Archery Opener

[steve]

Why does the opening day of bow season in the central-south WMU's seem to be getting progressively later? Why is not a set date like most other "opening days"

[SouthABFlyFisher]

it is always the wednesday after the long weekend.... has not changed that way as long as i have been hunting.

[buckbrushoutdoors]

why do we get screwed over when the northern wmu's get to start on the 25th? it seems that eveyday after september 1st the big bucks get more nocturnal. it would also be awsome to kill one in velvet last year they had all shed there V by the bow opener in my little patch of woods.

[Stinky Coyote]

but the year before it opened on the 3rd which allowed a few of us to catch them in velvet....my experience with the larger deer so far is about the 5th or 6th they are starting to take it off...and thats usually our opening day....maybe it should be the wednesday before the long weekend?

perspective wise, there are about 75 p&y typical velvet bucks in the alberta archery records but over 450 hard horn, so its tough to time and you gotta be on the ball the first couple days of the season, just the way it is....a good challenge

[LongDraw]

I agree with the set starting date for the south WMU's . Sept 1 would be great. They (SRD) are worried that all the hikers, etc are still out in the hills up until the Sept. long weekend, but they all stay home after that? This is what they say the logic is with the Weds after the long-weekend opener.

I remember years when you could start to bow hunt in the Nothern WMU's August 15th.

[steve]

Originally Posted by LongDraw

I agree with the set starting date for the south WMU's . Sept 1 would be great. They (SRD) are worried that all the hikers, etc are still out in the hills up until the Sept. long weekend, but they all stay home after that? This is what they say the logic is with the Weds after the long-weekend opener.

I remember years when you could start to bow hunt in the Nothern WMU's August 15th.

I didn't notice that the bow opener coincided with the long weekend, thats my questioned answered.

Theres alot more non-hunters in the bush May long weekend, when bear seasons heating up then Sept long. Too bad thats there reasoning.

[Tabers Best]

So for 2010 the opener in Southern Alberta would be Sept 8th this year????

[SouthABFlyFisher]

Originally Posted by buckbrushoutdoors

why do we get screwed over when the northern wmu's get to start on the 25th? it seems that eveyday after september 1st the big bucks get more nocturnal. it would also be awsome to kill one in velvet last year they had all shed there V by the bow opener in my little patch of woods.

Although I am all about more time in the bush, I have no problems with it starting when it does. I have shot velvet mulies and whitetails in the south, and in order to take advantage of the early season in the north, I have gone for sheep on the 25th in the past. The season that bugs me more is spring bear in the south. It closes as soon as bears are really becoming active. Dont get me wrong, you can shoot them early in the spring, but it would be a lot better if we could have the same season dates as the north for the springtime. Just my .02 cents