2024-2026 Hunting Season Proposals

[bobcat]

The three year hunting season proposal was posted on the WDFW website yesterday, not sure if there's another post regarding this but I didn't see one.

Just going through it real quick these are some of the changes I saw:

1. 1x scopes legal on muzzleloaders
2. Orange/pink required for bear and cougar hunting
3. Crossbows legal during muzzleloader season
4. Winston, Coweeman, Lewis River, and Siouxon GMUs changed to bull only for early archery general season.
5. Elimination of ALL antlerless elk special permits for Winston, Margaret, Toutle, Coweeman, Lewis River, Siouxon, Norway Pass, and Mudflow.

I'm sure I missed a lot. Anyone else see any other significant changes?

[boneaddict]

Some other big ones I noted was the possiblility of making multi season tag purchase over the counter instead of draw
Big changes in trapping I suppose or hunting small game by having to turn in bobcat jaw. 
Maybe some sea duck changes for Harlequins.  Seems like more Master hunter stuff opening up maybe? I didnt have time to really scutinize it but there was quit a list to read
 

[bobcat]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention the bobcat jaw requirement. Sounds like quite a bit of extra time involved in getting the bobcat sealed now due to that new requirement.

Another one I forgot to post: hunters 65 and over allowed to use crossbows during archery seasons.

[boneaddict]

I was thinking damn, one of the nice trophy aspects of getting a cat is its skull mount

[hughjorgan]

https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/about/regulations/filings/2024/wsr-24-05-082.pdf

[boneaddict]

THey might be decreasing some antlerless harvest finally in some areas that could use it.   

[James]

Am I correct in assuming the crossbow for old dudes in archery season rule change means they still can't have a scope on their cross bow?


Not a big fan of the 1x scope/red dot on muzzy rule, I fear the seasons will be more crowded.

[dreamingbig]

The three year hunting season proposal was posted on the WDFW website yesterday, not sure if there's another post regarding this but I didn't see one.

Just going through it real quick these are some of the changes I saw:

1. 1x scopes legal on muzzleloaders
2. Orange/pink required for bear and cougar hunting
3. Crossbows legal during muzzleloader season
4. Winston, Coweeman, Lewis River, and Siouxon GMUs changed to bull only for early archery general season.
5. Elimination of ALL antlerless elk special permits for Winston, Margaret, Toutle, Coweeman, Lewis River, Siouxon, Norway Pass, and Mudflow.

I'm sure I missed a lot. Anyone else see any other significant changes?

Crossbows legal during archery season for those aged 65 and older.  I am opposed to that btw.  I like the permit application route.

The 1x scope on muzzleloader is going the wrong direction.  I would vote to leave them primitive.


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[dreamingbig]

Further decline in Yakima archery permits for bulls.  More than a little head scratching.

Any hope of convincing the department that success rates for archery can support more than single digit permits?  Especially when cow permits remain high?


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[Limhangerslayer]

They are a bunch of idiots and anti’s in there!  How they can drop the permits again for Yakima area elk is insane.  My buddies muzzy tag last year we had 12 bulls going in one drainage and they still only offer one tag🤦🏻

[GOcougsHunter]

Eliminating the Pumice Plains master hunter hunt is a bad idea if you are a Toutle, Mudflow or surrounding GMU hunter.  Typically there are only a couple of permitees allowed in there during the October season and just the physical presence of those hunters in that unit (which is generally wide open terrain) mixes up the herds and pushes the herds into the other units where they can be harvested rather than just congregate in pumice plains.  I have personally participated in this hunt many times over the years and can guarantee that I have pushed herds of over 100 animals into the Toutle, Margaret and Whittier in mid October.

[Pathfinder101]

No change to the start dates for bear...?

[hughjorgan]

No change to the start dates for bear...?

The commission hasn’t made any changes to bear or cougar. They are waiting to see WDFW density studies. Changes may come this year or in 2025.

[idahohuntr]

Four new quality bull tags/hunts on Rattlesnake/Hanford...one of the few additional opportunities I see.

[trophyhunt]

Four new quality bull tags/hunts on Rattlesnake/Hanford...one of the few additional opportunities I see.

Is that the area the yakamas hunted on just recently?