| Muzzleloader
Hunting in the Yakima Area - Why the changes??
The 2002 hunting
season marked the end of a 3-year hunting regulation cycle.
One of the goals for the 2003-05 seasons was “equalization”
among user groups. Equalization means dividing up the harvest
by user group size within each district. For example, if
the user group makes up 14% of the hunters, they should
harvest approximately 14% of the animals. This concept has
already been instituted for quality (branched bull and buck)
permits.
Muzzleloader
hunters in the Yakima area comprised 14% of the elk hunters
(compared to 13% state-wide) and harvested 17% of the elk
from 1999-01. The initial 2002 figures indicated muzzleloader
success was even higher than the previous 3-year average.
However, trying to equalize harvest in a small number of
units with many variables is difficult. Hunters often complained
about over crowding in the few muzzleloader elk units that
were open. Making the late antlerless hunts “permit
only” was also an unpopular option. After consulting
with local hunting organizations, the preferred choice was
opening more units to spike only and balancing the remainder
of the harvest with antlerless permits. For the next 3 years,
8 units will be open rather than 3. All 8 units will have
antlerless permits. Unfortunately, there was a conflict
in GMU 346 with quality modern bull permits and it could
not be open to a general muzzleloader season. GMU 364 was
left, as a quality hunt unit where only those drawing a
bull permit would be hunting.
Muzzleloader
deer hunters in the Yakima area comprised 1% of the user
group (compared to 5% statewide). The few muzzleloader deer
hunters took approximately 2% of the deer. The goal was
to increase the number of muzzleloader deer hunters in the
Yakima area. Having the opportunity to hunt deer and elk
at the same time seemed popular with local hunters. The
same 8 units open for elk will be open for deer on the same
7 days for the next 3 years. Antlerless permits will be
used to equalize harvest.
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