Game Mgmt. Council Meeting Notes - 2015-17 season proposals, baiting etc.

[denali]

Thanks for the update.

[bearpaw]

Thanks for the well written update. I'm in favor of most of the recommendations, I think WDFW is trying to listen to the hunting community on most of these issues. THANKS WDFW!

Points System
I think it's a good idea to give 25% to the highest point holders, Utah gives 50% and I think it works great. 25% is very conservative but gives our hunters who have been applying forever a little more hope, nothing wrong with that, 75% still goes to anyone.

Baiting
I agree that a few small rules would be far better than banning baiting altogether, address the problems and don't eliminate it altogether.

Equipment
Those all seem like good reasonable recommendations, the western states are way behind on crossbow hunting, nothing wrong with allowing that in modern seasons, might have to give it a go myself.

Cougar
Did it sound like quotas will increase, another month will not help us in the Northeast unless we get more quota because seasons get closed by the low quotas. We saw 10 cougars this year while hunting. CRAZY

OIL Species
That mostly sounds fair enough to me, although I think they should look closely at moose numbers in some units. I am pretty convinced a few areas are declining. I do think they could double the number of goat areas and give out more goat permits statewide.

[huntnnw]

I apply in UT and I think that system or any like it are terrible! Atleast here you have a chance to draw every year and over 10-15 years you could draw multiple times. In UT u will draw some of the coveted tags maybe once in your life with their system and the point creep is terrible! If they implement it on the OIL tags here in WA what a joke! there are way to many apps to even notice some point program like that.

[winshooter88]

Tags, giving 25% of the tags for quality and OIL tags is simply a feel good move to get the high point holders off of WDFW's backs, since approximately 75% of these tags already are drawn by the high point holders. The only good way to increase draw odds for anyone is to increase the number of available tags and other than the few listed by the OP that is not going to happen.

The baiting issue was actually brought out of the scoping surveys, and these were only filled out by hunters. Some of the GMAC members asked if the WDFW staff could just hold off reporting to the commission until the possible rules changes were explored more thoroughly and Jerry and Dave Ware both said that the commission had asked for input about baiting to be presented at the December commission meeting. Dave Ware said he would put something together and send it to the GMAC members so they could comment on it before the Dec. commission meeting.

On the sheep tags I think the OP didn't quite catch what was said, areas with only one tag would still not be available to hunt with auction or raffle tags. But some areas (for example, Chelan Butte) and others would be increased to two tags since with the new rules the WDFW could better control the number of animals taken by the adjustments to the yearly take. For example, if a unit could not support having five sheep taken every year (two draw tags, auction tag and two raffle tags) then after it happened the WDFW would only allow either and auction tag or the raffle tags to be used in that unit in the following years.

[huntnnw]

They can increase odds in OIL by picking 1 specie to apply and 1 unit! or like ID either you apply for buck and bull tags or OIL tag not both and all. Also with moose they need to take a look at ID and their system most units have 3 different drawings and dates!

[motg9_6]

Did they talk about cameras on bows?? Thanks for the update been wondering what was going on!

[Gamblin Guy]

They will be recommending the following for 2015-17 seasons:
-Early archery elk will start the first saturday after labor day, and run for 13 days



Given the history of archery elk seasons in this state I find it very hard to believe they will set the seasons this way.  The dates this coming year would run Sept. 12-24th which puts the season into the rut and to close to the money making rifle rut tags.

I guess we will wait and see but I wouldn't bet on these dates flying.....

[winshooter88]

motg,

No, cameras on bows did not come up.

[idahohuntr]

Cougar
Did it sound like quotas will increase, another month will not help us in the Northeast unless we get more quota because seasons get closed by the low quotas. We saw 10 cougars this year while hunting. CRAZY

They were adamant that "quotas" was not the correct term...whats listed in the regulations they consider "harvest guidelines".  A lot of the discussion seemed to center around the harvest of sub-adults not counting in those harvest guidelines.  Maybe wingshooter can add his perspective...

I almost forgot....they plan to DOUBLE spring bear permits in NE Washington.

[Rainier10]

First off, thanks for the update.

Some of the changes I agree with, others I don't.

Again thanks for the update.

[suga]

Thanks for the info!

[whacker1]

I apply in UT and I think that system or any like it are terrible! Atleast here you have a chance to draw every year and over 10-15 years you could draw multiple times. In UT u will draw some of the coveted tags maybe once in your life with their system and the point creep is terrible! If they implement it on the OIL tags here in WA what a joke! there are way to many apps to even notice some point program like that.

I dis-like combing our current point system with a 25% guarantee to the highest point holders.  It would make it impossible for someone to ever draw sheep, goat, Moose, or a Quality Elk tag that has less than 4 permits in it.  For those at max points it is great, but you will never be able to draw the most desirable after you draw.  So why apply after that?

if we had a 100 tags in every hunt then, yes it might make sense, but for all those hunts that have less than 10 permits/tags available....those become virtually impossible to draw.  I like our current point system, because even thought at 10 points I don't hold a candle to the person that has 19, I still have hope for Goat tag.  If the 25% cap for max points is put forward, I can never draw, because there aren't enough tags to ever get below max.   There are a lot of people below max points and the only hope they would have for the most desirable tags is that everyone older than them quits applying due to age, drawing, etc.  Our population of applicants is too large and # of tags available too small for this to work.  I would expect that the revenue would go down after a period of time, because people will realize that there is no hope and quit applying.  I guess that is the only saving grace for getting drawn is if everyone else figures it out......and quits applying. 

I can't support that concept

[Bob33]

Tags, giving 25% of the tags for quality and OIL tags is simply a feel good move to get the high point holders off of WDFW's backs, since approximately 75% of these tags already are drawn by the high point holders. The only good way to increase draw odds for anyone is to increase the number of available tags and other than the few listed by the OP that is not going to happen.

Here is the data based on 2013 OIL tags. The percentages are the number of tags that went to individuals with the specified number of points or more.

For example, 75% of the "any moose" tags when to applications with 10 or more points. If "highest point holders" is defined as anyone with 10 or more points, then giving 25% to them changes nothing.

Pts   Moose   Goat   Sheep
20   0%   0%   0%
19   0%   0%   0%
18   13%   8%   15%
17   17%   15%   31%
16   26%   15%   38%
15   37%   23%   42%
14   45%   38%   50%
13   57%   38%   50%
12   62%   54%   58%
11   70%   69%   73%
10   75%   69%   81%

[bobcat]

"For example, 75% of the any moose tags went to applications with 10 or more points. If highest point holders is defined as anyone with 10 or more points, then giving 25% to them changes nothing"

If it's true that this changes nothing, then I am fine with that "change".   

[whacker1]

"For example, 75% of the any moose tags went to applications with 10 or more points. If highest point holders is defined as anyone with 10 or more points, then giving 25% to them changes nothing"

If it's true that this changes nothing, then I am fine with that "change".   

So, I guess we don't know what that definition is "highest point holders" in most states means max points, such as Wyoming and I believe Arizona.