Washington High Buck

[Justin Crossley]

Ain't that the truth.

Disagree wholeheartedly.

At the absolute max you get 20 days to rifle hunt mule deer in WA state. Modern+HH. You already have to choose your weapon, so archery guys get hosed if they can't get it done with a bow.

With typical WA fall weather, it's usually half that, at least up top where it's actually worth hunting.

Giving up opportunity, especially in WA state, is a pretty dang slippery slope, particularly when it won't have any effect on population dynamics, and your commission is actively working to erode the state's hunting heritage. If you want to take the gong show pumpkin patch units on the Eastern slope of the Cascades and make them draw only to address crowding, guess what happens to the Cascade crest units that are totally void of hunters but loaded with deer during modern? New gong-show.

The most remote places with the fewest hunters I've been are not in Idaho, Wyoming, or Montana...they're deep in the WA cascades. Shoot, just last year I saw more dudes in one day, 3 miles from the nearest trail in the Bob Marshall Wilderness than I saw in 5 years of high hunts in WA state.

What would your proposal be looking to accomplish?

It would force people to choose which hunt is actually important to them, increase your odds of getting premium tags, and reduce crowding in the October seasons. I doubt it would change the high hunt much at all.

I would be okay with extending the seasons so they're longer as long as you can't hunt multiple seasons.

I would also do away with the current draw system that allows all the different categories for deer and elk.

If you want a cow tag, that's what you put in for. If you want a quality bull tag, you apply for that. But not both.

 

[ianpadron]

It would force people to choose which hunt is actually important to them, increase your odds of getting premium tags, and reduce crowding in the October seasons. I doubt it would change the high hunt much at all.

I would be okay with extending the seasons so they're longer as long as you can't hunt multiple seasons.

I would also do away with the current draw system that allows all the different categories for deer and elk.

If you want a cow tag, that's what you put in for. If you want a quality bull tag, you apply for that. But not both.

I don't see going after the HH accomplishing any of that.

It would penalize the steep n deep guys that like to hunt wilderness areas during modern and September, and don't have crowding issues on their hunts.

Opportunities never increase, so be careful what you ask for.

 

[Bachto]

It would force people to choose which hunt is actually important to them, increase your odds of getting premium tags, and reduce crowding in the October seasons. I doubt it would change the high hunt much at all.

I would be okay with extending the seasons so they're longer as long as you can't hunt multiple seasons.

I would also do away with the current draw system that allows all the different categories for deer and elk.

If you want a cow tag, that's what you put in for. If you want a quality bull tag, you apply for that. But not both.

Oregons High buck is a draw.
I do agree with you mostly. for it make sense to me you would need to make the general season at least a week longer. I also find the Buck tags vs quality tags silly. Everything this state does is silly though.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Opportunities never increase......ding ding ding.

The reality is that hunting across the west is in a downward spiral and I dont know how/when /if it will come back. Tags are only going to get more difficult to draw as well as more expensive. Demand will continue to outpace the supply.

Hate to be a debbie downer but I've seen the writing on the wall for the last decade across the west. My motto is to try and draw tags each year and hunt while there is still decent opportunity. Social media, websites, technology have all contributed to a demand that will never be satisfied. While WA doesn't have the greatest of hunts at least its a state you know you can hunt in each and every year and if you put in the effort there are some good mature critters to chase around.

 

[shedhunt]

Good morning, new to Rokslide and have enjoyed reading this thread.
I had the privilege to hunt the high hunt in 95 as a teenager. Having zero experience hunting that type of terrain, it made it difficult to say the least.
We saw deer daily which kept our hopes high that we'd get a crack at a legal buck. However, the one thing that stood out to me on that hunt was the over abundance of blackbears that we saw every day.
I agree with what is being said, don't take away the HH, but managing the problems we have in our state to help the populations is what we need. More predator control across the board, is what I feel will make a better, quicker and more noticeable affect on our big game population.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Yeah, if you go on the HH, have a bear tag or 2. They're cheap and OTC.

 

[shedhunt]

Yep, wish I'd known that back in 1995. Now a days, always carrying bear tags..

 

[Titanmoose]

I'm coming over from MT to hunt bears and help you fellas out, no excuses for residents that don't roll at least one big fuzzy a year.

I just can't seem to find one LOL I am trying tho!

 

[Jason277]

Well either way it is coming up soon. Good luck to everyone who is getting out there!

 

[Jason277]

Opening Day of High buck !

 

[WaWox]

We better see some bucks posted here soon! [I will be in the wilderness till tomorrow night, wish me luck ]

 

[JeffRaines]

I'm not gonna roll around in the mud on the politics, but I will say this...

As a deer hunter, it has been tough learning a new game(bear hunting). I've seen a massive number of people complaining about the predator numbers - yet two things are common with these guys:

1. They're rarely taking their share of bears and other predators out.
2. If someone asks, as a new bear hunter, about anything spot related they're crapped on with the rest of the elk/deer "not looking for your honey hole BUT" guys.

What I'm trying to say is shit or get off the pot. You either want to manage predators, so help make it happen, or stop complaining about it.

This isn't directed at anyone specifically(or anyone on this thread even), just something I've noticed browsing forums and Facebook for awhile now.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Correct. Most folks who run their mouth about “needing to kill more predators” rarely get out and actively do so.

 

[Titanmoose]

I'm not gonna roll around in the mud on the politics, but I will say this...

As a deer hunter, it has been tough learning a new game(bear hunting). I've seen a massive number of people complaining about the predator numbers - yet two things are common with these guys:

1. They're rarely taking their share of bears and other predators out.
2. If someone asks, as a new bear hunter, about anything spot related they're crapped on with the rest of the elk/deer "not looking for your honey hole BUT" guys.

What I'm trying to say is shit or get off the pot. You either want to manage predators, so help make it happen, or stop complaining about it.

This isn't directed at anyone specifically(or anyone on this thread even), just something I've noticed browsing forums and Facebook for awhile now.

This. ^^^

I didn't go out as much as I would have liked, but the areas I picked to try off hand were A. too low in elevation and B. over run with people from the I-90 corridor (subies and sidebysides everywhere)

Imagine if guys who had or knew certain areas where bears were moving, shared it with newer dudes and let them tag out, mentored them more..... harvest rates are still super low and we are probably 1-2 years away from....(sorry, the second tag science isn't clear, 1 tag only per hunter)

I have permits this year for both st.helens and Aberdeen weyerhauser and can make elk and late season black tail, but I am hoping that I can harvest an elk early October in Idaho and get back and scout and get a bear here.....

If anyone here, has a spot, or knows where bear move, and want to go next weekend for a day. I will gladly meet you somewhere between Tacoma and Olympia and join you

 

[Jason277]

Anyone get one down yet……?

 

[Bachto]

Some guys I follow on instagram (OTCoutdoors) Killed 2 pretty nice bucks!

 

[WaWox]

I made the standard beginner mistake suite of escouting only, no boots on the ground, followed by hiking way too fast way too deep -- but on trail -- into way too tough terrain versus just venturing more off trail. Didn't see anything mammalian bigger than a chipmunk but had an absolute blast with two colleagues out in the woods

 

[ianpadron]

I'm not gonna roll around in the mud on the politics, but I will say this...

As a deer hunter, it has been tough learning a new game(bear hunting). I've seen a massive number of people complaining about the predator numbers - yet two things are common with these guys:

1. They're rarely taking their share of bears and other predators out.
2. If someone asks, as a new bear hunter, about anything spot related they're crapped on with the rest of the elk/deer "not looking for your honey hole BUT" guys.

What I'm trying to say is shit or get off the pot. You either want to manage predators, so help make it happen, or stop complaining about it.

This isn't directed at anyone specifically(or anyone on this thread even), just something I've noticed browsing forums and Facebook for awhile now.

For any wannabe bear hunters I will gladly send pins in WA where they could use some thinning out.

 

[Quicksilver]

For any wannabe bear hunters I will gladly send pins in WA where they could use some thinning out.

Pin the whole state

 

[ianpadron]

Pin the whole state

Exactly. I do wonder how guys struggle to kill bears in WA. Used to see them on every single outing in the highcountry.

Have had a couple PMs already, I'll get them some low hanging fruit and let them spread their wings.