You won multi-season, now send us money

[konradcountry]

I normally do archery but this year I put in for multi-season deer and won. At first I was excited but then I read the details.

The multi-season deer tag is 139.10 and there is no discount for the big game package.

The bag limit is still one.

This means that if I get a deer in early archery I'm done for the year and it was an expensive deer. So any deer I come across in early season I will have to decide if it is worth blowing my multi-season tag. I'm not looking for trophy bucks so it could mean an empty freezer if I pass on one in early.

I also have to make a decision before July 31. Well I don't start planning the fall until August because of work/family.

I don't think I will put in next year and will do an out of state hunt instead. I just don't see a good value for my situation when the 140 could be applied to an out of state hunt that increases my bag limit.

I'm guessing that the multi-season works better if you don't do archery or are only looking for decent bucks. Thoughts?

[opdinkslayer]

Obviously you didnt research that before hand? IMO it only makes sense if you do archery hunt and if your confident in a successful archery hunt then there is no need to purchase it. No harm no foul?

Personally Elk is worth having but the deer is a waste of money. Good luck to ya this season.

[Mfowl]

If you purchase it before the special permit deadline you can  apply for hunts in any weapon category. I did that this year and applied for hard to get coveted tags. My thoughts being if I get one it will be worth holding off on other seasons for one of those tags. If not I can still be a weekend warrior all fall while committing my vacation to archery elk season. If your selective in the what you want to take you can really get a lot of days in the field with the MS tag. I have felt that it would not be worth it if you end up taking a buck in early archery season but if your looking at a great buck, why hold off. I'm mainly a ML hunter, except this year I am an archery elk hunter, but with the MS tag I can pair up deer hunting with my elk scouting and get more bang for my buck (no pun intended.)

[Blacktail Sniper]

 

That is the biggest benefit, more opportunity, more options. 

I can understand not knowing what the permit was all about, it isn't like they printed an entire page in the regs explaining it!

Ohhhh....wait, they did!!!

[Blacktail Sniper]

In the end, you have to decide if the opporunity to hunt from September through December is worth it. 

Can really increase your chances at getting a great buck just because of the length of time available to pursue one.

But as a strictly meat hunt opporunity, then it is really not that great a value.

[lamrith]

Guys,
MFowl touches on a good point and one of main reasons to grab a MS and that is opening up draw opportunities.  But it goes beyond that.

EVERY year there are plenty of left over tags for MS deer.  Even if you are not DRAWN for it, as long as you apply, traditionally they make the MS tags available after Aug 1 for anyone that applied on a 1st come 1st served basis.  The elk left overs sell within a minute, but typically there are still MS deer tags available all the way into December.  So go hunt your early archery season, if you do not tag out then you can decide if it is worth the $ to you to buy the MS and keep hunting the muzzy, modern and then late archery season.

For MS Deer you do not have to purchase by the July deadline.  Put in for it, it is $7 of insurance in case you have a bad archery year, illness, injury etc.

[bobcat]

It's a good deal if you're looking for a trophy buck. Multi season gives you a lot more time and opportunity to find the right buck. But if you're not willing to pass up smaller bucks earlier in the season, I don't think it's worth the extra $140.

[jackelope]

In the end, you have to decide if the opporunity to hunt from September through December is worth it. 

Can really increase your chances at getting a great buck just because of the length of time available to pursue one.

But as a strictly meat hunt opporunity, then it is really not that great a value.

While I don't agree with you flipping the guy crap like you did, I agree with what you say here. If you're in it for a trophy type buck, it makes sense. If you're in it for the meat, you'd be better off and cheaper applying for 2nd deer tags. They seem to be almost a guarantee in a lot of the areas and are a great way to fill the freezer. If you're a guy like me who doesn't have weeks at a time to go hunting, it works out great and in terms of a cost per day to hunt, it's super cheap entertainment.  You just have to read the information so you know what you're getting into ahead of time so as to eliminate surprises like this.

[pope]

I'm a busy guy with a career and family, and I do lots of side jobs so we can survive on one income (we home school our kids). I hunt alone and go for only one animal, blacktail deer, in a GMU closed to home, with terrible deer stats and lots of pressure from a truly privileged group. And I can't take vacation time during hunting season. I used to hunt modern only, but for me, that means a few weekends in October....if my obligations don't get in the way. Sure, $140 is a lot of money for a deer (isn't it more like $185?), but it buys me more time, more fun, more adventure. For the first time, I did not draw the MS deer tag this year. Hopefully they're available August 1st.

[j_h_nimrod]

I like it for extended time in the field.  It is a bit spendy but I like that I can head out almost whenever I have time.  I have had hectic seasons the last few years and, though a modern rifle preference, have harvested deer in archery season in 2015 and 2016.  In 2015 I got a nice mulie the 4th day of season and in 2016 a black tail last day of the late season.

[jrebel]

I like it for extended time in the field and for options if I don't go out of state.  If I end up drawing out of state I have no problem stabbing a doe durring early season archery.  I know it is pricey but it is worth every penny to me as it gives me options and days afield.  I also go into it knowing the cost.....always surprising to know how many people put in for stuff with out educating themselves on price and / or obligation. 

[greenhead_killer]

I do it strictly for draw options. I still only hunt archery regardless if I draw or not.

[konradcountry]

That is the biggest benefit, more opportunity, more options. 

I can understand not knowing what the permit was all about, it isn't like they printed an entire page in the regs explaining it!

Ohhhh....wait, they did!!!

Well of course the details are posted but the cost of applying is practically nil so I didn't care enough to read them.

I'm not upset over applying and I don't feel like I have lost anything since I don't have to buy it. I just don't see overall good value and am commenting on this.

Taking the extra time to actually post the rules as an image to be that much of a prick...I bet you are a hit at parties.

[CarbonHunter]

The tag is only good for spending more time in the woods. I drew it and bought it, like many years before. If you think it will give you better opertunities than going out of state you are mistaken.

I have been fortunate enough to hunt Alaska, Montana, Idaho, and Washington. I have also been lucky enough to draw the Entiat rifle tag for deer. Having hunted all these hunts, yes you are better off to put the money towards out of state but you have to realize there are far more costs than just the tag to hunt out of state. You will need to have the ability to spend time learning a new area, traveling, and come to the realization that hunting the states that hold big deer is a lot harder than the cake walk that Washington is.

Most hunters in Washington have been aware that the multi season deer tag is not a way to kill big bucks for some time now. That is part of the reason the wdfw lowered the cost of the tag a few years ago. It is simply an option for allowing hunters to spend more time hunting deer ever year.

[jackelope]

Given that it is easy to blow 75% of the cost of the permit on a night out on the town, the price to time spent hunting ratio seems like cheap entertainment to  me.