Less bowhunters this year ???

[MIKEXRAY]

Do you think there will be less bowhunters out this season ? It seems like some archers will try for those rifle bull tags that are a sure Kill. I can't figure out how many will jump ship. On one hand archery has a very loyal following but with the shorter archery seasons & the other weapon choices getting sweetened tags I can't decide. Your thoughts ?? And how many of you are switching for sure ? I'm going archery all again. Good luck this season, it is fast approaching so start getting ready. Mike

[ghgetter]

I guess you have two different types of bowhunters...opportunists and purists. I would think that the guys who like killing something might bail...the guys who love everything that goes into archery are in for the long haul...just my 

[BULLBLASTER]

hopefully everyone quits bowhunting... more room for me!!!

[jackelope]

you will still have much better odds of drawing big bull tags with archery tackle than you will have drawing one of those new rifle tags IMO...guys are gonna go crazy for those rifle rut hunts.
i'll stick with my bow.

[EastWaViking]

I don't think any hard core archery hunters will "jump ship".  Elk with a rifle sounds boring.

I am unhappy about them making the early deer bow season shorter, I don't get it.

[shanevg]

I had an archery tag last year and I am buying a MF tag this year.  I would never get a MF tag to hunt general season for elk.  I just will be (hopefully) starting a new job this fall and won't have enough time to take off for an archery hunt.  The years that I actually go out hunting, I will definitely still buy an archery tag, but I figure if I'm going to build up points anyways, I might as well try to get drawn for a MF tag.

[Hillbilly270]

say you buy your MF license and dont get drawn for any special permits.......do you dare go out archery hunting with all the rifle hunters out there?  or are you going to switch and use a rifle?

[jackelope]

not sure why you'd want to do that...you'd have to wear blaze orange, you'd be hunting very crowded woods in most cases and there is no rut.

[WDFW-SUX]

I dont think I would ever stop bow hunting elk..I got a modern deer tag this year but only because I have a bunch of points and want to draw a late hunt in a unit that is not available for archery.  I can still deer hunt in Idaho with my bow if i want.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Went MF for deer for the first time ever this year.  No vacation time for WA hunting this year, and my wife wants a bear for a rug, so my September weekends will be bear hunts - and during the high hunt, deer too.  Would have gone ML, but that conflicts with my WY deer hunt.  I sure will miss the late archery in Swakane though.

I for one am glad they are ending general season mule deer hunting in Chelan and Okanogan Cos. Nov. 30 - regardless of weapon.  Three months harassing those deer is plenty.  They should not be hunted much when they are on winter ranges.   

[Machias]

One less bowhunter here.

I will tell you something about hunting with a bow in rifle season.  VERY effective.  I hunted several years in MO and once here in WA with archery gear during rifle season.  If you head to the thickest nasty place you can find, places no rifle hunter would go into, set up your treestand in there, put on your blaze orange, you'll have non-stop action after the first day or so.  That is where all the big boys head to once the shooting starts.

[bearpaw]

I like to hunt with all weapons, but I will get an archery deer tag....I probably don't have time to hold out for a nice buck so I will try to arrow some venison for the freezer....unless a big guy makes a mistake and gets in the way.

[coonhound]

I guess I'm a purist, I'll be hunting both deer and elk with the bow...if they only gave me a week for each I'd still stick with the bow.  Of course I'd have to add a few more states to quench my appetite.  With that said I'm not against other weapons, in fact I spent many a season with the my trusty 270 in my hands but after I picked up the bow 8 or 9 years ago I'm hooked. 


Coon

[PolarBear]

hopefully everyone quits bowhunting... more room for me!!!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaamen!

[BLKBEARKLR]

Well technically if EVERYONE quit bowhunting that would mean you also, because you are part of everyone..

So to say it the right way, I hope everyone EXCEPT me quits bowhunting...