txhunter581
WKR
So, there doesn't seem to be a link to it, but the above regs were not the ones that actually passed. Here is a synopsis of what I understand to be the final regs that were passed:
Archery: Sept 2-30 every year
Muzzy: No change
First rifle: No change (5 day season, elk only)
Second rifle. 10 day break after 1st rifle, starts on a Saturday and is for 9 days
3rd rifle: 6 day break, starts on a Saturday and runs for 7 days (ends on a Friday!)
4th rifle: 5 day break, starts on a Wednesday.
In my opinion, this is very bad news for big bucks in the future. The 3rd season is now the week the 4th used to be and the 4th is a week later into the rut (one of the years you can still hunt till Nov 28th!)
Next couple of years, some real whopper bucks will be killed due to later dates, but after that, we can look at mediocre deer unless they drastically reduce tag numbers, and they won't do that.
As far as its effects on elk, that remains to be seen. Will the 10 day break between 1st and second seasons mean higher harvest rates on elk in the second season? Will the later 3rd season mean more OTC hunts during a "migration" and therefore a bigger harvest? Again, if that happens, it will be great for a few years, followed by lower elk numbers and harvest, or going to completely drawing for elk.
Archery: Sept 2-30 every year
Muzzy: No change
First rifle: No change (5 day season, elk only)
Second rifle. 10 day break after 1st rifle, starts on a Saturday and is for 9 days
3rd rifle: 6 day break, starts on a Saturday and runs for 7 days (ends on a Friday!)
4th rifle: 5 day break, starts on a Wednesday.
In my opinion, this is very bad news for big bucks in the future. The 3rd season is now the week the 4th used to be and the 4th is a week later into the rut (one of the years you can still hunt till Nov 28th!)
Next couple of years, some real whopper bucks will be killed due to later dates, but after that, we can look at mediocre deer unless they drastically reduce tag numbers, and they won't do that.
As far as its effects on elk, that remains to be seen. Will the 10 day break between 1st and second seasons mean higher harvest rates on elk in the second season? Will the later 3rd season mean more OTC hunts during a "migration" and therefore a bigger harvest? Again, if that happens, it will be great for a few years, followed by lower elk numbers and harvest, or going to completely drawing for elk.
