what a ripoff

[Adam Williamsen]

just payed $350 to hunt in my home town what a ripoff. i hope fish and wildlife go broke after they price everybody out of the woods. they give the timber companies tax breaks so they can raise our taxes to pay the game wardens wages. ill go out of state next year to hunt properly managed wildlife.

[JJB11B]

You know he's irritated! He's been on this site for 2 years and that was his 9th Post! I agree with you man. All the people that are traveling to the east side to hunt due to this are making it more and more crowded here as well (I can't blame them though) Its getting very difficult to find a decent place to hunt over here, especially during Muzzy season. I'm not hunting Big Game in Washington this year.....

[AZcoueshunter78]

Here i thought when i miged here from az i had hit the lottery of hunting by being able to buy everything otc . Its not easy finding good land thats not on timber company land and its too rich for my blood.

[NW-GSP]

You know he's irritated! He's been on this site for 2 years and that was his 9th Post! I agree with you man. All the people that are traveling to the east side to hunt due to this are making it more and more crowded here as well (I can't blame them though) Its getting very difficult to find a decent place to hunt over here, especially during Muzzy season. I'm not hunting Big Game in Washington this year.....

Neither am I. I will save my money this year and hunt out of state next year.

[deerhunter_98520]

Just hunt out your back yard you'll be fine 

[johnsc6]

just payed $350 to hunt in my home town what a ripoff. i hope fish and wildlife go broke after they price everybody out of the woods. they give the timber companies tax breaks so they can raise our taxes to pay the game wardens wages. ill go out of state next year to hunt properly managed wildlife.

I hear ya, it does make the $1000+ for out of state stuff a little easier to swallow.....

[REHJWA]

And they wonder why hunter recruitment is down. Im trying to get my nephews into hunting and it is cost prohibitive. I cant take them with me even if i can get a timber land permit.

[johnsc6]

Good point on the timber permits....

[Jonathan_S]

just payed $350 to hunt in my home town what a ripoff. i hope fish and wildlife go broke after they price everybody out of the woods. they give the timber companies tax breaks so they can raise our taxes to pay the game wardens wages. ill go out of state next year to hunt properly managed wildlife.

Care to share the items on which you spent $350?  Because if all you want to do is hunt close to home, I can't see how it cost that much (unless you are including access to timber land in your total)

Assuming that $350 includes elk, deer and bear tags, prepare to spend about $1,000 for similar privileges in Idaho next year 

[jhawk13]

I am with you on that one. Heading to Idaho next year instead...

[Rainier10]

It's getting expensive for sure, check out some of these costs in this thread.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,195561.0.html

[Thefisherman83]

It is what you make it.  A guy could buy his big game combo for under $100 and hunt all year.   The special permits aren't a requirement to hunt, nor are the access permits.  They are luxuries and should be treated as such.  Its not like the new license season sneaks up on you, you have a whole year to save up for it.  Ill be into it for around $650 after the access permit and, to me,  that's a bargain for a years worth of entertainment!

[b0bbyg]

just payed $350 to hunt in my home town what a ripoff. i hope fish and wildlife go broke after they price everybody out of the woods. they give the timber companies tax breaks so they can raise our taxes to pay the game wardens wages. ill go out of state next year to hunt properly managed wildlife.

Care to share the items on which you spent $350?  Because if all you want to do is hunt close to home, I can't see how it cost that much (unless you are including access to timber land in your total)

Assuming that $350 includes elk, deer and bear tags, prepare to spend about $1,000 for similar privileges in Idaho next year 

I was kind of wondering the same thing.  I was in the same $ range but that included a discover pass, several special hunt applications and a Multi-season deer tag which is optional.   

[QUINNB]

I am assuming the $350 is just to hunt on the timber company land in his hometown.   

[deerhunter_98520]

  $250 for access and $100 for license and tags

[Adam Williamsen]

your right deer hunter. i went to Idaho last year and spent $750 for every thing that's total out the door price. plus there is a chance to kill a monster animal.
.

[Stein]

We just put in for 6 antelope tags in WY for $612, me and my daughter including points.  Chances look good, knocking on wood, to draw all 6.

[Adam Williamsen]

nice i love wy. i killed a 5x4 elk there a couple years ago. that drive is a killer. now its so expensive to hunt my home town i can only go out of state every other year.

[KDB]

I was not aware that the timber companies were getting a tax break.

[snake]

I agree about the crowds.  I called WDFW about the loss of fishing opportunities every year, and the guys told me "In 1970 there was 2 million people living in Washington, now there are almost 8 million."  I guess he has a point.  Fishing and hunting is overcrowded here and its going to get worse with population growth.

[Hot Lunch]

It's getting crowded every where and out of state does not make it cheaper. There is huge hunting industry growth as well (Mtn Ops, Under Armour, etc.) blowing up our sport. I am hunting more than ever including two out of state hunts this year and I am increasing my hunting budget as much as possible for the coming years. The justification for spending money on hunting and fishing is having a freezer full of organic deer, elk and salmon. Making this pursuit to me and my family worth every penny. 

[vandeman17]

I am slowly migrating away from hunting deer and elk in Washington. Once I burn my points for quality in both categories, I will be done. My only wa hunting will be waterfowl and I will continue to put in for OIL tags just for the heck of it. I have been building points in other states as well as taking advantage of their otc tags. I rarely dine out, I don't buy coffee and I make all my meals for work. My vacation and extra cash goes for out of state hunts. It's not all about going to other states with the goal of killing the biggest animals but more so the adventure and experiencing different areas. Half the fun of the hunt is all the research and planning that goes into it.

For me, it's not just the money spent here but the small things other states do that make me more wiling to shell out my hard earned money. Something as small as a phone call from Montana every spring asking how my hunt went, how we did and a friendly invitation to come back again means a lot. Shows me they appreciate hunters and their money. Sad that my home state just doesn't feel like they give a darn. It just feels more like a "thanks for your cash" approach.

[snake]

I never knew Montana called people to get a report, they're a totally different kind of people over there. Very nice!

[abe henderson]

Well........I guess we can all be glad that we weren't born in Europe.  You know all those folks over there have cheap otc tags, lots of guns and ammo, and millions of acres of public land right out their back door to hunt and recreate on!

Seriously though, yeah prices go up, policies change, but I'm bringing up two boys who are both hunting now with three more young ones on their heels and we are having a ball out there!  There is a lot to complain about in this world but isn't it nice to grab an otc  deer or elk tag, climb up on a high ridge (on land owned by you and I) and watch the sun come up?  I don't know about you but that makes me feel like I'm really living 👍🏼 

[Skyvalhunter]

What are you doing to get a call from Montana. Not saying it doesn't happen but I haven't seen or heard of it.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I spend a fortune on hunting and it peeves me off bad to have to pay for land access to land that the public should have access to anyways cause it was taxes that paid for the logging roads. It's not the cost it's the wAy a local company is exploiting local communities. 

[Moose Master]

Money spent hunting whether it's paying to hunt timber controlled land, gated public land, fuel, gear, tents, power bill, and all the rest it is well worth it.  There is lot's of public land in this state and our choice to be a hunter comes at a expense.  Do I like the access fee to public land NO.  For those that choice not to hunt here and go out of state I honor your choice but I'm having a little trouble with the math since the complaint seems to be the access fee.  If we didn't have JACK WAGONS in the woods tearing up meadows with there motorized rigs, shooting holes in equipment, leaving trash, vandalized signs and structures, that are meant for everybody maybe we wouldn't have such fee's and gate's into public land.  Ass, gas or grass nobody ride's, (or access) for free.  No matter where you go in 2016 hunting good luck to you all.

[nickrj11]

It is what you make it.  A guy could buy his big game combo for under $100 and hunt all year.   The special permits aren't a requirement to hunt, nor are the access permits.  They are luxuries and should be treated as such.  Its not like the new license season sneaks up on you, you have a whole year to save up for it.  Ill be into it for around $650 after the access permit and, to me,  that's a bargain for a years worth of entertainment!

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

It is what you make it.  A guy could buy his big game combo for under $100 and hunt all year.   The special permits aren't a requirement to hunt, nor are the access permits.  They are luxuries and should be treated as such.  Its not like the new license season sneaks up on you, you have a whole year to save up for it.  Ill be into it for around $650 after the access permit and, to me,  that's a bargain for a years worth of entertainment!

What about the generations of wholesome family tradition and values that having that land public provided to these rural communities...  The pass I buy sells 800 in less than 90 seconds.  Even if my family wanted to buy it (they refuse cause they paid the taxes for those roads and agreed to do so for access to the tree farms) they couldn't.  You guys act like they have a choice. Most all timber companies have gone to permit only. Very small chunks of state land to hunt that hold game.  It was a greedy thing to do and will cost them and the wdfw in the end. 

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[nickrj11]

It is what you make it.  A guy could buy his big game combo for under $100 and hunt all year.   The special permits aren't a requirement to hunt, nor are the access permits.  They are luxuries and should be treated as such.  Its not like the new license season sneaks up on you, you have a whole year to save up for it.  Ill be into it for around $650 after the access permit and, to me,  that's a bargain for a years worth of entertainment!

What about the generations of wholesome family tradition and values that having that land public provided to these rural communities...  The pass I buy sells 800 in less than 90 seconds.  Even if my family wanted to buy it (they refuse cause they paid the taxes for those roads and agreed to do so for access to the tree farms) they couldn't.  You guys act like they have a choice. Most all timber companies have gone to permit only. Very small chunks of state land to hunt that hold game.  It was a greedy thing to do and will cost them and the wdfw in the end. 

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I completely understand this point. However, the only main complaint we ever seem to hear about is cost and the timber companies receiving tax breaks. And when you say they couldn't buy a permit even if they wanted to, do you mean they cant afford it or the permits sell out to quickly? I buy the same permit by the way.

[shadowless_nite]

It is what you make it.  A guy could buy his big game combo for under $100 and hunt all year.   The special permits aren't a requirement to hunt, nor are the access permits.  They are luxuries and should be treated as such.  Its not like the new license season sneaks up on you, you have a whole year to save up for it.  Ill be into it for around $650 after the access permit and, to me,  that's a bargain for a years worth of entertainment!

I agree, it maybe a hobby/sport. But it sure beats talking to a psych about your problems and paying for therapy sessions. I feel any sort of hobby/sport/interest etc, when given serious effort, takes some money. Even if I am unsuccessful harvesting I usually look book and think " were the experiences for me and my family really worth the cost?..." and in the end I can't think of any price I wouldn't pay to see my wife and kids with me enjoying what I enjoy. But don't get me wrong, it is expensive and I complain each year after buying tags and whatever else I need  so I'm just as ready to jump ship and hunt somewhere else, every man has his limits right?

[Alaska316]

Here's how I look at it. I bought two forest passes this year, also bought tags for my fiancé and I. Deer,elk,bear,small game and multi season deer for both and special permits. Ammo, her bow and rifle. Luckily I had a second muzzle loader. All the gear for her such as clothes and binos. But I am in the woods from September thru January. Just so her and I and some buddies can break new trail and tell lies. So needless to say, I spent a lot of money to support my habit. I don't have to spend much money. I am lucky to be able to. If it were free and easy, it'd be called Food stamps.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Allowing the tax payers to access land that the timber companies agreed to let us access, When we the taxpayers agreed to PAY FOR THE ROAD SYSTEM...  THATS NOT FOOD STAMPS...We got took by big timer.

We paid for the roads and maintenance of them with the agreement we get PUBLIC ACCESS.  Not the tiny chunk of public they offer for walk in.  Access to the tree farm the entire farm.  They went back on their end of the agreement and it was all for money.  Now the WDFW spend most of its enforcement power on checking permits at the gates of lots of privately owned tree farms around the state......  What a joke they make a couple million a year on permits and loose a lot more to china by cutting out the American workers and still need WDFW to regulate and supervise their gates.  Huge waste of money so a few guys can kick back w their feet up.  But hey support our heritage being taken away all you want.

It is what you make it.  A guy could buy his big game combo for under $100 and hunt all year.   The special permits aren't a requirement to hunt, nor are the access permits.  They are luxuries and should be treated as such.  Its not like the new license season sneaks up on you, you have a whole year to save up for it.  Ill be into it for around $650 after the access permit and, to me,  that's a bargain for a years worth of entertainment!

What about the generations of wholesome family tradition and values that having that land public provided to these rural communities...  The pass I buy sells 800 in less than 90 seconds.  Even if my family wanted to buy it (they refuse cause they paid the taxes for those roads and agreed to do so for access to the tree farms) they couldn't.  You guys act like they have a choice. Most all timber companies have gone to permit only. Very small chunks of state land to hunt that hold game.  It was a greedy thing to do and will cost them and the wdfw in the end. 

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I completely understand this point. However, the only main complaint we ever seem to hear about is cost and the timber companies receiving tax breaks. And when you say they couldn't buy a permit even if they wanted to, do you mean they cant afford it or the permits sell out to quickly? I buy the same permit by the way.

Not talking about the current tax breaks they receive.  Just the agreement they made w the tax payers when my grandparents agreed to pay for and maintain the road systems through the taxes with the agreement that the public could access the roads.

And yes they sell out too fast for my 80yo grandfather to figure out his computer.  We hunt out of state anyways.  that way his old bones can still kill bigger bucks than most in WA.  He's not gonna break his 178" buck here in wa that's for sure.  unless he draws his deer tag............