Is IT Time To Eliminate OIL Tag Auctions?

[pianoman9701]

I used to think that OIL tag auctions raised essential money for conservation and are a necessary tool. My opinion has changed. After the Bullwinkle episode, it occurs to me that these auctions are just another in a long series of nails in the coffin of public hunting's future. We're losing more land to leases and pay to play every year. The animal rights people collect more and more money for litigation which seeks to further regulate and restrict us, and to eventually end our heritage. And we now have lopsided legislatures, commissions, and "scientific" panels which have forgotten the reasons that our wildlife is abundant - the efforts of hunters which brought the wildlife back. Their successes in ending hounding and baiting, and introducing multiple apex predators are aimed at taking us out. And it's effective.

Long story short, I'd like to see all OIL auctions ended in WA. Although I get it - if you're rich, you've likely worked hard to get where you are and afford some of those things. But undermining our game management system by catering to a given class of people is stupid. What say you?

[Timberstalker]

For clarity - are you referring to the Raffle Drawings and Governor Tags?

[chester]

Make the auctions OIL so you can only win them once instead of seeing the same guys buy it every year? Or just end auctions all together?

[Bob33]

http://billingsgazette.com/lifestyles/recreation/proposal-to-auction-game-tags-raises-hackles-in-idaho/article_c4b4c735-e13e-5702-a0a3-aed527ee2ffc.html

[Gringo31]

I'm on the fence.


On one hand, cash talks.  WDFW is in need of it BUT.....like so many things, we don't have a revenue issue, we have a spending problem.  More money doesn't fix spending problems.  I see the value in both sides of this argument but until the spending problem is fixed....I don't think any alternative "solutions" matter.   

[Bob33]

The United States in unique in its North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. It's under attack from many sides.

http://www.boone-crockett.org/conservation/conservation_NAM.asp?area=conservation&gclid=Cj0KEQjw5YfHBRDzjNnioYq3_swBEiQArj4pdADNKS47QfaQUfJmXmcsYGKQr-Sf6v2wRW0aYWkiwxoaAr4q8P8HAQ

Opportunity for All – Every citizen has the freedom to hunt and fish.

Public access to wildlife, regardless of social or economic status, including hunting, fishing, and trapping is a right of citizenship. This access fosters individual stewardship and provides the funding necessary to properly manage wildlife resources in a sustainable manner.

Boone and Crockett Club founder, Theodore Roosevelt believed strongly in wise-use conservation and fought aggressively against preservationist, or non-use proposals. The Club also believed that those who use the resource should pay for its care and maintenance. The Club lobbied for the laws and institutions that provided this funding, including a federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition and the federal Duck Stamp program. Sportsmen ands women subsequently stepped forward and gladly accepted their role in funding conservation

[kentrek]

I'm on the fence.


On one hand, cash talks.  WDFW is in need of it BUT.....like so many things, we don't have a revenue issue, we have a spending problem.  More money doesn't fix spending problems.  I see the value in both sides of this argument but until the spending problem is fixed....I don't think any alternative "solutions" matter.   

 

I'm on the fence as well  but leaning with pianoman.....the general public needs more opportunities

[idahohuntr]

I agree with Pianoman.  End the auctions...more harm than good - and as Gringo said, WDFW has a spending problem - not a revenue problem.   

I think it is important in these discussions to focus on the system and the enabler (WDFW, legislature etc.) not the participants in the auctions who are playing by the rules setup by the enablers. 

[JDHasty]

These Tag Auctions seem to attract some of the very finest of individuals.  It is not only the money they spend on the auctions that they give, year after year, I have met a few who have bought new vehicles and turned the old (like three years) vehicles (off road vehicles and pickups and boats) they replaced over to conservation minded NGO's, and just really do give tremendous amount. 

And then there are those who impress me as only involved for what they can personally get out of it. 

I am not ready to say that the abusers should end the opportunity for all to participate, but I would not have any qualms limiting the Raffle Tags to no more than 10 chances/Wild ID per opportunity though. 

[Smoke]

"Public access to wildlife, regardless of social or economic status, including hunting, fishing, and trapping is a right of citizenship. This access fosters individual stewardship and provides the funding necessary to properly manage wildlife resources in a sustainable manner. "

I feel that way too... however the State of Washington says specifically that hunting and fishing are not rights but privileges, and can be taken away at anytime for any reason..

[rosscrazyelk]

Well if you can win them every year they are not OIL tags..
Just saying..
I understand your stance somewhat though

[NOCK NOCK]

I used to think that OIL tag auctions raised essential money for conservation and are a necessary tool. My opinion has changed. After the Bullwinkle episode, it occurs to me that these auctions are just another in a long series of nails in the coffin of public hunting's future. We're losing more land to leases and pay to play every year. The animal rights people collect more and more money for litigation which seeks to further regulate and restrict us, and to eventually end our heritage. And we now have lopsided legislatures, commissions, and "scientific" panels which have forgotten the reasons that our wildlife is abundant - the efforts of hunters which brought the wildlife back. Their successes in ending hounding and baiting, and introducing multiple apex predators are aimed at taking us out. And it's effective.

Long story short, I'd like to see all OIL auctions ended in WA. Although I get it - if you're rich, you've likely worked hard to get where you are and afford some of those things. But undermining our game management system by catering to a given class of people is stupid. What say you?

I agree P-man....except for the bold part. A lot of folks have worked hard their whole lives and still can not afford to spend that kind of dough. The garbage collector guy, construction dude, septic pumper, grocery store clerks, fruit pickers, etc...all work very hard, and with out them, the rest of us would be lost. These people are no less deserving than the ones who worked hard (in the right fields, and with some luck maybe) and make extraordinary $$$.

Do away with the auctions, and limit the amount of entries for raffle tags, make it fair and reasonable to ALL.

[jackelope]

I'm good with the auctions. I'm not ok with people "buying" the raffles. Maybe that's a different thread, and maybe it's not.

[Gringo31]

I could get on board with that.  Have one of the two unlimited?  Raffle tags are limited at 10, 50, 100???


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[pianoman9701]

For clarity - are you referring to the Raffle Drawings and Governor Tags?

Governor tags - anything that's auctioned.