Rumor about Eastern Washington Modern Rifle Season!

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Ok I'm not here to start a panic but I did hear from a friend today that there are rumors that they might close the season becuase of the extreme fire dangers in our part of the state. The same thing did happen about 10 years ago, although I was not living in this state at the time my buddie did tell me that if they were to close the season that they would probably open it back up in the late November and into early December. Which would be great! Atleast I think so, to get to hunt in the snow would be wonderful. Ok He heard it from his friend who is on the committee. He is going to get back at me as soon as he hears anything. What I really wanted to know is if this is just a rumor and if so has anybody else heard of it? Or could this really happen and could this be a good thing.... Maybe less hunting pressure? So like I said Im just wondering, and I'm not trying to start a panic.. Ok Thanks guys and good hunting
-Chris-
 
Yesterday, I talked with my cousin who works for Simpson Timber Co. He told me that Simpson is about to shut all of their land down, maybe all the way through November. Weyerhaeuser and Port Blakely are probably going to do the same. That'll mean there will be very few places to hunt over here in Western, WA.
My take on it is that the WDFW will find a way to open up a bunch of land in time for modern deer. They will lose a ton of money if the woods are shut down for archery, muzz and rifle. I am all for tham shutting it down until we get plenty enough rain to kill the fire danger. Those animals are stressed enough with the dry conditions and dwindling food supply. I would be more than happy to stay out of the woods until November or December if need be.
Eric
 
It'll be a slaughter if you turn the entire modern contingent onto the deer in Nov. If that's the choice.... just call the whole damn thing off!

It's been dry and there are fires, but we've had real dry years before. I'd still bet it'll be open.
 
No kidding! Hold all the rifle hunters back until November and turn them loose during the rut? Holy balls, what a masacre it would be! I usually dont hunt deer until late November and December anyway (archery), myself and most of my bowhunter friends would be willing to have a shorter season, even if it meant cutting time off of the late hunt.
Eric
 
I do remember in the early 90's them extending the season by one week through halloween due to the extreme limited access on the eastside of the state that year, I don't think they shut the whole thing down though.
 
Go figure. This will be just my luck, I finaly draw a permit to hunt late November muzzleload with only four other lucky people and it sounds like there is a chance general season will be move back. I really know nothing about what the game department will do but I don't think this would be the best idea. Keep us posted, I will be curious to see their solution.
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-28-06 AT 11:12PM (MST)[p]Like I said it was just somthing I had heard today and I was just wondering if anybody else heard anything... Im really good friends with a few Game Wardens so I am going to try to contact them in the next couple of days and see if I can find anything out.... Also as soon as my buddie hears back from his friend on the committee Ill get back to you guys ASAP.. Oh and Slinger congrats on your Draw, I sure hope things work out for you, I have 8 points myself and I would really be worried to if the same things happens to me! What would be the point of the draw if everybody got to hunt in November!
-Chris-
 
I remember as well the season of 91. season was open 4 days then closed for a week...temps in high 70's low 80's. then snowed around halloween...there is still time for the weather to help us and the deer out.
 
Lets not panic yet. I am sure they will not open a general season during the rut. We still have a while to see about rain before general season opens. I do remember 91 when elk season was pushed back a few days too. But when it opened it snowed like hell. It was a great hunt. I'm sure there will be some sort of season.

But I gotta admit. This weather has been causing a lot of trouble for me in making plans for the season. It is anyone's guess what units will be open and which ones will be on fire unless we get some moisture.

Mike Henne
 
I don't think the WDFG is necassarily concerned about fire danger from hunter's, that's not their balliwick. So unless they're forced to shut the season's down by some other higher authority to keep people out of the woods, it ain't gonna happen due to fire danger or overly dry conditions.

And it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense for the DFG to close down the regular season's due to a concern for deer overly stressed by fire and draught conditions (which is their balliwick) only to open the season backup during the rut or post rut when the bucks are most volnerable and stressed in normal years....

I could see them closing a unit here and there, because the unit has been turned to charcoal...
 
I live in Spokane and woke up to the sound of rain early this morning; in addition it is currently raining this morning & is supposed to be in the mid-60's the next couple of days. Yes, it has been a hot dry summer but we need to remember it is still August. Keep your fingers crossed for more cooler and wet weather and I dont anticipate any problems. Just my opion..
 
I wouldn't worry yet, looking at the forecast. We usually do get some rain and a lot more evening dew in September. We hunt in the NE corner and almost every year, fire restrictions through September and everything's OK again by the modern opener -in the NF. I can't speak for private timberlands.
 
it wouldnt happen. they couldnt open a modern season during the rut and in december. it would overlap and screw up all the permit hunts, and all the archery hunts. The whole entiat burned and they still had a season. So no worrys. the season will be there. There just might be a lot more people in your hunting spot because theirs is burned or on fire still.
 
One person said:

"I don't think the WDFG is necassarily concerned about fire danger from hunter's, that's not their balliwick. So unless they're forced to shut the season's down by some other higher authority to keep people out of the woods, it ain't gonna happen due to fire danger or overly dry conditions.

And it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense for the DFG to close down the regular season's due to a concern for deer overly stressed by fire and draught conditions (which is their balliwick) only to open the season backup during the rut or post rut when the bucks are most volnerable and stressed in normal years....

I could see them closing a unit here and there, because the unit has been turned to charcoal... "



It's not the WDFW that makes the call (they are consulted), it's the feds, state DNR, simpson, weyerhauser (sp), and the other large land owners that do it. They control the land, and if its too dry they WILL shut down the woods regadless of what you or I think is right or smart.

I would not worry about it anyway, if it happens it likely will be like it was in 91, and the season was saved. . .


There's no such thing as global warming, is there?



"Roadless areas, in general, represent some of the best fish and wildlife habitat on public lands. The bad news is that there is nothing positive about a road where fish and wildlife habitat are concerned -- absolutely nothing." (B&C Professor, Jack Ward Thomas, Fair Chase, Fall 2005, p.10).
 
No kidding I have been waiting for 7 years to draw along with my dad and if they extend it til late Oct. or any part of november I will be very unhappy and pissed off. I don't think it will happen. Too much money lost.

DUGAN
 
Hey all,
I have been living in the high desert all my life. I have seen the weather change with the seasons. The "high fire danger" is very real, every year. I will see you in the woods in October.
 
Raining good right now. chance of more later this week, cooled down considerably today. I'd say -games on!!
 
It is going to take a lot more than one or two days of rain and a little cool weather to straighten things out. That is how a lot of fires are started. Folks think that any rain will fix the problem and go out and burn after a tiny rain storm or shower and wind up setting the whole damn place ablaze.
Eric
 
It would not be a good thing to extend the season into November or December. The deer and elk harvest needs to be managed. Letting everyone hunt after the migration would make it easy for everyone to go home with meat and leave nothing for 2007.

I suspect that fire restrictions could be left in place and some private land owners my close their land but the hunt should and will go on. It could rain. We got an inch of snow in the mountains this afternoon (Red Pass; Glacier Peak Wilderness). Dale
 
Good info, thanks Dale. How'd the deer overwinter in the Mission area?

-Bear, 9 out of ten fires are started by people throwing cigs out the car window, just kills me. I see it every day. Some folks don't realize but the forest service is very good at tracing the start of a fire and I've known of more than one person who was held accountable for an accidental blaze.... My mom has worked for the fire marshal's office here for 17 years.
 
I meant to say 9/10 man caused fires. Lightening is the big natural cause.
 
I would have guessed that 90% of the mountain fires were lightning caused.

The Mission unit deer had a pretty good winter. Snow depth was high at elevation but most of the best winter range is farther east and lower. The warmer weather helped.
 
Wildfires limit access for some hunters;
fire restrictions in effect on wildlife lands




Hunters planning to be afield this month and next may find access closed or restricted in some areas due to wildfires.

?Hunters and others recreating outdoors need to check access restrictions before heading out, be prepared to use camp stoves rather than open fires, and take extra caution with anything that could start a fire outdoors,? said Mark Quinn, lands division manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

With several large wildfires burning and fire danger high throughout the state, WDFW is not allowing open fires on 830,000 acres of department-owned and managed land, including wildlife areas and water-access sites. The open-fire ban likely will extend at least through September, Quinn said. Some popular wildlife areas, such as the Oak Creek Wildlife Area near Yakima, are posted for no open fires through Oct. 15.

Hunting seasons for black bear and cougar have been under way in most of the state since Aug. 1, and forest grouse, dove and early archery deer hunting seasons open Sept. 1.

The open-fire ban is consistent with fire restrictions set by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which evaluates fire risk for much of the state's public lands, Quinn explained.

WDFW lands are protected from wildfire by entities with professional fire-fighting crews, including DNR, local fire districts and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The major wildfires burning in Washington this season thus far have not involved WDFW lands, Quinn said.

For the past month, USFS crews and other firefighters have been battling the Tripod Complex wildfires in north central Washington. The Tripod Complex fires currently affect nearly 120,000 acres, and two other wildfires continue to burn in western Washington?the Carbon Copy fire outside Mount Rainier National Park and the Bear Gulch fire in the Olympic National Forest.

Quinn said all hunters, but particularly those planning to participate in the popular Sept. 15-25 high buck hunt in wilderness areas of north-central Washington, should be aware of specific closures.

Managers of the Okanogan and Wenatchee national forests have closed the eastern portion of the Pasayten Wilderness Area from the Chewuch Trail (510) east to the forest boundary. Additional trail closures are in place west and south of that location, and all will remain in effect until further notice.

For additional information on the Tripod Complex wildfires see http://www.inciweb.org/incident/341/. For details on access closures check http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/oka/fire/closure or call the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest at 509-826-3795, Methow Ranger District at 509-996-4000, or Tonasket Ranger District at 509-486-2186.

Those planning to recreate outdoors can check conditions before by calling DNR's toll-free fire information line, 800-323-BURN, or checking DNR's fire information webpage at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/fire/index.html.
 
Good info Craig. If some of you remember back they closed the seasonn for a week or two back in the 80's up in the Methow. I was a young in' so don't remember the year. It seems almost every year its hot, and dry with closures hanging overhead, then the weather changes and its good to go. I don't think anyone in the department are idiot enough to open the season late to compensate. they didn't back then. You were just out of luck. There is still plenty of time.
 

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