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

[Bob33]

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?

The individuals that bid on these auctions already know what animals are out there. If there's a record class animal they know it when bidding.

[HntnFsh]

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?

The individuals that bid on these auctions already know what animals are out there. If there's a record class animal they know it when bidding.

Yep!

[HntnFsh]

This must be the $50,000.00 Bull Elk?

Looks like a beautiful mount. Other than it looks like the horns werent placed right!

[jackelope]

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. 

An even bigger issue for me is where the money goes from these auctions.  That's the big grey area. The system that allows for these sales to take place happens in nearly every state in the west and a few in the east.  Now as of recently we've got the big money hunters buying up all the raffle tickets too, to where we've got a guy this year and in years past with an auction tag and a raffle tag, or another guy with multiple raffle tags. I respect the guys who are buying them because I'd like to think their money is going to a good cause, although I'm really not sure.

[link]

I was thinking the same thing. I tried looking at the wdfw and state sites, but couldn't find anything that tells where the money goes that is brought in by raffles and auctions. I'd like to know how much is even put back in the wdfw, and how much is just thrown back in a general state fund. Maybe ole Dan Agnew bought himself some bike lanes, or bus stops, or maybe he paid somebody's welfare card who in turn spent it at a casino.

[idahohuntr]

I would like to see the money from raffles/auctions completely isolated...each year before the auction tags are released for sale WDFW identifies what specific project/access/improvement/research etc. that money will be used for and why the proposed project isn't already being funded from the existing budget.  WDFW presents their proposal to the commission which annually decides yes or no on providing auction tags based on need.  If there are no projects proposed or no projects sportsmen and the commission support...then the tags are offered up as a quality hunt option in the regular draws.  The way it runs now it seems like they offer up all these tags, money goes into a big pot, wdfw says the money was used for game surveys, research, and really important stuff for game management.  A few guys get to repeatedly reap the rewards of this system but do the majority of sportsmen see much return for restricting their own opportunities for harvest to create the demand for these special tags that allows them to sell for $30 or 40k? 

[bigbeamhunter]

I can't believe people still talk about this. It wasn't suppose to be an easy hunt the day before the bull was at the bottom of the canyon but as bulls do can came up and got greedy to get some more cows, and showed himself. Here's my two cents. Dan is a good guy I went to school with his daughters
He spent big money to get that bull. If he doesn't get it he fails. If we don't an elk he still had a good time hunting. If I had the money I'd do it every year!!!

[Bob33]

I can't believe people still talk about this.

Well...

[bigbeamhunter]

Touche' lol merry Christmas

[GameHunter1959]

Posts like this are why many many bulls dont get posted on here anymore!! Dan was nice enough to send an email with his pic and story of his San Carlos bull a few weeks back asking to have it posted on here for us to enjoy. When he sees stuff like this Im sure it makes him think twice about sharing his success. We dont all hunt the same or have the same opportunities as each other no doubt about it but it doesnt always make the other guys way of doing it wrong. People are all excited and supportive about guided hunts in Alaska and elsewhere but when they smell a gov tag and money the negativity skyrockets. Seems a little hypocritical to me. What an awesome bull and a lot of time and effort went into that thing. Let it go. nwhunter

Why didn't he post it himself?

I'm guessing he paid somebody else to post it for him.

[GameHunter1959]

I can't believe people still talk about this. It wasn't suppose to be an easy hunt the day before the bull was at the bottom of the canyon but as bulls do can came up and got greedy to get some more cows, and showed himself. Here's my two cents. Dan is a good guy I went to school with his daughters
He spent big money to get that bull. If he doesn't get it he fails. If we don't an elk he still had a good time hunting. If I had the money I'd do it every year!!!

What does going to school with his daughters have to do with anything? 

[link]

Well, everyone knows if a guy has daughters who go to school, he must be a stand up guy! 
I don't care who buys these tags and how much they spend on them. My only concern is that I would hope the majority of the money raised by these tags goes to benefit the game therefore benefiting the rest of us hunters. Like I said, It would be pretty *censored*ty if all this big money raised goes into some sort of a state general fund for other departments to dip their greedy little hands into.

[jackelope]

I can't believe people still talk about this. It wasn't suppose to be an easy hunt the day before the bull was at the bottom of the canyon but as bulls do can came up and got greedy to get some more cows, and showed himself. Here's my two cents. Dan is a good guy I went to school with his daughters
He spent big money to get that bull. If he doesn't get it he fails. If we don't an elk he still had a good time hunting. If I had the money I'd do it every year!!!

What does going to school with his daughters have to do with anything? 

I'd guess it was a reference to knowing the man and maybe a little of his character maybe.
You obviously don't like the idea of these tags or Mr. Agnew or both. How much have you donated to conservation lately? How much have you contributed to preserving our sport?

[GameHunter1959]

Josh; not sure where you came up with the idea that I don't like these tags, or Mr. Agnew? Your really reaching on this one-lol

I donate $3500 to the Rocky Mtn. Elk Foundation annually. I also donate $1000 to Washingtonians For Wildlife Conservation annually. I would have liked to of donated more this year, but my son passed away at Seattle Children's Hospital a few month back, which resulted in over $300,000 in medical bills. Not to mention I donated $5000 to SCH in my sons name.

I think my wife and I have done our part this year.

[jackelope]

Josh; not sure where you came up with the idea that I don't like these tags, or Mr. Agnew? Your really reaching on this one-lol

I donate $3500 to the Rocky Mtn. Elk Foundation annually. I also donate $1000 to Washingtonians For Wildlife Conservation annually. I would have liked to of donated more this year, but my son passed away at Seattle Children's Hospital a few month back, which resulted in over $300,000 in medical bills. Not to mention I donated $5000 to SCH in my sons name.

I think my wife and I have done our part this year.

I would agree that you have done your part. Really sorry for the loss of your child. I can't imagine.

My assumption was based on your comments in this thread. Mentioning that  he likely paid someone to post the pics of his bull, etc.  Seemed like a bit of a passive aggressive comment to me. Pretty sure Mr. Agnew has made his own fair share of posts on this forum. He doesn't have to pay anyone.