As someone mentioned earlier, once you punch your tag you punch your tag. Until method of take is restricted to a single choice, it doesn’t matter if someone shoots their bull with a bow, muzzleloader, or rifle, it is still just one bull.
You could still go OTC in Colorado for either archery or 2nd/3rd rifle seasons if you really wanted to hunt elk. Might be able to find an outfitter for a drop camp to get a more unique experience.
How is a flintlock or caplock muzzleloader advanced technology that will exploit elk herds? It was advanced technology in the 1700s-1850s, not so much in 2024.
I get that you are protecting your rice bowl of rifle hunting season so you have animosity towards muzzleloader hunters. I think it is...
Well then, how about October 20th to 30th? That strips away your argument that bulls will be in the rut. Why shouldn’t muzzleloaders have an opportunity before rifle hunters? The December dates are quite odd. I admit that I don’t know the history of why that came to be, but it is very strange...
Sounds like you and me are of like minds. How about October 5-15th then to move further away from the rut? How much more impactful are traditional muzzleloaders over archery anymore anyways?
I agree that this overlap would cause hunter concentration for people like me with limited vacation time. That said, it wouldn’t be during the rut, so less bucks should be killed, right?
I also think that you would have others avoid this week if their schedules can accommodate. People who would...
Fair enough. What I’m getting at though is that there will need to be legislative changes as part of this effort. Why not roll in this proposed change to the muzzleloader season (October 1-10) into that same effort? Is it too much to layer on with everything else at one time?
To me, this seems...
When you are making changes to programs it is better to alter one variable at a time, especially if it is a significant change. Moving mule deer hunting away from the rut is a significant change, and I fully support that.
How do you know that the mule deer population would continue to decline...
I hear you, but it is not overly difficult to pick up a 2nd season deer tag in the draw in an OTC rifle elk unit and hunt both at the same time. Yes, 3rd and 4th season are much harder.
I guess what I was trying to say is that I fully support removing rut hunting mule deer under a general tag...
I agree with essentially everything you mentioned and I didn’t see anyone else acknowledge your points so I wanted to emphasize them. To your first point, I think the splitting of the Deer/Elk seasons into different months will increase hunter days afield, which is counter to one of the stated...
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