Controlled application question???

[Mossyhorn]

This will be my first year applying in Washington and am trying to learn the system by reading through the regs. I see that I need to buy a deer license and pay the app fee to apply. If I'm unsuccessful in the drawing, do I have the option of a refund for the tag I purchased? Or do I eat the tag if I have no plan to hunt general season?

[dreamunelk]

Eat it!
Why would you not hunt during general season?

[bobcat]

No refunds. I always buy an elk tag but there have been lots of years I've not hunted elk because I didn't draw a special permit. But I always use the deer tag.

[Mossyhorn]

Reasons I wouldn't hunt general season? Different time frames between quality hunts vs general might have me doing something else. I have very little knowledge about the state and researching general areas seems a lot more difficult than a select quality area. In talking to many and reading online, the general hunts sound like an absolute zoo. At this stage in my life, with a 2 year old and another due in July, both my wife and I working full time, I have very little time to get out. So I'm trying to bank my time towards higher quality hunts. If I don't draw I might go out of state or something?

[Bob33]

Reasons I wouldn't hunt general season? Different time frames between quality hunts vs general might have me doing something else. I have very little knowledge about the state and researching general areas seems a lot more difficult than a select quality area. In talking to many and reading online, the general hunts sound like an absolute zoo. At this stage in my life, with a 2 year old and another due in July, both my wife and I working full time, I have very little time to get out. So I'm trying to bank my time towards higher quality hunts. If I don't draw I might go out of state or something?

Totally logical thought process. There are some general season opprtunities that aren't that crowded but usually involve private land, or hunting away from access points.  Good luck.

[ian_padron]

Reasons I wouldn't hunt general season? Different time frames between quality hunts vs general might have me doing something else. I have very little knowledge about the state and researching general areas seems a lot more difficult than a select quality area. In talking to many and reading online, the general hunts sound like an absolute zoo. At this stage in my life, with a 2 year old and another due in July, both my wife and I working full time, I have very little time to get out. So I'm trying to bank my time towards higher quality hunts. If I don't draw I might go out of state or something?

2015 was my first fall in WA and I hunted the general season. The guys that say modern is a zoo are talking about along the roads. Definitely ridiculously crowded in that respect. Use the summer months to scout, scout, scout, and be ready to really burn some boot leather. I hunted up high over in unit 245, about 5 miles from the trailhead, and didn't see a single hunter the entire time. Plenty of deer to be had in general units, but you will have to work for them!

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