Hi, I was just looking at some of the hunting rule adoptions and changes that the department is considering. I didn’t see two things I would like to see. So I thought I might offer my thoughts on a couple issues to the department.
1) Any elk in the 139 unit where I live and the surrounding area is too liberal a season for our elk population to provide meaningful future hunting opportunities. The area around turnbull has a fair population, the rest of the Palouse
area has relatively small population that mostly uses the area as winter range and transitions to Idaho most of the time. I would like to see elk populations here allowed to grow. I realize agricultural damage complaints are a concern for the department and
that the department has an obligation not only to manage game for the benefit of hunters and wildlife, but also to mitigate damages. I would like to see a more creative management approach than simply keeping populations very low in this area. Perhaps wildlife
can be encouraged to use certain areas and discouraged from using others, perhaps we hunters could somehow fund or help with such measures to mitigate damages. I’m not in your shoes, I’m no biologist, but I’d pay or help if I could to build more opportunity
to hunt elk in eastern wa south of Spokane and north of the blues.
2) I’d like to be able to use scopes on muzzle loading firearms. Other states allow this, I’m sure the department considered it in adopting their current regulation. However simply providing my two cents as a person who cares to the
department; I feel that given the fact muzzle loading season is the most under utilized season that the hunting opportunity and distribution of hunters throughout the seasons might be improved by allowing telescopic sights on muzzle loading firearms. There
is also the argument for a more ethical take of the game, I realize it is a lessor weapon season but personally I’d like to see scopes allowed.
I disagree with eliminating deer and especially the elk area 1040. The intent of providing a "quality hunting experience" had been successful. 1040 are, to my knowledge, is the best do 8t yourself hunting experience. To eliminate 1040 would be very disappointing. I think the idea of having Nez Perce harvest most of the quality bulls and others with their endless bag limits would be a conflict with the general season hunters trying to harvest a spike only tag. I was with my friend that had the rifle quality bull tag last season (2020). Although I didn't not hunt, I carried a spotting scope and witnessed his awesome hunt. 1040 is a once in a lifetime do it yourself quality bull hunt that does not require an expensive guide. Please keep this hunt for the future. Thank you. Gordon Golding.
1040 should remain as a quality hunt opportunity, simply increase the number of tags per weapon choice. Tribal hunters hunt for months where we only hunt a weeks.
Issue 1: Support using hunters to manage elk hoof rot disease
See opposition to detail below
Issue 15: Support elimination of elk area 1040.
Level the playing field for everyone.
Wolves are present in the Blue Mountains now, the elk population will be increasingly difficult to hunt.
Elk Regulations: OPPOSE proposals
Issue 1: OPPOSE: allowing master hunters to harvest a “second elk”. This is ridiculous and in no way should be allowed! Allow a member of the public, who may never harvest an elk in WA,
the opportunity vs. allowing a second elk to be harvested by the same individuals
Encourage providing more than the month of August for elk hunting on Yakima Training Center. The weather is very hot then. Many MH are older and puts a lot of stress on hunters. Suggest if want to reduce season for MH, provide a split
season with some time in Dec-Jan. Example, two weeks in August and two weeks later in Dec-Jan. Thx Don Brunssen MH
thank you for the true spike delete, but at the same time, archery cow elk hunts are so scarce unless you are a native, and results in overcrowding and a poor hunting experience
I didn't catch this change/discrepancy prior to the standard comment period, but thought it may warrant separate comment in case a revision is required prior to approval.
In the past the Quality Elk Special Permit seasons for the Blue Mountain units (GMUs:145, 14, 154, 162, 163, 166, 172, 175, 178, 181, Elk Areas 1008 & 1009) for all weapon categories has opened
5 day ahead of the general season. In the current rule making document, the 5-day early start is in place for the Modern Firearm and Archery weapon choices, but has been removed for the Muzzleloader permit seasons. Instead, two days have been added to the
end of the season. This change was not mentioned in the summary of changes, so the dates listed may be an error. If not, this is a significant loss in opportunity for the Muzzleloader user group. The rifle are archery permit seasons are 14 and 18 days respectively
where the proposed muzzleloader season is only 9. Below is a snapshot showing the season dates in question.
1) Any elk in the 139 unit where I live and the surrounding area is too liberal a season for our elk population to provide meaningful future hunting opportunities. The area around turnbull has a fair population, the rest of the Palouse
area has relatively small population that mostly uses the area as winter range and transitions to Idaho most of the time. I would like to see elk populations here allowed to grow. I realize agricultural damage complaints are a concern for the department and
that the department has an obligation not only to manage game for the benefit of hunters and wildlife, but also to mitigate damages. I would like to see a more creative management approach than simply keeping populations very low in this area. Perhaps wildlife
can be encouraged to use certain areas and discouraged from using others, perhaps we hunters could somehow fund or help with such measures to mitigate damages. I’m not in your shoes, I’m no biologist, but I’d pay or help if I could to build more opportunity
to hunt elk in eastern wa south of Spokane and north of the blues.
2) I’d like to be able to use scopes on muzzle loading firearms. Other states allow this, I’m sure the department considered it in adopting their current regulation. However simply providing my two cents as a person who cares to the
department; I feel that given the fact muzzle loading season is the most under utilized season that the hunting opportunity and distribution of hunters throughout the seasons might be improved by allowing telescopic sights on muzzle loading firearms. There
is also the argument for a more ethical take of the game, I realize it is a lessor weapon season but personally I’d like to see scopes allowed.