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Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: IslandHunter on August 01, 2023, 12:36:14 PM


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Title: Second Deer Rules Question
Post by: IslandHunter on August 01, 2023, 12:36:14 PM
I got drawn for both my second deer tag and multi season tags this year.

The Regs say the dates for my second deer tag in the GMU I got is Aug 1 - Dec 31 st

I always understood this as I can take a second deer during the season I have I other tag for. So in my case with the multi season I can hunt any season with a legal weapon to take my second deer.

The Regs say " You must purchase a second deer tag to participate in this hunt and only the second tag can be used in the second deer permit hunt. The second tag must be the same weapon choice as your first tag.

My friend is telling me that I can take my second deer any time between Aug 1 - Dec 31st, and with the multi season I can use any weapon. I don't think this is right, but I also don't understand why there is a date range on the second deer tag unless you can hunt the entire time.

So with a multi season and a second deer tag what are my options?

Thanks for the help.

Title: Re: Second Deer Rules Question
Post by: greenhead_killer on August 01, 2023, 12:43:30 PM
I’d imagine it’s whatever the regs say what tag you drew. Your ms tag is good for your general buck tag etc if your second deer tag was a muzzy tag, then you can only use muzzy. If it’s a rifle second deer tag, you can use any of the options
Title: Re: Second Deer Rules Question
Post by: Bob33 on August 01, 2023, 12:53:08 PM
There is a column "TAG REQUIRED TO APPLY" in the regulations that will indicate what type of weapon may be used on the hunt. If it says Any or Modern you can use any legal method.
Title: Re: Second Deer Rules Question
Post by: IslandHunter on August 01, 2023, 01:28:54 PM
There is a column "TAG REQUIRED TO APPLY" in the regulations that will indicate what type of weapon may be used on the hunt. If it says Any or Modern you can use any legal method.

Yes it says "Any" for tag required to apply

So I can use any legal method during the entire range of dates? Modern Firearm, Muzzle, or Archery? Would this also allow me to take my second deer with a MF during archery season? This doesn't seem right.

Thanks for the help, relatively new to hunting and first time with a special permit.
Title: Re: Second Deer Rules Question
Post by: Mfowl on August 01, 2023, 01:42:57 PM
There is a column "TAG REQUIRED TO APPLY" in the regulations that will indicate what type of weapon may be used on the hunt. If it says Any or Modern you can use any legal method.

Yes it says "Any" for tag required to apply

So I can use any legal method during the entire range of dates? Modern Firearm, Muzzle, or Archery? Would this also allow me to take my second deer with a MF during archery season? This doesn't seem right.

Thanks for the help, relatively new to hunting and first time with a special permit.

"Any" means any weapon tag can apply for the permit not that it is an any weapon season. If you had an archery tag and drew that permit you would need to hunt it with archery only. You are permitted to use a lesser weapon during a given season so if you had a modern tag applying you could use any weapon type since the others are lesser. The season is 8/1-12/31 so you can use whatever weapon tag you applied with regardless of what general seasons are going on. If you had a multiseason tag in the draw I am not sure how that would apply, you might want to reach out to wdfw on that one but I would suspect it would permit you to use modern or any lesser weapon for the second deer tag.
Title: Re: Second Deer Rules Question
Post by: Bob33 on August 01, 2023, 01:57:55 PM
There is a column "TAG REQUIRED TO APPLY" in the regulations that will indicate what type of weapon may be used on the hunt. If it says Any or Modern you can use any legal method.

Yes it says "Any" for tag required to apply

So I can use any legal method during the entire range of dates? Modern Firearm, Muzzle, or Archery? Would this also allow me to take my second deer with a MF during archery season? This doesn't seem right.

Thanks for the help, relatively new to hunting and first time with a special permit.
You have a Multi Season tag. In a hunt listed as "Any Weapon" you should be able to hunt with any weapon during that entire "Any" season. If you did not have a multi season tag you would be restricted to hunt with the weapon designation of your primary tag.
Title: Re: Second Deer Rules Question
Post by: Huckleberry on August 01, 2023, 02:15:36 PM
I emailed the WDFW the same question. I imagine it's hot right now but that I can in fact shoot a deer as of august 1st. You might just email them and have a copy of the reply should you run into any issues. Pretty sure that saved some tag holders a lot of headache on Bullwinkle.
Title: Re: Second Deer Rules Question
Post by: IslandHunter on August 01, 2023, 03:01:16 PM
I emailed the WDFW the same question. I imagine it's hot right now but that I can in fact shoot a deer as of august 1st. You might just email them and have a copy of the reply should you run into any issues. Pretty sure that saved some tag holders a lot of headache on Bullwinkle.

I will shoot them an email.

If it is the case that with the second deer permit and the muilti-season tag I can hunt from Now until Dec 31st with any weapon I choose that would be pretty cool. Ill probably stick to archery most of the time anyway but it opens up a lot of hunting opportunity which is nice because I have a new baby at home and very little time to hunt this season.

I will update when I hear back from them. 
Title: Re: Second Deer Rules Question
Post by: bobcat on August 01, 2023, 03:25:07 PM
There is a column "TAG REQUIRED TO APPLY" in the regulations that will indicate what type of weapon may be used on the hunt. If it says Any or Modern you can use any legal method.

Yes it says "Any" for tag required to apply

So I can use any legal method during the entire range of dates? Modern Firearm, Muzzle, or Archery? Would this also allow me to take my second deer with a MF during archery season? This doesn't seem right.

Thanks for the help, relatively new to hunting and first time with a special permit.
You have a Multi Season tag. In a hunt listed as "Any Weapon" you should be able to hunt with any weapon during that entire "Any" season. If you did not have a multi season tag you would be restricted to hunt with the weapon designation of your primary tag.

 :yeah:

This is your answer. No need to email the WDFW.
Title: Re: Second Deer Rules Question
Post by: Moose Master on August 07, 2023, 07:24:11 PM
If I understand your thoughts  First contact Wildlife and get your answer in writing.  This are my thoughts below.

Your second deer tag relative to a single GMU, sex of animal to take, season dates and weapon


Multi season is relative to primary deer take within set season dates and type of weapon.  You can choose to hunt within any posted legal season. Yes the lesser weapon rule is for primary deer only.

Looking forward to Wildlife answer and Good Luck 👍
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