how to fix WA. OIL draw system

[bobcat]

I like that it is a truly random system and allows a first time applicant a chance to draw a tag. However I would like to see a certain percent of tags go to people with max points. Also put a limit on non resident tags awarded like a lot of other states.

yes, limited non resident tags!  I will email Wdfw on Monday to see if I can get some numbers on non residents.

They won't give you that information. I asked last year and was told no.

really? That is strange, why the secret?  Seems like it would be public info.

They said I had to file a public disclosure request (I think that's what it's called).

So you actually can get the information, it just takes more time than I was willing to spend.

[jmscon]

I don't think WDFW would want to limit non-res tags, look at how much a non-res tag is!

I agree with putting in for deer/elk OR OIL. BUT being able to buy a points option for OIL.

The revenue might go down a little bit but this is basically what I feel like I'm doing right now anyway, with how few points I have, except I have a sliver of a chance to get tag.

[idahohuntr]

I've seen data on non-residents...it's marginal at best...probably less than 1-2%.  A cap would not really improve anything...maybe it would still be a good idea just in case something changed in the future. But right now, nonresidents are not a factor in draw odds.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[JJB11B]

They could start by putting wolves into extinction and giving the Moose, Sheep, Deer, Elk a chance of growing to maturity

[trophyhunt]

They could start by putting wolves into extinction and giving the Moose, Sheep, Deer, Elk a chance of growing to maturity

100% agree

[Jonathan_S]

Pretty sure that by mirroring Idaho's draw system there would be no "losers" and that everybody would be happier with odds and results.

[DOUBLELUNG]

There is no way on God's green earth to guarantee every faithful Washington state hunter a high quality, high success OIL hunt.  Taking all financial incentive out of the equation:

Want to make it fairer?  Only allow hunters to draw one OIL permit in a lifetime, rather than per species - draw moose?  no goat or sheep for you in this state! 

Increase permits by reducing quality - impose minimum harvest limitations (billy only, 4" minimum horn length; 1/2 curl ram; ear width moose antler minimum spread) and increase permits by 1000%.  Or, eliminate permits and just let hunters kill 98% or more of the males as soon as they are legal, like the Colockum was for many years under any bull general seasons.

Increase opportunity AND maintain trophy quality?  Make harvest incredibly difficult and give large numbers of permits: Season dates August 28-30, no sights of any kind allowed, hunting hours 4-5pm.  Legal game 11"+ billies, curl and a quarter or better rams, 58" minimum spread bull moose.   

Increase game populations so we can have more high quality permits like currently?  That may happen with goats, IMHO, with warming climate and forest health issues - for a while anyway.  Even better, close the high country to recreation access except for OIL hunters.

Lots of possible but improbable measures to increase goats, sheep and moose.  Criminalize possession of domestic sheep and goats, we'd get more bighorns.  Put the hammer on large carnivores, especially wolf and bear, we'd see bigger moose populations and a bigger distribution.  Mandatory 10 year jail terms for illegally killing an OIL, and reward tipsters with a permit for the same species.  Close any roads where OILs are hit by vehicles.  Move people out of the countryside into cities ...

Increase odds for the mostest dedicatedest deservingest hunters?  Auction them all.  If you really want an OIL, you'll cash out the kids' college fund, take out another mortgage and get a 2nd and third job.

[Miles]

One name in the hat per year, per entry.  No points.   That's about the fairest it could ever get.


The problem is people cried just like they are now and a point system was created.   Now people still aren't getting what they want, so what's the answer?  Fix the point "problem" that hunter requests created.  The only difference is now we have suggestions to increase odds by allocating a percentage to the "max point" holders.  No one is or ever will be guaranteed an OIL tag.  It's a drawing.

I'm not sure if some of you saw the title of this thread, but it is titled HOW TO FIX THE OIL DRAW SYSTEM.  It didn't say how do we make it worse.

My two cents.

[Falcon]

When you read about sheep hunters in Arizona, Nevada, Montana, and so on, you will hear about guys who put in their whole lives and are pretty much at the end before they are too old to actually hunt sheep. These are states with up to 5 times as many tags, and a lot less people. 

If you are young and really want to hunt sheep, start saving and put in for state lotteries, apply for other states and maybe even buy a hunt.

With 15,000 people applying for sheep with 21 tags, do the math.  Nobody wins.
I do like the idea of only being able to apply for 1 species per year, but it's still an
Uphill battle.

[Stein]

If I was smart, I would take $300 every year and put it in a fund for each of my kids starting when they were born and skip the whole WA draw other than the youth tags.  Then, when they were 30 they could take the money and go on a guided OIL hunt somewhere else.

The WA OIL hunts are more like winning the lottery but some still see them as just waiting until you are due.  Most of us will never draw in any of the hard categories and it only gets worse every year.

[steeleywhopper]

Go back to doing it like they used to. Front the cost of the tag for applying and if you don't draw they send you your refund. Like Idaho does now.

[Buckjunkie]

Pretty sure that by mirroring Idaho's draw system there would be no "losers" and that everybody would be happier with odds and results.

No losers? How about everyone with a lot of points?

I like the system even though I've never draw an OIL tag. My son drew moose with two points when he was 11. I sit here with 20 and no tag. I didn't like the change when they split the cow, bull and quality and gave everyone the same points before for all three because I drew elk the year before.

I say, leave the system alone. There are too many people and not enough tags. Any change will just be favoring one group over another.

[Katmai Guy]

  It's lotto for hunters. Play or don't play.

[Gringo31]

I like the system even though I've never draw an OIL tag. My son drew moose with two points when he was 11. I sit here with 20 and no tag. I didn't like the change when they split the cow, bull and quality and gave everyone the same points before for all three because I drew elk the year before.

I say, leave the system alone. There are too many people and not enough tags. Any change will just be favoring one group over another.

Almost exactly the situation I'm in....and I agree with you.

[DOUBLELUNG]

It's lotto for hunters. Play or don't play.

Exactly right!  And, too many mathematically challenged people believe they WILL win the lottery eventually!  Play it for fun, enjoy it if you win, but expecting to win (draw) is a cruel illusion unsupportable by fact.