Incentive Permits ARE Real!!

[beardown]

My hunting partner called me last week and said, "You are not going to believe this, but my dad drew an Incentive Deer Permit!"  So he gets to hunt all seasons, in ANY unit in Wa State, including special permit units, as long as he uses the weapon of the season. Looks like we have our work cut out. Choices, choices...  We are leaning toward rifle hunts in late November for mule deer in areas accessible by truck because his ol man is in his mid 70s and doesnt get around real well. We have a place to stay in Entiat, which makes it easy for hunting those few units around there, but will travel wherever we need to be.  Anybody ever have this tag before?  Any Ideas?

[trophyhunt]

Man I hope he wacks a biggon!! Congrats!

[beardown]

Thanks. We are going to make a few trips over this summer to learn some more areas, but things will be a lot different when the snow and the rut hits.

[jackelope]

Congrats your partner and his dad. Will be an epic hunting season for him.

He'll have to pick a deer species to take the permit for FYI. I.E. mule deer, blacktail, whitetail. It's not a statewide permit.

[bobcat]

Heck, I'd just plan on hunting the Entiat unit then, since he has a place to stay. He could hunt Nov 1-20 with a rifle then again December 1-30.

[beardown]

Oh I didnt realize that he had to pick species. Buddy said statewide. I will let him know. I believe it is also an additional deer tag. He usually shoots the first blacktail doe he sees with his muzzleloader and was talking about shooting 2 does this year!  Buddy told his ol man that he was NOT burning a glory tag on another doe. Haha

[beardown]

Just read through the info. Looks like it IS  a statewide tag, but you have to report which region you are hunting in right before you hunt. If you want to change regions, just have to call and let them know.

[Ridgerunner]

Guess I didn't draw then.  Congrats on the draw, what a great tag!


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[Buckjunkie]

Beardown,

These are statewide tags and work like a governor's tag. You can use a rifle in any open unit. I helped someone with an incentive tag a few years ago. If you are hunting mule deer make sure you hunt from November 21st - early December. By mid December the rut is over and the better bucks tuck back into the holes.

It's a great tag. Good luck!

[bobcat]

Gotta be careful though which units you're hunting on November 21st. Entiat you can't because of the Nov 21-30 archery permit. Other units like Chiwawa and Slide Ridge have a December 1-8 archery season, and others have a November 25-30 muzzleloader season. But there's definitely plenty of opportunity in Chelan and Okanogan county units in late November/ early December.

[Mfowl]

Gotta be careful though which units you're hunting on November 21st. Entiat you can't because of the Nov 21-30 archery permit. Other units like Chiwawa and Slide Ridge have a December 1-8 archery season, and others have a November 25-30 muzzleloader season. But there's definitely plenty of opportunity in Chelan and Okanogan county units in late November/ early December.

Can't you still hunt those units with the appropriate in-season weapon type? I get the hunter in this thread will be using a rifle but for others isn't that the case?

[bobcat]

Gotta be careful though which units you're hunting on November 21st. Entiat you can't because of the Nov 21-30 archery permit. Other units like Chiwawa and Slide Ridge have a December 1-8 archery season, and others have a November 25-30 muzzleloader season. But there's definitely plenty of opportunity in Chelan and Okanogan county units in late November/ early December.

Can't you still hunt those units with the appropriate in-season weapon type? I get the hunter in this thread will be using a rifle but for others isn't that the case?

Yeah, I just meant this guy who wants to hunt with a rifle. Even if it were me, I wouldn't waste my time hunting with anything but a rifle.

[opdinkslayer]

You boys may have your work cut out for ya on this hunt with the physical limitations of the hunter (it's my wife's uncle) but what a great tag to get. I know you guys know your stuff and get after it so with the right weather and a little luck in the Entiat you could get him a good buck without having to stray too far from the truck. Make sure you dont give any bullets to him til it's time to shoot tho or he might end it quick on a good enuf buck.   Good luck on your scouting and the hunt. Everyone in the family is jealous of his good fortune.

[beardown]

So am I understanding this correctly?  If there is not an archery or muzzle season open at a certain time, he can still rifle hunt even if there isnt a rifle season in progress?  I know if it is an archery or muzzle season, he has to be weapon appropriate.

[ctwiggs1]

Gotta be careful though which units you're hunting on November 21st. Entiat you can't because of the Nov 21-30 archery permit. Other units like Chiwawa and Slide Ridge have a December 1-8 archery season, and others have a November 25-30 muzzleloader season. But there's definitely plenty of opportunity in Chelan and Okanogan county units in late November/ early December.

Can't you still hunt those units with the appropriate in-season weapon type? I get the hunter in this thread will be using a rifle but for others isn't that the case?

Yeah, I just meant this guy who wants to hunt with a rifle. Even if it were me, I wouldn't waste my time hunting with anything but a rifle.

  I'm all for adventure but with an incentive tag I'd be a rifle hunter for sure. 

Good luck to the hunter - it's great to see the older guys draw stuff like this.  Hope to see a big buck and a bigger grin in some pics later this year!

[jackelope]

Just read through the info. Looks like it IS  a statewide tag, but you have to report which region you are hunting in right before you hunt. If you want to change regions, just have to call and let them know.

Unless WDFW has changed things, your buddy has to pick which species he's going to hunt. I.E. there are a certain # of mule deer, blacktail, whitetail, westside or eastside elk incentive permits he gets to pick from ahead of time. If it's his turn, he'll get a choice of which one he wants of the remaining available permits.
When he is hunting outside of the normal seasons, he would have to notify WDFW he's hunting.
So I guess what I'm saying is that it is statewide in a matter of speaking, but he has to choose species.  So he can hunt mule deer wherever, but I'd suggest he not hunt the west side if he chooses mule deer.
This is all mostly accurate unless WDFW has changed something since last year.
 

[beardown]

It has changed since last year. He already has his permit. Had to pay $60.  Just has to report the region he will be hunting just before he hunts. He can change regions, just has to call in. Probably wont have to stray too far from the cabin tho. 

[beardown]

I think the hardest part will be keeping him from shooting a doe!     He is a meat hunter! We are gonna hold the bullets!

[bobcat]

So am I understanding this correctly?  If there is not an archery or muzzle season open at a certain time, he can still rifle hunt even if there isnt a rifle season in progress?  I know if it is an archery or muzzle season, he has to be weapon appropriate.

Yes, unless it changed since last year.

[bobcat]

I think the hardest part will be keeping him from shooting a doe!     He is a meat hunter! We are gonna hold the bullets!

Tell him bucks are much bigger and he'll get more meat. And the bigger the buck, the more meat! No does! Would a doe even be legal?

[lamrith]

Sounds like he has checked with WDFW, lot of knowledgeable people on here, but always up to hunter to verify specifics with WDFW before he hunts.  Lots of bad information floating around out there (not saying in this thread) and very easy to end up "poaching" an animal unintentionally with a special tag like this by not checking directly with WDFW.

Wish him best of luck!

[Mr Mykiss]

What about "spike only" units??
 

[jackelope]

It has changed since last year. He already has his permit. Had to pay $60.  Just has to report the region he will be hunting just before he hunts. He can change regions, just has to call in. Probably wont have to stray too far from the cabin tho. 

Sure enough it has changed.

[bearpaw]

My hunting partner called me last week and said, "You are not going to believe this, but my dad drew an Incentive Deer Permit!"  So he gets to hunt all seasons, in ANY unit in Wa State, including special permit units, as long as he uses the weapon of the season. Looks like we have our work cut out. Choices, choices...  We are leaning toward rifle hunts in late November for mule deer in areas accessible by truck because his ol man is in his mid 70s and doesnt get around real well. We have a place to stay in Entiat, which makes it easy for hunting those few units around there, but will travel wherever we need to be.  Anybody ever have this tag before?  Any Ideas?

Congrats to everyone involved, sounds like a great time, hope to see some photos and story! 

[opdinkslayer]

I think the hardest part will be keeping him from shooting a doe!     He is a meat hunter! We are gonna hold the bullets!

I know a handful of brothers,nephews & nephews in law that will kill him if he shoots a doe!    hope he kills a hawg!

[jackelope]

Just don't give him his ammo till you guys find the right buck for him!

[SkookumHntr]

Fun hunt for you guys!! Good Luck!!

[Ridgerunner]

He can still shoot a doe if he wants to.


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[andrew_in_idaho]

He can still shoot a doe if he wants to.


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He should wait until December 31 at least though.


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[beardown]

Does anyone have any other ideas for areas with good motorized access?  I am familiar with the Chiwawa and Manson Units, just wondering what kind of motorized access some of the other north central units have, and if they are worth checking out.  Thanks for any info!