[Jeff Higgins]

I'm envious of you guys. Here in Washington, our rifle deer season is already over, and it only runs 14 days with a limit of one deer (although there are some very limited "late hunt" opportunities, but still only one per year). For mulies it's three point and better, whitetails are any buck, as are blacktails. We do have both muzzle loader and archery seasons, but we must choose one of the three. Up until the mid 1980's, we could hunt all three by using the appropriate weapon. Now we have to choose. Muzzle loader and archery have the same antler restrictions these days, where both used to be any deer.

Hunter numbers are way, way down in light of the short seasons and lack of opportunity. Elk seasons are even shorter, and only allow the taking of spike bulls. Worse, our game department has learned the trick of "checker boarding" the open units, allowing plenty of escape opportunity into neighboring closed units. The word is out - get your elk on opening morning, before hunter pressure has pushed them into a neighboring closed unit.

Even at just one deer and just one elk per, our success rates are the lowest in the country. About 15% on deer and about 8% on elk. Absolutely abysmal. Probably the worst in the country. The general feeling is that our Game Department actively works to keep it this way, with the short, scattered seasons, antler restrictions, and way too early hunts. All of our general seasons are already over, many open in September if not late August. No snow on the ground, no active rutting, and way too hot of weather.

In spite of our Game Department's best efforts at discouraging hunters, our ungulate numbers continue to shrink as well. There are two very well know reasons - "native American" hunters who can set their own seasons and rules (and mostly hunt year-round) and poachers. It's estimated that poachers take almost ten times the legally taken animals, with "native Americans" giving them a run for their money.

So, yeah, hunting sucks in Washington. I gave up long ago and started traveling to hunt. It's a lost cause here.