I just read the regulation changes today and if you have a CWP you can carry a handgun while archery and blackpowder hunting for protection. I am not sure what to think about this rule change. After packing a quartered elk five miles out of a wilderness area, being covered in blood, with nothing but a muzzleloader to defend myself I can see why it would be nice to have a sidearm. However, I can see how this may be abused, ie. people using it to dispatch wounded game.

It is a good idea and if people use their heads it should never be a problem. Very nice to have a firearm for archery in certain areas in eastern Wa. About time I would say.

Now maybe we'll see some more common sense changes.

Good rule change to go along with the wolf re-introduction. Saw wolves in the Nile unit during both the early and late archery elk season. I'd be worried about field dressing an elk at dusk and carrying it out in the dark.

Then there's the mountain lions and alternative crop farmers to deal with as well.

I would be suprised if there were wolves in the Nile. I think the only known pack is in the North East, a long ways from the Nile. There has been certified wolf sightings in the Wallowa area of NE Oregon, not too far away from the Blues.

A documented pack was "discovered" at the head of Lake Chelan last summer.

I would believe that, more so then wolves in the Nile.

I have been searcing on the net for anyting about wolves in WA and all I can find are near Twisp.

My son & I talked with a WDFW agent in Winthrop last season about wolves. He said that the pack they had just found at Lake Chelan was actually the same pack that had been in the Methow Valley the previous year. I don't remember how they knew that it was the same pack, unless they had collar tagged some.

I use to hunt allot not far from Nile and have seen tracks from a wolf in the deep snow. That was about 8 years ago maybe. We have had wolves in Wa but most people have not known. After the St Hellens eruption when my dad hunted Margret he saw a few. These are timber wolves that we have had for years. The wolves that have snuck in from Idaho are the bigger wolves that were planted from Alaska or Canada. Not the same. Wolves yes, but bigger and bad news for Wa.


I think wolves are really cool animals but these new wolves are bad news if they get going in Wa.




Kris

It was a stupid rule for those that had a CWP. Glad they changed it. I don't mind people carrying for protection - either against humans or other carnivorous animals.

Still don't think a modern firearm should be allowed to put down a wounded animal. That just opens the door up for way too much abuse, as there's no clear way to define or regulate and enforce what a "wounded animal" is or means.

I agree, I am a cwp holder and this law as well as the law against carrying in State and National parks really infringes on our constitutional right.

Good rule change. I have packed for more years than I care to say during archery season. I rather pay the fine than the alternative. Nice to see some common sense come out of Olympia.

Captain

I too have seen a couple wolves up near Mt. St. Helens, actually seen them 15 years ago or so... But they sure as heck weren't coyotes... They sure are tall at the shoulders.

Keith

That rule on the National Park level is about to go down as history sometime in earlyl 2010, as both Houses of Congress attached the Bill making it legeal to carry concealed on Federal Land (National, BLM, and Wildlife Refuges) compliant to State Conceal Carry Laws in which state the Federal Land is located and NoBabama signed it into Law as it was attached to the Credit Card Reform Bill that he wanted so bad. If he had VETO'd the Bill because of the CCW Rider on the bill there was enough votes on the origional vote to override his VETO.

The Anti Gun Crowd are crying Crocidile Tears over that one.