At the end of last week, the 2013 Big Game hunting regulations hit the street. We now have until May 22nd to get all of our special hunt applications submitted. Trying to decide which hunts to apply for always leaves me feeling a little like I'm planning the invation of the 2nd Front, and a little like a lawyer, I've got so many things open in front of my.
First, there are the regs themselves, and the different hunt categories: Quality Deer, Buck, anterless, and 2nd Deer tags(which are all in addition to the General Modern/archery and muzzle loader seasons), and also Quality elk, Bull Elk, and antlerless elk(in additions to all of their general seasons also). Don't forget mountain goats, big horns, and moose...those are only once in a lifetime draws, but it's never too soon to start building points towards those drawings.
Then, there are the maps. The GMU(game managment unit) maps are pretty basic, so to make those work, I need to have my road atlas out, so I can really see what 'beggining at the intersection of US forest service road 40 and the elk drift fence on the Umatilla National Forest's northern boundary, E along the elk drift fence to it's end, dueS from end of drift fence to Charley Creek, E down Charley Creek to Asotin Creek' REALLY means. Plus, it's nice to have the Washington 'Go Hunt' online map open, because it has several farms preidentified as either Feel Free to Hunt, or Written Permission Required, or Registration Required(or new this year, Reservations Required). It also doesn't hurt to have a topographical map open, or the results from 2011/2012 hunting season
Finally, I have my calender open. The worst(other than getting drawn and coming up empty) would be getting drawn for a cow tage and a big bull tag the same week, but having the GMU's 120 miles away from each other. Part of not breaking the rules is not setting your self up to be tempted.
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