble into a monster 4 point blacktail buck at 25 yards and couldn't shoot it because the deer season didn't open until tomorrow!

Edit: I just went back and looked at the some of the older regulations and actually 2009 was when they first screwed up the late muzzleloader deer season. Up until then blacktail deer and elk started on the same day. I really think it was just a typo beginning in 2009 and it took them six years to finally fix it. (even though I told them about it three or four years ago)
Title: Re: Change in Late Muzzleloader Blacktail Season
Post by: usmc74 on February 11, 2015, 04:32:25 AM: I started bitching about it every year for the last 3 or so. I felt it was like a trap for those who assumed they were all on the same day opening.
Title: Re: Change in Late Muzzleloader Blacktail Season
Post by: Soady on February 11, 2015, 01:32:42 PM: but I always figured someday I'd be hunting elk on that first day of late muzzleloader season, and stumble into a monster 4 point blacktail buck at 25 yards and couldn't shoot it because the deer season didn't open until tomorrow!

Bobcat that does happen more than you think, and finally it is set right once again. This year the little blacktail I took at least waited until Friday before he made his move on me :chuckle: so this season coming I will be looking for his brothers on the opener.