It's the little things

[dla]

When was free fishing weekend? Fathers day, the perfect time to get the family out beyond some stupid resturant? Nope.

When does Upland Game bird season open? The Saturday of Labor day weekend giving folks the full weekend to tromp around chasing birdees? Nope.

It's the little things that make it clear that the ODFW is not sportman friendly.

[leadeyedbugger]

I like bird season when it is

[lor]

Originally Posted by dla

When was free fishing weekend? Fathers day, the perfect time to get the family out beyond some stupid resturant? Nope.

When does Upland Game bird season open? The Saturday of Labor day weekend giving folks the full weekend to tromp around chasing birdees? Nope.

It's the little things that make it clear that the ODFW is not sportman friendly.

Free Fishing weekend is actually a national thing.
If you look around, its occurs for most states on the same day, first saturday in June. ODFW has no control over when father's day occurs.

Secondly, Upland bird season always starts Sept 1, its been that way for years. How is ODFW now responsible for Labor Day.

I'm not saying you can't gripe about them, but I disagree on the topics you raised.
These dates seem fine to me..

[dla]

Originally Posted by lor

Free Fishing weekend is actually a national thing.
If you look around, its occurs for most states on the same day, first saturday in June. ODFW has no control over when father's day occurs.

Secondly, Upland bird season always starts Sept 1, its been that way for years. How is ODFW now responsible for Labor Day.

I'm not saying you can't gripe about them, but I disagree on the topics you raised.
These dates seem fine to me..

for sure. Fishing is regulated at the state level - free fishing day varies from state to state. ODFW can choose any day they want, and they don't choose Father's day.

Again, ODFW can set the start of bird season as they see fit. And they could just as easily set it to "the last Saturday in August".

By the way, I'm going to look and see if I have an old copy of the regs because I'm pretty sure the above used to be different.

The fact that they don't even make an attempt to do common-sense allignment of dates is purely due to the fact that the people making these decisions are not sportsmen, don't have families, etc.

Much of our society makes a special effort to allign activities with schools starting/ending, Christmas, New Years, etc. It is incredibly mindless that the ODFW doesn't even try.

[Hunt'nFish]

I agree w/ "dla"....they can pick any date, why not ENCOURAGE folks to get out for those?
Sure would be nice to hit the hills w/ the family for soem camping and maybe chase a grouse or two.
Just because it's been a certain way, doesn't mean it has to STAY a certain way.

How about we all agree to help CHANGE it.
Hunt'nFish

[leadeyedbugger]

Ok....you guys are throwing me for a loop, i didn't think that upland bird season started until Oct....or is it different between east and westside

[lor]

Originally Posted by leadeyedbugger

Ok....you guys are throwing me for a loop, i didn't think that upland bird season started until Oct....or is it different between east and westside

There is a difference between East and west for species such as quail.

[baltz526]

doves and grouse opens sept 1st. this year it is on monday labor day.

[James in Idaho]

And since doves are a migratory bird, the earliest the Feds will allow is 9/1! Over here in SE Idaho, we'd have a lot better dove shooting if we could start of 8/15, but we can't. I'll be in the dove field on Monday evening, can't wait to burn up some shells. Bow antelope until then.

[Linejerk]

I would not want a opening day of anything on a 3 day weekend you just end up with twice as meany people to share with

[SImudBogger]

i think some people just like to complain

[dla]

Originally Posted by SImudBogger

i think some people just like to complain

And some bury their heads.

Change doesn't happen by accepting all things as "good enough for me".

[SImudBogger]

Originally Posted by dla

And some bury their heads.

Change doesn't happen by accepting all things as "good enough for me".

Have you contacted ODFW about your concern?

I'm not "burrying my head", i just see a lot of complaining from people, and yet very few seem to do anythign about it. That said i have no idea if you have tried to contact anyone at ODFW.

I'm sure they have other valid reasons for having the free fishing weekend when they do, as well as the opener for upland.

[lor]

Originally Posted by dla

And some bury their heads.

Change doesn't happen by accepting all things as "good enough for me".

Did you look at historic dates for Free Fishing weekend and start of Upland season to prove your position
ODFW is getting less sportsman friendly????
From what I can tell, these dates have been around for awhile.

Could it be, your life has changed such that dates once unimportant in your youth, now have a more significant meaning

[Wheels]

:lurk:........................................

[LowerRiver]

It's also better for the kids and non-fishers to be able to fish while the lakes are full of stockers and there are some shad around etc. Sorry to interupt, back to being all about you.....

[dla]

Originally Posted by lor

Did you look at historic dates for Free Fishing weekend and start of Upland season to prove your position
ODFW is getting less sportsman friendly????
From what I can tell, these dates have been around for awhile.

Could it be, your life has changed such that dates once unimportant in your youth, now have a more significant meaning

Did I say "less friendly"? If so, my mistake. I clearly mean "unfriendly".

No, no and no. When I first started bow-hunting, season opened one week before school started. All 4 kids would go and we'd camp for a week as a family.

And I seem to remember chasing grouse around on the Saturday of labor day weekend. In fact I know I did because I remember when my son popped his first bird.

Not "less sportsmen friendly". Sportsman unfriendly.