Equipment specific hunts

[AKaviator]

Who should have equipment specific, special hunts?

I'm not looking to start arguments, just honest polite debate. I ask after reading some debate about bows vs. crossbows on a different thread. Obviously some different opinions and some emotions there.

Should a traditional archer have a special hunt over a compound bow user or a crossbow user? How about in rifles? If I choose to limit myself to hunting with an open sighted 30-30, should I have a special season that excludes a 1000 yard+ marksman? Should that exclude the guys who choose to hunt with a 300 yard muzzle-loader that's scoped? How about in the future? Who knows what technology will be available. If I choose my 30-30, why would that give me the right to exclude my buddy with his 338 Lapua.

Just curious where fellow hunters would draw the line in making special hunts, given that most hunters choose self limitations on the equipment they use. And who gets to draw those lines? Not me for sure!

 

[CrimsonArrow]

A rifle is a rifle, regardless of what sighting system may be on it. A muzzleloader is a muzzleloader. A bow is a bow. A crossbow is a crossbow. My .02

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

A rifle is a rifle, regardless of what sighting system may be on it. A muzzleloader is a muzzleloader. A bow is a bow. A crossbow is a crossbow. My .02

I Agree 100%

 

[go_deep]

Because as a sportsman, that doesn't want to deter other sportsman, or eliminate opportunity. As long as your not using surface to air missiles, land mines, heat seaking missiles, or live satellite imagery to hunt it's all good with me.

Unlike a lot of other people, I can get past the fact that I maybe I don't like 300 yard capable muzzle loaders, scopes that will allow a 1,000 yard rifle shot, but if that's what someone really want's to use, then that's their choice. I don't have to like it, but I don't have to cry about it either.

United we stand, divided we fall.

 

[JimP]

A rifle is a rifle, regardless of what sighting system may be on it. A muzzleloader is a muzzleloader. A bow is a bow. A crossbow is a crossbow. My .02

The only time that I will disagree with this is when they allow scopes onto the muzzle loader. I have a hard time with open sights anymore but I have found ones that will work on my muzzle loaders and when a scope is attached you might as well as allow any single shot rifle during the season.

 

[AKaviator]

A rifle is a rifle, regardless of what sighting system may be on it. A muzzleloader is a muzzleloader. A bow is a bow. A crossbow is a crossbow. My .02

So, should each have it's own season based on those four categories? Who goes first?

 

[Slugz]

A rifle is a rifle, regardless of what sighting system may be on it. A muzzleloader is a muzzleloader. A bow is a bow. A crossbow is a crossbow. My .02

Agree 100% also. It should be based off effective range IMO and the management plan of the state. I think Colorado does it pretty well.

However scopes on muzzle loaders are another thing. That's pretty much a single shot rifle with a scope.

 

[Slugz]

Depends on the herd/unit plan I think.

Trophy management or numbers/opportunity management.

 

[kidoggy]

don't care what weapon one chooses, if it's legal and you gots a tag go kill it.

I would like to see idaho open some more muzzy seasons in some of the premier controlled hunt units but EXPECT they will get fewer and fewer.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I think the seasons that are for rifle, muzzle loader and bow is all that’s needed. You know when the seasons are and you choose your weapon.
Archery is usually earlier in the year when animals are more patternable, not saying it’s easier but I think it caters to the bow hunter.

Muzzle is the sweet spot for imo. The season can overlap archery and end before the rifle. A lot of seasons you can hunt a mule deer before they rub the velvet off and become nocturnal.

Rifle imo should be harder for the hunter, animals have been hunted and have wised up, deer have become nocturnal and are difficult to pattern and to be able to stock in to a few hundred yards vs 30.

In Nv you can only use a crossbow during the rifle season unless your physically challenged then the rules are bent to accommodate those folks.

I like the way Nv runs the seasons for all hunters and their choice of weapons.

 

[Hilltop]

They can all be management tools. As long as states set seasons and limitations with management in mind, I honestly don't care what someone else uses as long as they follow the weapon limitations for the given season. I personally prefer to use a compound bow but have immense respect for the guys pulling it off with old school long bows.

 

[AKaviator]

I think the seasons that are for rifle, muzzle loader and bow is all that?s needed. You know when the seasons are and you choose your weapon.
Archery is usually earlier in the year when animals are more patternable, not saying it?s easier but I think it caters to the bow hunter.

Muzzle is the sweet spot for imo. The season can overlap archery and end before the rifle. A lot of seasons you can hunt a mule deer before they rub the velvet off and become nocturnal.

Rifle imo should be harder for the hunter, animals have been hunted and have wised up, deer have become nocturnal and are difficult to pattern and to be able to stock in to a few hundred yards vs 30.

In Nv you can only use a crossbow during the rifle season unless your physically challenged then the rules are bent to accommodate those folks.

I like the way Nv runs the seasons for all hunters and their choice of weapons.

Seems reasonable!

 

[jtm307]

A string season and a gun powder season - that's my preference. Keep it simple. I like the way WY does things.

 

[kidoggy]

I think the seasons that are for rifle, muzzle loader and bow is all that?s needed. You know when the seasons are and you choose your weapon.
Archery is usually earlier in the year when animals are more patternable, not saying it?s easier but I think it caters to the bow hunter.

Muzzle is the sweet spot for imo. The season can overlap archery and end before the rifle. A lot of seasons you can hunt a mule deer before they rub the velvet off and become nocturnal.

Rifle imo should be harder for the hunter, animals have been hunted and have wised up, deer have become nocturnal and are difficult to pattern and to be able to stock in to a few hundred yards vs 30.

In Nv you can only use a crossbow during the rifle season unless your physically challenged then the rules are bent to accommodate those folks.

I like the way Nv runs the seasons for all hunters and their choice of weapons.

I prefer the muzzy deer hunts that are in nov during the rut. would like to see more of those but with a few exceptions it seems idaho mostly just caters to the riflers when it comes to rut hunts

 

[kidoggy]

A string season and a gun powder season - that's my preference. Keep it simple. I like the way WY does things.

I wouldn't mind a spear season

 

[mallardsx2]

A rifle is a rifle, regardless of what sighting system may be on it. A muzzleloader is a muzzleloader. A bow is a bow. A crossbow is a crossbow. My .02

I agree with the above with mostly one exception.

If it were up to me I would throw the modern scoped in-lines out of EVERY "Muzzle-loader" season. And for the record, I have hunted with an inline in "Muzzle-loader" season so I dont want people to think I'm being a bigot here....

My definition of a muzzleloader is different than most peoples.

The mere use of a modern in-line at all during "Muzzleloader" season is very on the fence for me as well.

 

[jtm307]

I wouldn't mind a spear season

Spearers should have to hunt during string season. Spearing gives the hunter too much of an advantage during knifing season. Knifing season should be strictly knives, no spears.

 

[HuskyMusky]

How about a non-resident only season?

Only seems appropriate at 10-20x the tag fee, why not?

resident pays $75 elk tag, non-res pays $1200, one could conclude the non-res tag if worth $75, is paying a $1125 trespass/access fee?


As for weapon specific, I think Bow, Muzzleloader, Rifle, each have a season makes sense, and maybe allow the rifle season to be "any of those weapons"

 

[JimP]

While a non resident only season sounds fun I don't know where you would stick it after all the other seasons are set up. But it would be nice if you were a non resident.

As for a specific weapon most of the states that have a rifle season designate it as a "any legal weapon" hunt. So you can use a bow, crossbow, muzzle loader, pistol, or rifle during that hunt. Your choice.

 

[AKaviator]

For sake of argument...why not just "open season" and "closed season". If you need to challenge yourself, choose a bow or knife while others are hunting with whatever they choose!

Part of this is wondering why everyone feels that management should cater to their specific method, at the exclusion of everyone else.

And, i sure wouldn't want to be the manager that opened a non-resident only season!!