PAST ISSUES
2002
2001
2000

Equal Opportunity for Archers, Muzzleloaders, and Modern Firearm Hunters
Dave Ware, WDFW Game Division Manager

In order to reduce crowding and provide a variety of hunting opportunities, deer and elk hunters in Washington have been required to choose between separate archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm hunting seasons since 1984. This situation results in competition for allocation of hunting opportunity between the different groups.

WDFW is trying to develop more objective criteria for making decisions on which group receives new opportunity. The idea is to look at statewide participation rates for the three groups and attempt to achieve those rates in each of seventeen districts across the state. In addition, we are trying to achieve hunter harvest that is proportionate to group size. These criteria should result in better distribution of hunting opportunities and a more “equitable” way to determine which group receives available opportunity.
After extensive discussions with the Game Management Advisory Council, a group composed of hunters, landowners, biologists, and representatives of conservation organizations, and at public meetings with hunters across the state, guidelines were developed for providing equitable opportunity. When additional opportunity is available, the guideline is to provide that opportunity to the group that is furthest behind in participation rate or proportion of harvest. However, all groups would share reductions in opportunity, at some level, when necessary due to resource or management concerns.

The 2003-05 hunting seasons begin to adjust opportunity to achieve the equity objective. One example will be provided here, but a more comprehensive look at the results of the new hunting season package is available on the Department’s Web site at www.wa.gov/wdfw.

The first criterion is to provide equitable opportunity for all three groups in each district. The map shown below identifies each district.

The next criterion is to determine statewide participation levels in each District. The 1998-2000, three -year averages for deer is 12.7% archery, 4.5% muzzleloader and 82.7% modern firearm. For elk the average percent of hunters is 16.8% archers, 13.4% muzzleloaders and 69.7% modern firearm.

The last criterion is to seek to equalize the proportion of harvest equal to participation, so if muzzleloaders make up 13% of the elk hunters, they should take their share or about 13% of the elk harvested (in each district). So how do the changes in the 2003 hunting season regulations for archers, muzzleloaders, and modern firearm hunters contribute to more equitable opportunities? Here is one example:

Changes Needed to Achieve Equity:
In this district we need to increase archery participation and success and increase muzzleloader participation.

Changes made in 2003 deer hunting seasons:

Archers: increased antlerless mule deer harvest opportunity throughout the early season rather than the last two weeks; and added GMU 163 to late archery 3 pt min. or antlerless season

Muzzleloaders: added GMU 181 to the early season for 3 pt min.or antlerless; and added antlerless mule deer opportunity for GMUs 145 & 149

Modern: increased antlerless whitetail opportunity for seniors, youth, and hunters with disabilities

This example was selected because it demonstrates the equity concept pretty well. Not all districts were able to provide additional opportunity and others made more complex changes. Often, the complex changes are the result of changing resource availability, management needs, and the equity concept all combined. An example is the muzzleloader elk season in the Yakima herd (see the article in this publication).