>You are right (and I was
>wrong. I will always be
>man enough to admit it.)
>about the archery, as I
>didn't completely understand how the
>multi-season tags were given out,
>but the same concept still
>applies to the muzzy and
>rifle tags.
>
>There is 15,000 rifle and muzzy
>tags combined. In previous years
>when you bought a rifle
>tag you couldn't hunt the
>muzzy and when you bought
>the muzzy you couldn't hunt
>the rifle. This year you
>could buy the multi-season and
>hunt both. I feel like
>that is a lot of
>muzzy hunters who would be
>hunting the rifle now, and
>probably even more rifle hunters
>hunting the muzzy when they
>couldn't have in the past.
>Maybe some people buying the
>multi-season and tagging out in
>archery, like yourself, will offset
>that, but success rates are
>so low in archery, I
>highly doubt it. I still
>think there is increased pressure
>everywhere, no matter how you
>slice it.
>
>Once again, I'll say I'm not
>totally against the multi-season tags,
>but I just think they
>do increase the pressure on
>all seasons. The rifle hunt
>will be the least affected,
>but they ALL should see
>an increase in pressure.
I have been talking about the rifle hunt in particular as that is the most popular hunt. The muzzy hunt is going to be a circus compared to any other year. I will fully admit that, that is by far going to be the most affected hunt, I have said that all along, I did not see an increase of guys during the archery hunt but I also tagged out pretty early and was not in the hills as much as normal, I have herd reports that it was a mess, and that it was no different than any other year, Im sure that last week of the season seen an increase of people hoping to get into some rutting elk.
I think the number of "mostly archery" guys getting multi season tags even though they do not tag out on the archery hunt will not be hunting the rifle hunt with the same intensity as the guys that would be hunting the rifle hunt in there place. meaning they most likely will be hunting the weekends and not taking vacation and spending a full week up in the mountains going hard the full week. This is speculation on my part but that is how I feel.
As far as muzzy guys getting multi tags, if my memory serves me right when they discussed this at the RAC and WB meetings last year they said there was around 1200 muzzy tags bought out of the 15000 total, if even 50% of those guys bought the 3 season tag that is not a significant number of people to effect the rifle hunt. (again im going from memory and that number could be off but even if you double it its not a huge amount compared to the rifle hunt)
I will say this, the area my family hunts during the rifle hunt seen a lot less people and camps in the area, the area is usually flooded with camps, this year there was 3 including my familys.
Huge reduction in people in our area.
I like the oppurtnity the multi season hunt offers me personally, as I have not hunted with my family during the rifle elk hunt for many years, but if it was taken away it really wouldnt effect me all that much.
Jake H. BIG BONE HUNTING Page on Facebook.
