Post by: Snapshot on March 17, 2009, 09:33:49 PM
WDFW Game Department Manager
600 Capitol Way N.
Olympia, WA 98501-1091
Dave,
As per our phone conversation at 10:00 AM on March 12, 2009, I understand that the 2009-11 draft hunting season regulations, together with the recommended adjustments and floor changes that were made in Ellensburg at the March 6-7, 2009 Commission meeting, will go forward as the recommendations that the WDFW will support; and that the Fish & Wildlife Commission will be encouraged to implement the following more recent WDFW-supported adjustments to the draft regulations:
• GMU 250 Swakane will be reinstated as a general late season archery mule deer opportunity as it was in last year’s package; November 21 - 30; 3 point minimum.
• GMU 247 Entiat will see a reduction in the number of permits from the last year’s package, down to 55 permits; November 21 - 30; any buck.
• GMU 101 Sherman will be reinstated as a general late season white-tail deer opportunity as it was in last year’s package; November 10 - December 15; any white-tailed deer.
At this time the Washington Archery Coalition, consisting of Washington State Bowhunters, Washington State Archery Association and Traditional Bowhunters of Washington will support the draft 2009-11 hunting season regulations in conjunction with the aforementioned March 7 recommended adjustments and floor changes, and in combination with the more recent WDFW-supported adjustments outlined above.
One of the basic tenets of Archery Hunting is general early and late seasons. Somehow that has been lost in the process so we are still very concerned with the agenda of Region 2 going to permit-only deer opportunity after November 1. Employing our recommendation of opening GMU 245 Chiwawa would solve the Swakane problem in that it would relieve the issues that staff has, while at the same time providing the family recreational opportunity that was so passionately sought at the meeting in Ellensburg.
Our membership still has reservations on some of the changes that the WDFW made in parts of this three-year package. These issues will be brought up with the WDFW and GMAC in the season adjustments at the end of the 2009 hunting season. We will continue to work with the department so as to be of assistance in managing the resources of our state in a scientific, responsible and equitable manner.
Thank you for your efforts,
Rick Liebel
Washington State Bowhunters
GMAC representative
Washington Archery Coalition
Chairman
Post by: hunt4 on March 17, 2009, 10:32:29 PM
Post by: Ridgerunner on March 18, 2009, 07:16:13 AM
Post by: nw_bowhunter on March 18, 2009, 07:21:40 AM
Post by: Slider on March 18, 2009, 09:20:46 AM
Post by: Lowedog on March 18, 2009, 05:04:10 PM
:bdid: :bdid:
-Lowedog
Post by: rougheye on March 18, 2009, 06:26:23 PM
Post by: SHANE(WA) on March 19, 2009, 12:57:26 AM
Post by: huntnphool on March 19, 2009, 01:01:16 AM
Post by: Lowedog on March 19, 2009, 07:00:30 AM
Its a bowhunt! not a rifle rut hunt, low success rate
Success rate has little to do with my opinion this matter. The overcrowding of hunters in the Swakane on that late hunt is rediculous.
Post by: bearmanric on March 19, 2009, 08:00:41 AM
Post by: Snapshot on March 19, 2009, 08:44:28 AM
Swakane is to run concurrent with the other Region 2 opportunities Nov 21-30 , 3 pt or better.
Entiat is up to 55 permits.
He wrote: “There are a couple more issues hanging out there that could make additions and/or subtractions to these changes. Also keep in mind the Commissioners may have ideas of their own to throw in the mix. So it ain't a done deal yet!”
And he apologizes for being an old fart, er, uh... I mean any inconveniences.
Dale
PS. I changed the original post above to reflect this update
Post by: boneaddict on March 19, 2009, 08:57:27 AM
Quote
Glad I drew the multi season tag this year
Kinda makes a guy feel all giddy inside doesn't it. I plan on dumping mine in Sept in the rocks but if I don't, always good to have an alternative plan.
Post by: Snapshot on March 19, 2009, 09:08:24 AM
With the doe opportunity gone the number of hunters will likely plummet back to what it was pre-2006.
D
Post by: loveipabeer on March 19, 2009, 09:19:40 AM
Glad I drew a multi season also.
Post by: Snapshot on March 19, 2009, 08:08:30 PM
"Pre huntWa..." I think that is funny (but I haven't been around this forum long enough to know for sure)
Post by: MichaelJ on March 25, 2009, 06:47:08 PM
Lowedog,
With the doe opportunity gone the number of hunters will likely plummet back to what it was pre-2006.
D
X2... and Mark, I really respect you but its not hard to get away from the hunters in Swakane and still get into plenty of deer. I know your comparing todays seasons to the 'good ole days' of past, but those days won't return. The buck harvest has been about equal since 2002. The doe harvest was the only rising statistic along with the number of hunters. I think going back to 3 pt or better and no anterless harvest is great. I know that it occurs during my thanksgiving break so if I can't get my ID residency, I'll still have a quality hunt to look forward to! I know we disagree on this matter, but I think after this next november we should talk again... :twocents:
If success rates don't have am impact on your opinion, and just hunter crowding, then throw in gates and/or do a little more walking...
Michael
Post by: Lowedog on March 27, 2009, 04:37:18 PM
Lowedog,
With the doe opportunity gone the number of hunters will likely plummet back to what it was pre-2006.
D
X2... and Mark, I really respect you but its not hard to get away from the hunters in Swakane and still get into plenty of deer. I know your comparing todays seasons to the 'good ole days' of past, but those days won't return. The buck harvest has been about equal since 2002. The doe harvest was the only rising statistic along with the number of hunters. I think going back to 3 pt or better and no anterless harvest is great. I know that it occurs during my thanksgiving break so if I can't get my ID residency, I'll still have a quality hunt to look forward to! I know we disagree on this matter, but I think after this next november we should talk again... :twocents:
If success rates don't have am impact on your opinion, and just hunter crowding, then throw in gates and/or do a little more walking...
Michael
Micheal, I don't mean any disrespect but you just don't get it. What is your idea of getting away from other hunters and still seeing plenty of deer? The Swakane is basically in my front yard. I know the unit very well and I know what the deer do on a typical year during that hunt. Walking my ass off to get away from other hunters and seeing a few legal bucks is not my idea of a quality hunt. The big mature bucks will be chasing does. The majority of does will be concentrated low on a typical year. Guess where the majority of Mature bucks will be? The "good ole days" WILL NEVER RETURN when every swinging dick that has an archery tag has the attitude that because archers have a low success rate and they hunt with inferior weapons (compared to modern) that they deserve to have an open season every single year to hunt mule deer in the rut.
The Swakane late archery hunt was an any deer hunt for years and years and you could go out and see a lot of big bucks every day that you went out. You could actually put a stalk on a big buck without ten other guys trying to hunt the same buck or running to cut you off as you make your stalk.
The problem is that the hunt is overcrowded! It has too much access and it is the closest late archery unit to the west side.
As archery hunters we have the whole month of September to get out and chase deer pretty much wherever we want to hunt. If you want to work your ass off and hunt big mule deer and prove yourself as a hunter you can do it then. That's what I'm going to do. You can have the late hunt. It's a joke! It is the Colockum of archery deer hunting! It's for all the whiners who don't want to have to hunt hard and bullied the WDFW into giving in and giving them what they want. What is the accomplishment of getting lucky and sticking a buck in late Nov/Dec that is too busy running from other hunters to notice that you just happened to be in the right spot?
-Mark
Post by: MichaelJ on March 27, 2009, 05:32:56 PM
Lowedog,
With the doe opportunity gone the number of hunters will likely plummet back to what it was pre-2006.
D
X2... and Mark, I really respect you but its not hard to get away from the hunters in Swakane and still get into plenty of deer. I know your comparing todays seasons to the 'good ole days' of past, but those days won't return. The buck harvest has been about equal since 2002. The doe harvest was the only rising statistic along with the number of hunters. I think going back to 3 pt or better and no anterless harvest is great. I know that it occurs during my thanksgiving break so if I can't get my ID residency, I'll still have a quality hunt to look forward to! I know we disagree on this matter, but I think after this next november we should talk again... :twocents:
If success rates don't have am impact on your opinion, and just hunter crowding, then throw in gates and/or do a little more walking...
Michael
Micheal, I don't mean any disrespect but you just don't get it. What is your idea of getting away from other hunters and still seeing plenty of deer? The Swakane is basically in my front yard. I know the unit very well and I know what the deer do on a typical year during that hunt. Walking my ass off to get away from other hunters and seeing a few legal bucks is not my idea of a quality hunt. The big mature bucks will be chasing does. The majority of does will be concentrated low on a typical year. Guess where the majority of Mature bucks will be? The "good ole days" WILL NEVER RETURN when every swinging dick that has an archery tag has the attitude that because archers have a low success rate and they hunt with inferior weapons (compared to modern) that they deserve to have an open season every single year to hunt mule deer in the rut.
The Swakane late archery hunt was an any deer hunt for years and years and you could go out and see a lot of big bucks every day that you went out. You could actually put a stalk on a big buck without ten other guys trying to hunt the same buck or running to cut you off as you make your stalk.
The problem is that the hunt is overcrowded! It has too much access and it is the closest late archery unit to the west side.
As archery hunters we have the whole month of September to get out and chase deer pretty much wherever we want to hunt. If you want to work your ass off and hunt big mule deer and prove yourself as a hunter you can do it then. That's what I'm going to do. You can have the late hunt. It's a joke! It is the Colockum of archery deer hunting! It's for all the whiners who don't want to have to hunt hard and bullied the WDFW into giving in and giving them what they want. What is the accomplishment of getting lucky and sticking a buck in late Nov/Dec that is too busy running from other hunters to notice that you just happened to be in the right spot?
-Mark
Mark,
No disrespect taken... The years that I have hunted archery deer I've been out a LOT in september, I don't just buy an archery tag and wait till november to hunt the swakane. So DON'T mistake me for one of 'those guys'... I work my ass off when I hunt, most here know that.
The late swakane archery hunt is a quality hunt. The two times I've hunted it, sure I've seen hunters ON THE ROAD, but in two days me and a buddy spotted over 40 bucks, 30 of them legal, and guess how many hunters I saw chasing those deer??? Yep you guessed it, I saw ONE hunter. And he wasn't even close to pushing them away and didn't interfere with my hunt at all. I could never close the deal because we kept bumping deer we hadn't seen when we were trying to get on different bucks... Was that a quality hunt?? You bet ur ass it was.
As far as the deer ALL being concentrated in the lowlands, yeah they are but its a big unit and its a Chelan CO unit and there's deer everywhere during that time of year.
You said "Walking my ass off to get away from other hunters and seeing a few legal bucks is not my idea of a quality hunt."
Its WA state, how else are you going to get away from all the hunters? If your idea of a quality hunt is driving the road and not seeing other hunters and lots of deer? If so, then you'll either have to A: Hunt in September, or B: Draw a special tag and wait for that.
Tell me, where are the deer during september? Are they readily accessible from a road? There's VERY few resident deer in areas accessible by road during that time. You're going to have to hike your ass off and get into the higher country. But like you said earlier, that wouldn't be a quality hunt for you...
As far as the WDFW caving in to the hunters input... Well they do work for us, and are majorly funded by us. Why shouldn't they listen to us? Why didn't you show up to the WDFW in Eburg to voice your opinion? I was there and it was an OVERWELMING opinion if not wanting to lose that hunt. Many of the reasons were family tradition and how hard it is to be able to have young archers get passionate about the sport if they don't have a quality late hunt like the swakane to cut their teeth on...
There's still another WDFW meeting coming up, if you'd like to show up in person and give them your input.
Michael
Michael
Post by: Lowedog on March 27, 2009, 06:51:44 PM
Lowedog,
With the doe opportunity gone the number of hunters will likely plummet back to what it was pre-2006.
D
Micheal, I don't mean any disrespect but you just don't get it. What is your idea of getting away from other hunters and still seeing plenty of deer? The Swakane is basically in my front yard. I know the unit very well and I know what the deer do on a typical year during that hunt. Walking my ass off to get away from other hunters and seeing a few legal bucks is not my idea of a quality hunt. The big mature bucks will be chasing does. The majority of does will be concentrated low on a typical year. Guess where the majority of Mature bucks will be? The "good ole days" WILL NEVER RETURN when every swinging dick that has an archery tag has the attitude that because archers have a low success rate and they hunt with inferior weapons (compared to modern) that they deserve to have an open season every single year to hunt mule deer in the rut.
The Swakane late archery hunt was an any deer hunt for years and years and you could go out and see a lot of big bucks every day that you went out. You could actually put a stalk on a big buck without ten other guys trying to hunt the same buck or running to cut you off as you make your stalk.
The problem is that the hunt is overcrowded! It has too much access and it is the closest late archery unit to the west side.
As archery hunters we have the whole month of September to get out and chase deer pretty much wherever we want to hunt. If you want to work your ass off and hunt big mule deer and prove yourself as a hunter you can do it then. That's what I'm going to do. You can have the late hunt. It's a joke! It is the Colockum of archery deer hunting! It's for all the whiners who don't want to have to hunt hard and bullied the WDFW into giving in and giving them what they want. What is the accomplishment of getting lucky and sticking a buck in late Nov/Dec that is too busy running from other hunters to notice that you just happened to be in the right spot?
-Mark
Mark,
No disrespect taken... The years that I have hunted archery deer I've been out a LOT in september, I don't just buy an archery tag and wait till november to hunt the swakane. So DON'T mistake me for one of 'those guys'... I work my ass off when I hunt, most here know that.
The late swakane archery hunt is a quality hunt. The two times I've hunted it, sure I've seen hunters ON THE ROAD, but in two days me and a buddy spotted over 40 bucks, 30 of them legal, and guess how many hunters I saw chasing those deer??? Yep you guessed it, I saw ONE hunter. And he wasn't even close to pushing them away and didn't interfere with my hunt at all. I could never close the deal because we kept bumping deer we hadn't seen when we were trying to get on different bucks... Was that a quality hunt?? You bet ur ass it was.
As far as the deer ALL being concentrated in the lowlands, yeah they are but its a big unit and its a Chelan CO unit and there's deer everywhere during that time of year.
You said "Walking my ass off to get away from other hunters and seeing a few legal bucks is not my idea of a quality hunt."
Its WA state, how else are you going to get away from all the hunters? If your idea of a quality hunt is driving the road and not seeing other hunters and lots of deer? If so, then you'll either have to A: Hunt in September, or B: Draw a special tag and wait for that.
Tell me, where are the deer during september? Are they readily accessible from a road? There's VERY few resident deer in areas accessible by road during that time. You're going to have to hike your ass off and get into the higher country. But like you said earlier, that wouldn't be a quality hunt for you...
As far as the WDFW caving in to the hunters input... Well they do work for us, and are majorly funded by us. Why shouldn't they listen to us? Why didn't you show up to the WDFW in Eburg to voice your opinion? I was there and it was an OVERWELMING opinion if not wanting to lose that hunt. Many of the reasons were family tradition and how hard it is to be able to have young archers get passionate about the sport if they don't have a quality late hunt like the swakane to cut their teeth on...
There's still another WDFW meeting coming up, if you'd like to show up in person and give them your input.
Michael
Michael
Michael, read the opening line in my last post again.
Sorry to say but you just don't have a lot of clout with me on this subject with your whole 2 times that you have hunted that hunt. The 2 days that you hunted you saw 30 legal bucks? 2 days? Is that what you are basing your experience on? And "legal" bucks...glad you had a quality hunt. I think we have a differant opinion of quality.
Quote: "The years that I have hunted archery deer I've been out a LOT in september, I don't just buy an archery tag and wait till november to hunt the swakane. So DON'T mistake me for one of 'those guys'... I work my ass off when I hunt, most here know that."
Quote from your post before that: "I know that it occurs during my thanksgiving break so if I can't get my ID residency, I'll still have a quality hunt to look forward to!"
So which guy are you?
You went to the meeting to fight the Swakane going to permit only so you could have a back up if you don't have a better opportunity? Pretty obvious where your priorities are.
You work your ass off when you hunt and most here know that? Who is most here and how do they know that? Because you say so? This is the internet. MOST HERE don't know you at all other than MichaelJ.
Another quote: "You said "Walking my ass off to get away from other hunters and seeing a few legal bucks is not my idea of a quality hunt."
Its WA state, how else are you going to get away from all the hunters? If your idea of a quality hunt is driving the road and not seeing other hunters and lots of deer? If so, then you'll either have to A: Hunt in September, or B: Draw a special tag and wait for that.
Tell me, where are the deer during september? Are they readily accessible from a road? There's VERY few resident deer in areas accessible by road during that time. You're going to have to hike your ass off and get into the higher country. But like you said earlier, that wouldn't be a quality hunt for you..."
Once again, I'm not looking for "legal" bucks. And you don't know me well enough to make assumptions of what my idea of a quality hunt is or how I hunt. And you definatly don't know me well enough to insult me.
The argument of family tradition means nothing. I grew up hunting with my dad when rifle season went into the first week of November. Should we reinstate that for family tradition? We used to hunt the late either sex elk hunt in the Mission too. Any elk! No spike elk only crap. That was family tradition too!
How hard it is to get young archers into hunting if they don't have a quality late hunt to cut there teeth on? Well lets make it a youth hunt then!
Of course the WDFW caved into the archery crowd. They are well organized and threatened to quite buying tags. Its all about the $$$$. The Swakane like the Colockum is the sacrificial lamb.
Besides why do you care what I think? You got what you wanted.
Maybe I'll see you in September...oops, probably not you don't road hunt!
-Lowedog
Post by: huntnphool on March 27, 2009, 07:06:45 PM
Post by: Slider on March 28, 2009, 08:41:16 AM