My Grand Idea! Mule Deer Seasons.

[bornforhorns]

I posted this on my poll post to, but to further encourage discussion I thought I would give it a separate post.

I've had an idea for awhile and I have some background in the WDFW.  I think they've made some good changes in the 3pt. or better/shorter seasons to increase herd and mature buck numbers.  I think an alternative draw system could look like the following to satisfy those who need to hunt every year (like me) and those that like the "draw or sit at home" method ie: Oregon.  A happy medium if you could.

I think they could reduce the number of late permits since there basically 100% success (or get rid of it), and keep the general season the way it is.  AND.....

AND MY GRAND ADDITION to the current system would be to include a draw that's basically a 70% to 30% split, where if you were drawn you not only get to hunt the first nine days (70%) like everybody else(if you want), but you also get to hunt an additional 7-10 days beyond that where only 30% of the license holders are out there than.  Other advantages would be the possible weather systems, etc. too many to count.  It's not a November hunt but the turnover on getting drawn would be excellent, and you might enjoy a quality hunt every 3 or 4 years.  The draw could be operated like the multi-season draw so you knew whether or not it would be worth it to even apply for a special late tag, or collect "ghost" points if you were drawn.  This would further reduce the number of applicants for special permits. Yeah!

I don't know what the exact percentage would be to split them, maybe you could even go 60% to 40% almost reducing hunters in the field by half, it would make a MAJOR  difference in the number of hunters in the field and the quality of the hunt because the lucky drawing hunters would probably wait and take their time off during their later ten days.
So....basically two seasons.  Harvest would obviously increase, so you would need to tinker with either the current late permit system or even antler restrictions for the later hunt so as not to "over target" the mature bucks.
The great job the WDFW is doing on harvest reports now days could be put to further use to ultimately determine the percentages of the split seasons...making it even more "active" management.

Good idea!  It's something I plan to voice my opinion on at the public meetings when they come back around.  I think they've also done a good job of listening in the last 10 years...but ultimately they are the experts and I respect that.

[Samish]

One problem i see with this is. The Dept. will lose the ability to manage the herd regionally. there will be huge pressure in some areas and little in others, Look at what happened in the Entiat the year the season went an extra 5 days. The remaining hunter that stayed till the end. which i would think is a fraction of what was there in the first half of the season. Took a huge percentage of the mature bucks in the unit. 4 yrs later the effects are still very noticeable.  I don't think the few quality areas this state has could handle the uncontrolled pressure. Just my  Samish

[bornforhorns]

I agree, that's why in the fourth paragraph I mentioned you would need to tinker with the antler restriction rule.  Maybe not having a point restriction would encourage hunters to take the first buck they saw...and spread the harvest out among the age classes. I think you could manipulate the numbers with the data they collect from harvest reports.  Maybe the percentages could be swayed more... 80% to 20% for example.  I really believe if you allowed most hunters to harvest an animal with any horns, let alone a 3pt., they would.

Thanks Samish.  Good point.  I think it could present some interesting possibilities.

[Ridinshotgun]

Anyone can go to the meetings and voice their opinion. The Dept. makes it look like we help shape the seasons. They have all the seasons pretty much set before the meetings start 99.9%. Now why does it take so long to get the regs out and have the special drawings?

[bornforhorns]

I'd say, it has to do with your harvest report being due mid January (correct?), lets give them a month to sort and crunch numbers which is not that much time, compare with previous data and trends, mind you that there's still a month and half of winter (mid-march), they do their spring counts and collect that data...compare that again with harvest reports... (end of march), the month of April to get the pamphlet printed and ready for production.  It hits the shelfs approx. May...giving you a month and a half to purchase special permits...the drawing is in July. 
I think the state of Washington poses challenges that other states don't have to account for...one being simply people...and yet we still have some pretty liberal opportunities.  Nobody will ever be 100% satisfied, but I would like to give the WDFW some props because I think they do a fine job.  Understandably everyone has their own opinion.