I have been reading quite a few discussions in regards to elk season dates. I am a bowhunter and close to max points for elk, and would much rather shoot a bull with a bow than any other weapon. I can't bring myself to put in for an archery hunt that does not allow me to hunt during the rut. I know that currently some great bulls are killed during the LE archery season, but I also know and have hunted with a lot more archers that go home empty handed and frustrated. I have never been one to rate my experience by whether or not I take an animal, but in the case of LE it does matter to me. How many individuals, like myself put in for rifle or muzzy elk hunts strictly due to the fact that the season dates for archery are way to early? I think this affects all LE applicants and skews the applicant numbers in favor of putting in for the rifle hunts and makes it harder to draw for everybody.