New draw in Wa?

[Ridgerunner]

There should be a premium to apply for a premium OIL hunt in my opinion.  Is that catering towards the rich?  Well some might say so, but if you really want to put in you'll find a way for the extra money, at least that way the guys drawing are serious about it and aren't shooting the first immature ram or bull they see(happens all the time). 

[colockumelk]

I like it just fine the way it is now. 

And it's not because I've drawn a ton of tags either.  I've never been drawn for deer since I was putting in for youth tags, and never drawn an elk tag or any other tag for that matter ever.

I've put in for 9 years for premier bull tags and never been drawn, and that's because they are premier tags.  Want an easy draw? Put in for a cow tag.  It's the same way in every state. . . Premier tags take many years to draw.

I bowhunt I can't put in for cow tags.  And I don't put in for premier hunts.  I put in for Colockum 4 permits (okay this one is a premier hunt) Then I put in for Peaches Ridge 120 Permits, Observatory 100 permits, and then Rimrock 102 permits. 

 Bowhuntin I must be the most unlucky person in the world.  This is why I think they should change the point system.  Because right now your points don't mean crap.  Your odds do not increase hardly at all.  If they were multiples ie Montana then my preference points would actually have an impact on my chances of getting drawn. 

[popeshawnpaul]

They need to make the following changes.

1.  You select only one OIL species and can only apply for that species.  This will reduce applicants for each species giving a more realistic chance to draw one in your life.
2.  Limit non-residents to 10% of the draw like all the other states.
3.  Make it more expensive for OIL species so those that really want to do it stay in for them, while those that are just doing it for fun for $5 don't put in.  That way we don't have the coveted sheep tag holders take a 1 year and 4 year old ram, like we did this year in a unit.  They walk up the hill and shoot the first sheep they see.  Wow, their lifelong dreams have been fulfilled...     I'm not saying make it $1000 so only the rich can do it, but 50-100 dollars seems reasonable.  Or front the money like most of the other states.  If you really want to hunt sheep, moose, or goat you will find a credit card to put the money on for a month...

[boneaddict]

Max point pools or preference SUCK!  You draw once, thats it for life. Hopem you /have /a /good hunt.  YOUR kids or GRANDKIDS will never draw.
Take a gander at my wyoming thread on their pool numbers.  Imagine a 16 year old or 18 year old gettin in at ground zero now.  WILL never draw.   I'm now sitting with about 6 points for moose for instance.  Max is anywhere from9-12 todraw and going up every year.  Once I draw, no more  Is that what you want here.  Yeah if you are bitter because you haven't drawn in the last 10 years, well once you draw, just figure it will never happen again. 

[dreamingbig]

Guys we have the best draw system in the west, everyone has a shot each year, with the multiplier those who haven't drawn each year have an exponentially better chance of drawing.  If they tweak it then they should set aside like 25% of the tags to those that are over a certain number of points, i.e. 10.  My suspecion is that the top point pools are getting fewer and fewer each year, the guys that whine about never drawing are probably only putting in for premium tags.  Then of course you will always have guys who get lucky and draw premium tags with few points, but they are the exception not the rule.

I am not complaining but I haven't been drawn yet for archery elk since I have been applying.  I have only put in for goose prairie and rimrock (good units, but not the most premium units) and am now 0-5.  The draw is tougher than some people think.  Or I just have really bad luck.

[Skyvalhunter]

I think you have just had a run of bad luck. I had 4 points and drew Late Teanaway archery elk this year. Just keep trying.

[GoldTip]

Pope, I agree with points 2 and 3, number one I do not think is necessary, as I feel making the cost of the applications higher will weed out enough people who don't really want to hunt sheep, but live in a sheep unit,, or goat unit, these people will quit putting in as right now as you said, why not, it's only 5 bucks.  Make it $75 or $100 and hell only refund half of it.  This will slow people down for applying for multiple OIL tags. 

And for those of you who plan to flame me or make any sort of, Hunting is already being geared towards the rich.  To that this is my response, if you can't afford to pay $100 bucks to apply for the tag and possibly lose $50 of it for the chance, then you probably can't afford to go on the hunt anyway even if you drew the tag.

[shanevg]

I wouldn't mind the top 25% of tags (for hunts with 4 or more tags) going to hunters with the most points.  I wouldn't mind upping the cost for the OIL tags either, or making you pay for the tag upfront and then get refunded.  But I think the best thing they could do to increase our draw odds is only allow us to apply for two choices per species.  That way, the hunters get dispersed throughout the state and not as many people are going to be able to apply for every tag.  I don't like the idea of only being able to apply for one OIL tag because our OIL tags are so up in the air year to year.  Look at the new proposals for mountain goat.  What if you had been applying for only mountain goat for the last 15 years and then they just decide to shut down mountain goat hunting because populations are too low.  Then you're screwed, and you don't have a chance for sheep or moose either.  Let us apply for all the hunts, just raise the costs for OIL tags, and limit our choices for all tags. 

Unluckily, according to the survey, no one sees it that way.  A majority of hunters want four options every single year, they just don't realize how much that is decreasing their odds.

And I haven't been drawn for any good tags yet.  I got one cow tag when I was a youth, and one doe tag when I was a youth.  And I've been applying for 9 years now.

[boneaddict]

or one choice and you are right..would help ALOT

[Ridgerunner]

I think we are stuck with the 4 choices, however if they pass some of these proposals with more hunts to put in for it will help draw odds.  Lets say I wanted to put in for the yakima elk units.  With the new rut hunts for MF they have just doubled the amount of hunt choices a guy has so now some guys may only put in for 4 rut hunts which would mean he's not in the draw for the later longer seasons so the folks putting in for those will have a better chance of drawing as some of those folks will now be putting in for the rut tags.  

[boneaddict]

Imagine if it were one choice.  Gotta oput your eggs in a basket.  Would fix sheep for sure

[popeshawnpaul]

The max pool issue will get the state less money.  If I want to go apply for WY or UT I won't do it because I'm 15 years behind the max pool.  Therefore, I won't spend my money in that state. 

In WA, there are so many max pool people you would literally have to live to 80 years old + to draw.  Who wants to hunt sheep in the nursing home?

[boneaddict]

exactly.

[hogsniper]

I never thought of it that way!! Compared to other states we are pretty lucky!!! Limiting it to one OIL species and hunt choices would have its benefits also!!!!

[NRA4LIFE]

I've said this in other threads, but the max draw system in CO is not working.  I have 17 preference points for elk.  The tag I want requires 19, I believe.  When I started applying, you needed 7 I think.  The max points has gone up one now for 10 years straight.  There are so many people ahead of me, I will in all likelyhood never be able to draw.  Will have to choose a different unit.

Our system isn't the greatest, but there are worse.  I think there are a lot of good suggestions here.