436-4/8 points bull elk out of eastern washington

[groundhog]

A man offers a beautiful women a million dollars to spend the night with him. After some consideration she decides to take him up on it. He says now that we have established that you are a hooker now all we have to do is negotiate the price....

I wonder how many of you that are bashing Dan Agnew would buy the Governors tag for $50 bucks? What about $500.00? A $1,000??? How about $5,000?? If you would buy it for $50 bucks you can't bash Agnew for buying it for $50,000 or whatever he paid.

I am sure that Dan Agnew has been on many long tough hunts just like the rest of us. If you hunt hard and long enough you will eventually have an easy one. I have found that the best time to kill a big bull or buck is when you see him. If you pass they have a way of walking out of your life, never to be seen again.


 

[Chukarhead]

Good for Dan that he got that monster bull but it is completely ridiculous that it is in the B and C and it is ranked number 1 in the state non typ. They should have a totally seperate scoring-record division for governors tag bulls. I didn't kill my big bulls in sept with a rifle wearing camo with 5+ guides with me.

Awwwwww, muffin!

You resurrected this dead horse just to squish sour grapes?

[huntnphool]

I didn't kill my big bulls in sept with a rifle wearing camo with 5+ guides with me.

 Good for you, keep patting yourself on the back while you have another glass of whine!

[idahohuntr]

The issue should not focus on who would or does buy the tag, but the system that allows for such a transaction to take place.

I think it is good to question the value of offering up any of these auction/raffle tags.  In Washington, the public places severe restrictions on ourselves such that some of our elk herds contain a number of trophy class bulls.  Our collective desire to manage elk this way creates a demand that can generate revenue of what 30 or 40k for a special tag?  My concern is...what do we get for that 30 or 40k and is that benefit higher than allowing the public to have equal access to those public resources?

I guess my question really boils down to: What program/project etc. will go away if we took those auction tags away and put them in the regular draw?  Presumably, budgets would be prioritized such that the most critical and important projects would not be cut if this funding went away...so what are we really getting?  Anytime an agency comes up with a new auction plan I think the first question should be...can we cut something less critical or unimportant to get the money we would with an auction?  If that answer is no, then question 2 is the cost/benefit piece. 

[huntnphool]

The issue should not focus on who would or does buy the tag, but the system that allows for such a transaction to take place.

I think it is good to question the value of offering up any of these auction/raffle tags.  In Washington, the public places severe restrictions on ourselves such that some of our elk herds contain a number of trophy class bulls.  Our collective desire to manage elk this way creates a demand that can generate revenue of what 30 or 40k for a special tag?  My concern is...what do we get for that 30 or 40k and is that benefit higher than allowing the public to have equal access to those public resources?

I guess my question really boils down to: What program/project etc. will go away if we took those auction tags away and put them in the regular draw?  Presumably, budgets would be prioritized such that the most critical and important projects would not be cut if this funding went away...so what are we really getting?  Anytime an agency comes up with a new auction plan I think the first question should be...can we cut something less critical or unimportant to get the money we would with an auction?  If that answer is no, then question 2 is the cost/benefit piece. 

 Great post

[Katmai Guy]

Good for Dan that he got that monster bull but it is completely ridiculous that it is in the B and C and it is ranked number 1 in the state non typ. They should have a totally seperate scoring-record division for governors tag bulls. I didn't kill my big bulls in sept with a rifle wearing camo with 5+ guides with me.

Why should they have a different division?  The record books are for recognizing exceptional animals, not the hunter.  A first day hunter has as good a chance of shooting a record book animal as a 75yr veteran if they are hunting the same area.

[Bob33]

The issue should not focus on who would or does buy the tag, but the system that allows for such a transaction to take place.

Agreed. One consideration needs to be the perception that many hunters have today that hunting is becoming a rich man's sport. The end result is hunters giving up. Draw odds for trophy animals in Washington are ridiculously small, and yet if you have enough money you can hunt trophy bulls in Washington every year (or two trophy rams in Idaho ).

[Katmai Guy]

I guess my question really boils down to: What program/project etc. will go away if we took those auction tags away and put them in the regular draw?  Presumably, budgets would be prioritized such that the most critical and important projects would not be cut if this funding went away...so what are we really getting?  Anytime an agency comes up with a new auction plan I think the first question should be...can we cut something less critical or unimportant to get the money we would with an auction?  If that answer is no, then question 2 is the cost/benefit piece. 

Since 1994, auctions have been conducted by conservation organizations via a contract with WDFW, whereas most raffles are conducted by WDFW. Over five million dollars have been generated solely for the management of the respective big game species. This revenue typically funds activities that would otherwise not occur due to budget limitation, including surveys, status reviews, animal captures, transplants, habitat improvement projects, research projects, and disease monitoring

They tell us on the WDFW website what would go away.  Is it worth it?

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

This must be the $50,000.00 Bull Elk?

[Elkrunner]

Just another reason that I am thinking of retiring from this site.  Everyone bashes on everyone.  I remember when I first began visiting this site.  It was a much better place to visit back then.

[6x6in6]

That would be the bull.
Except he paid $65,000 for the tag.   

Thank you for your financial contribution for our state's wildlife Dan Agnew and congratulations on an epic bull..........again!   

[6x6in6]

Heck, this years eastside auction tag was almost a bargain at $35k   

[Tbar]

Heck, this years eastside auction tag was almost a bargain at $35k   

That is a bargain. If I could I would love to buy either west or east tag.  I appreciate the contributions made by the people buying the tags, I truly believe the revenue generated makes a difference. Thank you Dan, Kevin,  and others who continue to support conservation in our state.
On a side not 6x6in6, what did the Westside tag go for?

[JimmyHoffa]

The issue should not focus on who would or does buy the tag, but the system that allows for such a transaction to take place.

I think it is good to question the value of offering up any of these auction/raffle tags.  In Washington, the public places severe restrictions on ourselves such that some of our elk herds contain a number of trophy class bulls.  Our collective desire to manage elk this way creates a demand that can generate revenue of what 30 or 40k for a special tag?  My concern is...what do we get for that 30 or 40k and is that benefit higher than allowing the public to have equal access to those public resources?

I guess my question really boils down to: What program/project etc. will go away if we took those auction tags away and put them in the regular draw?  Presumably, budgets would be prioritized such that the most critical and important projects would not be cut if this funding went away...so what are we really getting?  Anytime an agency comes up with a new auction plan I think the first question should be...can we cut something less critical or unimportant to get the money we would with an auction?  If that answer is no, then question 2 is the cost/benefit piece. 

Yeah, that would be interesting to see where the revenue benefits.  My hope is that elk auction proceeds go solely to elk.  And that they could show that money has resulted in more elk/opportunity available on a whole--such that the loss of an auction bull from the pool results in multiple permits or longer seasons for the rest of hunters.  If that were the case, one would wonder what a few more auction tags could do for the herd.

[6x6in6]

Heck, this years eastside auction tag was almost a bargain at $35k   

That is a bargain. If I could I would love to buy either west or east tag.  I appreciate the contributions made by the people buying the tags, I truly believe the revenue generated makes a difference. Thank you Dan, Kevin,  and others who continue to support conservation in our state.
On a side not 6x6in6, what did the Westside tag go for?

$25k
Here's the historical lowdown on all of them....
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/raffles/big_game_auctions_proceeds.pdf