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Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: shmacker on May 24, 2018, 07:47:48 AM


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Title: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: shmacker on May 24, 2018, 07:47:48 AM
After looking through the special permit hunts, I noticed that one of the 400 series units that I frequent has very liberal seasons and harvest regulations, but there is no opportunity for a Quality buck tag.  Does anyone know why the state would limit access for hunters/ revenue for the state by not offering a quality buck permit in a unit that allows Any Deer, and any Buck in the general seasons?  I would love to hunt the rut in this area and I'm sure there would be many special hunt applications sold if it were available.
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: boneaddict on May 24, 2018, 08:15:15 AM
Probably a balance of opportunity versus expectations for a quality permit.   Quality to many means the realistic chance at a trophy buck.  It also might be management that if there is a high harvest they want to leave x amount of breeding class bucks.
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: shmacker on May 24, 2018, 10:59:18 AM
Bone, you could be right about the expectation of quality, because although this unit produces big bucks it is one of the most human populated GMUs in the state.  I just thought it was odd that WDFW offers "any deer" general seasons to archery and muzzleloader but no rut tag.  Seems like in this unit, the more deer harvested the better from WDFW's point of view.
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: fish vacuum on May 24, 2018, 12:15:44 PM
The 400 series quality tags are basically in place of what used to be the late season. Does the unit you're thinking of still have a late modern season that's open to everyone?
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: jackelope on May 24, 2018, 12:24:24 PM
Is it 454?
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on May 24, 2018, 12:26:43 PM
Sounds like a unit for a buck permit rather than quality buck.
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: shmacker on May 24, 2018, 12:52:14 PM
Correct Jackelope
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: jackelope on May 24, 2018, 02:07:19 PM
Correct Jackelope

With one weapon or another, there is a season open in there almost everyday from 9/1 to 12/31.
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: shmacker on May 24, 2018, 02:21:01 PM
Yeah I understand that the seasons are long, I guess I was wondering if anyone had insight as to why they don't offer even one rut tag that starts Nov 1.  It's a huge unit with a substantial deer population, and I have seen some really nice bucks between Halloween and when the late season opens.  It seems like it would be a win win for hunter opportunity at a nice buck and revenue from application sales.  I think this will be the first year I will buy a rifle tag to bowhunt blacktails just due to that timeframe.
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: Stein on May 24, 2018, 02:36:00 PM
Call the bio, I'm sure he/she would let you know.  My guess is that they have a few units they manage for opportunity and others that are managed for quality/trophy opportunities.
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: fish vacuum on May 24, 2018, 03:08:05 PM
Careful what you ask for. They could scratch the late hunt and make it draw only.
Quality hunts in other 400 series units got moved up this year. Previously, they were around the traditional late season timeframe.
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: jackelope on May 24, 2018, 04:01:46 PM
I bet it's got a lot, or all, to do with hunter opportunity.
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on May 24, 2018, 04:23:43 PM
They're could be a variety of reasons. Maybe the breeding age bucks are in short supply so they are protecting all of them, maybe it conflicts with concurrent seasons, perhaps they simply overlooked it. I don't know the unit well, but geographically it would make sense their may not be alot of public ground access. Perhaps thats a factor. It sounds like it could support a couple rut permits, but maybe the department doesnt want the potential headache.
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: fish vacuum on May 24, 2018, 04:35:37 PM
The 400 series units with quality permits do not have a late modern season. The late season in that unit is the quality hunt.
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: shmacker on May 24, 2018, 04:50:09 PM
Good point fish vaccuum
Title: Re: Units without Quality Buck permit
Post by: jackelope on May 24, 2018, 04:57:08 PM
It's pretty much King County proper. There is very little public ground. It's almost all firearms restricted.
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