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Posted By: BuzzH WY SF155... - 01/23/13
Again, asking for some emails to the Wyoming Legislature...contact your local Legislators...

We're just getting warmed up...another really great bill that accomplishes nothing more than fracturing hunters.

This one is also being introduced by Larry Hicks.

http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2013/Introduced/SF0155.pdf

This one takes 10% of ALL available big-game hunting licenses and sets them aside for archery only...sheep, moose, elk, deer, antelope, bison, goat, etc.

SENATE FILE NO. SF0155
Big game licenses-archery licenses.
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Hicks
A BILL
for
1 AN ACT relating to big game licenses; providing for a
2 specified percentage of big game licenses to be issued as
3 archery only licenses; and providing for an effective date.
4
5 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
6
7 Section 1. W.S. 23-1-703 by creating a new subsection
8 (h) and by amending and renumbering (h) as (j) is amended
9 to read:
10
11 23-1-703. Limitation of number of big or trophy game
12 animal licenses; reservation of certain licenses;
13 reservation of certain unused licenses.
14
15 (h) The commission shall reserve ten percent (10%) of
16 the Type 1 licenses for all big game species to be issued
17 in any one (1) year as archery only licenses.


So, lets take a look at how this one impacts those that either dont archery hunt or only archery hunt to extend their seasons.

If a unit has 100 tags issued for say, antelope. Off the top, we pull the Landowner licenses, lets say thats 10 tags, that leaves 90. Now we pull the NR quota which is 25% or in this case 25 tags. Now we're down to 65 tags. Next up, the 10% archery only...now we're down to 55 tags.

This means that before the DIY Resident Rifle hunter is even considered in the draw...45% of the tags are already GONE. Almost half of the tags.

You can let Senator Hicks know how you feel about this tag grab at:

Larry.Hicks@wyoleg.gov

When this is assigned to a committee, I'll provide contact information for them as well. It will be best to kill this one in committee.
Posted By: BillyGoatGruff Re: WY SF155... - 01/23/13
Do you bowhunt?

I don't hunt WY so I've no skin in the game, just curious.
Posted By: T_Inman Re: WY SF155... - 01/23/13
This is the 1st I have heard of this...My comments have been sent.
Posted By: BuzzH Re: WY SF155... - 01/23/13
Yes, I do bowhunt.

Currently there is an established archery only season on every general and limited quota hunt in Wyoming for all species.

Typically, all antelope, deer, and elk tags are good the 30 days prior to rifle season.

There is also at least 14 days of archery only season prior to all moose, sheep, and goat tags.

Much like Montana's archery season.

If any archery hunter cant find ample opportunity in Wyoming...they arent trying very hard.
Posted By: BillyGoatGruff Re: WY SF155... - 01/23/13
Sounds like a schitty bill then.

Is there a big archery lobby? WTF would they even propose something like this?

I guess I just don't get it. If a general tag was already good in archery, what does this bill accomplish other than making unfilled tags that would have been good in rifle season unfillable?
Posted By: BuzzH Re: WY SF155... - 01/23/13
If you ever plan on hunting Wyoming in the future...best to be pro-active.

There isnt a huge archery lobby...but the group apparently has the ear of a legislator...guess who that is?

Archery hunters dont want to compete in the drawing with rifle hunters and want a seperate quota. It will greatly increase their odds of drawing tags...while systematically tanking odds for those that want to hunt with both archery and rifle, or rifle only.

Greed on the part of the Bowhunters of Wyoming (group that is endorsing the bill).
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