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Why Can’t I Hunt During Archery, Muzzleloader, and Modern Firearm Seasons?
Dave Ware, Game Division Manager

As mentioned in the previous article, the requirement for deer and elk hunters to choose a weapon was started in the 1980’s mainly to reduce crowding and to provide opportunity for primitive weapons. Since that time, big game hunter numbers have been slowly declining. In just the past five years, sales have declined by a couple thousand tags for both deer and elk.

Beginning next fall (2006), the ability to hunt during multiple seasons (with the appropriate weapon) will again become available. In 2005, the state legislature passed a bill authorizing the Department to create a tag that would allow a hunter to hunt during the general seasons for all three weapon-types, but the bag limit would remain at one deer or elk for the year. The permits are for general seasons; they are not valid for permit only seasons. The tag will be available through a special drawing. Those hunters drawn would be allowed to purchase the new “multiple season” tag for $150 (plus dealer and transaction fees). The proposed rules are as follows:

• The tags are non-transferable.
• A limited number of tags would be available statewide to disperse hunters.
• Permits would be for deer or elk, not both; with separate application pools.
• Hunters who are drawn would receive two weeks to purchase the multi-tag and then the tag would be offered to the next person drawn.
• These tags would be in addition to any other permits drawn.
• Consider shifting the application process earlier to give more notice to successfully drawn permit applicants and time to choose alternate applicants.