Not buying an Elk tag this year, anybody doing the same?

[ghosthunter]

Well I bought a turkey tag and a bear.
I will buy a Muzzy elk I told the crew. Put in for no permits. And I may or may not hunt deer. Hunter ed drew me for a multi season deer but I doubt I will buy it.  Not sure on the deer maybe a weekend or two. No deer camp for sure.  Got to take the wife some where for 30th.

The deer hunting has been so bad the last few years I just cannot get excited for it. Might switch to phesant with the new dog.

Would like to hunt Idaho but finding a spot to camp and hunt is a whole lot more work and time.

[buckfvr]

Last year for elk here and last year I will ever buy moose permit......will be weeding through the other stuff, and ultimately buying less to nothing from this state.

Too close to Idaho to put up with this train wreck.............

[HoofsandWings]

Not buying an elk tag is something I might consider if I were younger, but being nearly fifty, I want to get in as much elk hunting as I can before I'm too old to do it. I never did take elk hunting too seriously when I was younger, spent most of my time hunting deer and birds. I always bought an elk tag, but most years I'd hunt only one or two days, or maybe not at all.

I can't afford to pay non resident prices for elk tags so hunting Washington is my only choice for now. I have never killed a decent branch antler bull and I would like to, just once, so I couldn't stand the thought of sitting out even one season.

So I will quit buying elk tags when I can no longer walk!

Bobcat, I did not know you were so young. Like you, I did not take elk hunting seriously until I was in my 40's.
I did try for a couple of years when I was in my 20's, but as luck would have it, it rained every opener and I was not equipped to hunt in the rain. I did get my first elk on my 50th birthday. However, those 8 hour packouts per quarter took a toll on me.

[Bob33]

I cannot imagine not planning to hunt elk in my home state.

[Hunterman]

I stopped elk hunting in this worthless state sometime ago. I've killed more elk out of state than I have in this one. The only reason that I'm hunting deer anymore is that my youngest daughter, and her husband wants to start hunting, and wants me to teach them. So between Quick Draw and me they might learn something.

Hunterman(Tony)

[BOWHUNTER45]

none for me also.being busted up and the attitudes in the woods have changed,just not the same anymore to me..

It is a hard thing to say Huh rasbo ? I feel the same way ...luckily we had time to see it before it gets any worse ...I usually buy an archery tag for elk but this year I decided I would get a Muzzy Tag ...I have bought an elk tag the last 3 0r 4 years and never left the house  I figured I already drew my quality bull tag with my bow So I decided I best put in for a muzzy tag for that same unit ..If I do not draw then again I just donated my money just for the hell of it    HERE AGAIN ...Sportsmen never waste money on wildlife conservation 

[elk247]

I cannot imagine not planning to hunt elk in my home state.

 

[shorthair15]

yes ive been hunting in this state since i was 10.so ive hunted deer and elk for the last 33 yrs. i called it quits. not going to pay the access fee. they see money is to be made so that is why they are chargeing a fee and they own the land so they can pretty much do as they please. im going to concentrate on fishing more. it's a bummer but the hunting is not that great and there are to many people. no more hunting tag  money from me. but they will still get my money for fishing

[huntrights]

I was just wondering if there is any other hunters, who are, choosing not to purchase a tag this year, i have been elk hunting for 15+ (muzzleloader). Between access and cost it just wasn't in the books for me this year or my grandfather a 40+yr hunter, anybody in the same boat? I hate to walk away from something i have been passionate about since very young, so many good times with friends and family. This is a tough one for me to swallow.

Please give your input to the Governor's Outdoor Recreation Group; hunters must have their voices heard.  Encourage other hunters to do so as well.

http://www.engageoutdoorwashington.com/

There is a lot of room for improvement in our opportunities to hunt; however, change for the better cannot happen unless hunters are continuously involved in the process.

Visit the Hunting-Washington thread on this topic:

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,152508.0.html

[full choke]

Well I bought a turkey tag and a bear.
I will buy a Muzzy elk I told the crew. Put in for no permits. And I may or may not hunt deer. Hunter ed drew me for a multi season deer but I doubt I will buy it.  Not sure on the deer maybe a weekend or two. No deer camp for sure.  Got to take the wife some where for 30th.

The deer hunting has been so bad the last few years I just cannot get excited for it. Might switch to phesant with the new dog.

Would like to hunt Idaho but finding a spot to camp and hunt is a whole lot more work and time.

Hate to kick a guy when he is down, but pheasants in this state are in even worse shape than deer or elk...

[PolarBear]

I bought everything for my daughter and only put in for OIL tags for me.  Last year I didn't hunt elk at all for me and only spent a few hours on deer.  I am about done hunting this side of the state and will not hunt elk on the East side.  I'm just going to concentrate on getting my daughter her critters and hanging it up for myself.  I have had a good run at it but the increasing cost, the loss of huntable land and broken down body...  It's time to put my efforts elsewhere.

[ghosthunter]

Oh I know. I am a wetsider I can hunt put and take birds 15 minutes from home or work. With little to no planning. Yeah the punch card is 90.00 + but when you consider the pleasure of hunting with the dog. Not too bad.
I have a buddy who pheasnt hunts and does ok every year around here.
Just have to brush up on my shotgunning.

[plugger]

I switched back to modern, put in for bull and Quality. I will not be hunting the general season and when my Quality points are gone, I will not be purchasing one again. Im 50 also, but unlike you Bobcat, I have been hunting them since I was 18. I have killed my share, But not the ONE. I just cant fathom paying an access fee. I'm to Old, stubborn, or maybe just cheap I spent all those years pretty much in the same area and I just cant see learning a new area at my age.

[Mumbles]

At 46 I'm just starting to learn. This will only be my second year, and I want to learn more than I'm willing to be frustrated. I will hope my fitness allows some distance from the locked gates and less crowding. I do understand the dilemma, and sure wish I had experienced this when younger.

[plugger]

One of mine, and the guys I hunt with is there will know longer be locked gates in the pay to play areas. That would be worse than paying. There are not many places to get away from the crowds if all the roads are open