WDFW RESTORING POINTS??

[87samurai]

Wondering if anyone else got this email?
Dear special permit holder,

 

You drew a permit in an area that is currently experiencing wildfires that makes it nearly impossible to hunt.

 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife(WDFW) understands the impact that this has on your hunting season, so WDFW has decided to restore your points if you choose to turn in your permit prior to the start of the hunt.

 

You can send your permit to the Olympia office by mail or bring it to a regional office with a letter indicating that you want your points restored. Returned permits must be postmarked with a date prior to the start of the hunt in order to receive the reinstated points.

If you choose not to turn your permit in prior to the start of the hunt, your points will not be restored. If you choose to proceed with your hunt, please be careful and obey all fire and road closures.

 

To mail in your permit, use the following address:

Wildlife Program Customer Service

PO Box 43141

Olympia, WA 98504

 

If you have any questions, reach out to our customer service staff at (360) 902-2515.

 

Respectfully,

 

Anis Aoude

Game Division Manager

[SkookumHntr]

I had to deal with this acouple years ago on my special permit elk hunt! I rolled the dice and it payed off for me! But just sucks, ruins your hunt and experience! I feel bad for the peaches tag guys

[Elkfever]

I got he same email. I have the muzzy tag and will be keeping tabs on the fire and area closures before turning in my tag.  I invested 19 points and would like to hunt he areas in Liftle Naches that I scouted that are currently on fire or closed.  I imagine that the elk hunting will only improve in the future with the regeneration that the fire provides.  Another factor  for me, I drew a rifle buck tag in Oregon that is the same hunt dates as the muzzy tag, maybe it's meant to be for me to go hang a tag on big Eagle Cap buck.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to restore my points from wdfw.

[huntnphool]

 Had the same thing happen years ago, good on WDFW giving this option IMO.

[7mag.]

Pretty sure I'm turning in my Peaches Ridge archery bull tag. Almost all the area I've scouted is closed.

[fishngamereaper]

If there is still open areas to hunt in peaches it would be a tough tag to turn in...that whole area holds good bulls. I hope the best for everyone, that's the tag I dream of.

[Stein]

Good for WDFW, that's the right thing to do.  They should also give back points for the damage hunts where you never get a call, but that's a different topic.

[Bob33]

They should also give back points for the damage hunts where you never get a call, but that's a different topic.

They do now.

[jackelope]

I'm happy for you guys and glad to see WDFW doing the right thing. Now if everyone could keep anything remotely flammable out of the Goat Rocks, that would be great.

[fishngamereaper]

I'm happy for you guys and glad to see WDFW doing the right thing. Now if everyone could keep anything remotely flammable out of the Goat Rocks, that would be great.

 . Gee ....I wonder why.

[Bigshooter]

Didn't get a email yet but if I do I  will turn in my Peaches muzzy tag.

[Stein]

They should also give back points for the damage hunts where you never get a call, but that's a different topic.

They do now.

Huh, maybe I should call in for my daughter.  She was #2 on the list and they never called #1.

[Bob33]

They should also give back points for the damage hunts where you never get a call, but that's a different topic.

They do now.

Huh, maybe I should call in for my daughter.  She was #2 on the list and they never called #1.

It changed this year.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/apr1417c/

"Other hunting rule changes increase the daily limit for white-fronted geese and white geese in response to the growing abundance of those species, and restore points to hunters who draw permits for damage hunts administered by a hunt coordinator but are not called to participate."

[trophyhunt]

We have two guys in our elk camp for peaches archery elk, one guy is turning his permit in.  The only way I'd keep it is if I had little points, good on wdfw for allowing this. 

[Watimberghost]

Had the same thing happen years ago, good on WDFW giving this option IMO.

[GOcougsHunter]

Bummer.. would like to get my 13 cow elk points back from my Teanaway tag.  However, I did get to hunt the little bit of public land still open a few weeks ago before they shut the whole thing down. 

[87samurai]

I drew the peaches archery with 5 points. I spent all my scouting trips in the 336 unit as that's where I was the most "familiar" with. Scouting didn't go to good for me. Only had 2 bulls on my cams and they disappeared about 3 weeks ago. I'm really torn on what to do  and I gotta make my decision quick 

[Killmore]

The only way I would give back any permit is if they pulled it out of my dead cold hands, considering how long it can take to draw, some of you may not draw again. The 336 unit is not on fire so that leaves a lot of public land to hunt.

[Pegasus]

Unless your permit area is completely in cinders I would think twice about turning back your permit to get your points back. Look how many years it has taken most to get drawn. Do you really want to play that game for the next umpteen years again waiting to get drawn? Besides, the fires not only will concentrate the hunters into smaller areas to hunt it will also likely concentrate the game.

[idaho guy]

Unless your permit area is completely in cinders I would think twice about turning back your permit to get your points back. Look how many years it has taken most to get drawn. Do you really want to play that game for the next umpteen years again waiting to get drawn? Besides, the fires not only will concentrate the hunters into smaller areas to hunt it will also likely concentrate the game.

 

[7mag.]

The only way I would give back any permit is if they pulled it out of my dead cold hands, considering how long it can take to draw, some of you may not draw again. The 336 unit is not on fire so that leaves a lot of public land to hunt.

Just read today that most of the roads on the west end of 336 are now closed. The Peaches Ridge area (336, 346) is getting smaller every day. There is still a bunch of area to hunt, but access is getting a lot more difficult.

[jackelope]

I drew the peaches archery with 5 points. I spent all my scouting trips in the 336 unit as that's where I was the most "familiar" with. Scouting didn't go to good for me. Only had 2 bulls on my cams and they disappeared about 3 weeks ago. I'm really torn on what to do  and I gotta make my decision quick 

Bulls probably started feeling their cheerios and left and went to where the cows are.

[Stein]

Since I am not part of the group that has to decide, I'll ask the question.  Didn't it make more sense when the permits were not an 8.5x11 piece of paper - at least from a "keep the honest guys honest" perspective?

[buglebuster]

No way I'd be turning in any of this permits. There is a ton of area to hunt thats not closed. Especially if I had a muzzy tag!

[Falcon]

Pretty sure I'm turning in my Peaches Ridge archery bull tag. Almost all the area I've scouted is closed.

Sorry to hear that Ken.  I know you were more than ready for a tough guy elk hunt in that awesome unit

[HuntnFishnRyan]

so whats everyones experience hunting near a burn? Does it push animals to you or just muck everything up?

[bracer40]

Really interesting thread to read. Having hunted part of that unit and seeing the number of points so often required to pull a tag, I can see the quandry some might find themselves in.. I can also see the side of HOLDING those tags.

Glad to see the state being proactive on this
Sorry to see you tagholders having to go through this..
Hopefully you all find a way to get outside and make some memories!
.

[7mag.]

Pretty sure I'm turning in my Peaches Ridge archery bull tag. Almost all the area I've scouted is closed.

Sorry to hear that Ken.  I know you were more than ready for a tough guy elk hunt in that awesome unit

Thanks Brian, I'm feeling pretty good about it. I had my heart set on a wilderness backpack hunt, so I'm going to save my points and try again. I can still hunt cows and spikes, plus my hunting partner is keeping his bull tag, so I'm going to do my best to call a bull in for him.

[monster]

I am keeping my Quality Teanaway Bull tag   

[ShadowHunter]

Just read today that most of the roads on the west end of 336 are now closed.

No idea where you read that, but no roads have been closed in 336....yet.   Pretty much the whole "Eastern" half of 335 Teanaway yes, but not 336 Taneum.

[cougforester]

This is purely anecdotal, but I think the smoke is messing with animals and their activity patterns. Just drove between Cle Elum and Ellensburg, and saw two coyotes running around just off the interstate. Right after that, two 4x4 mulies were feeding less than a hundred yards off 90. Seemed odd for the heat and time of day. Could be a silver lining to these fires.

[huntnphool]

This is purely anecdotal, but I think the smoke is messing with animals and their activity patterns. Just drove between Cle Elum and Ellensburg, and saw two coyotes running around just off the interstate. Right after that, two 4x4 mulies were feeding less than a hundred yards off 90. Seemed odd for the heat and time of day. Could be a silver lining to these fires.

 Silver lining, as in the animals are safe or that the fires have made the animals easier to hunt?

[7mag.]

Just read today that most of the roads on the west end of 336 are now closed.

No idea where you read that, but no roads have been closed in 336....yet.   Pretty much the whole "Eastern" half of 335 Teanaway yes, but not 336 Taneum.

I followed a link from inciweb.

[bobcat]

Just read today that most of the roads on the west end of 336 are now closed.

No idea where you read that, but no roads have been closed in 336....yet.   Pretty much the whole "Eastern" half of 335 Teanaway yes, but not 336 Taneum.

I followed a link from inciweb.

Aren't the closed roads in the Stampede unit, and not Taneum?

[cougforester]

This is purely anecdotal, but I think the smoke is messing with animals and their activity patterns. Just drove between Cle Elum and Ellensburg, and saw two coyotes running around just off the interstate. Right after that, two 4x4 mulies were feeding less than a hundred yards off 90. Seemed odd for the heat and time of day. Could be a silver lining to these fires.

Both I guess? 
 Silver lining, as in the animals are safe or that the fires have made the animals easier to hunt?

[yakimanoob]

To everyone wondering about the smoke and their hunting areas, check this out:

http://www.lar.wsu.edu/airpact/gmap/ap5/ap5smoke.html

[SpurInSpokane]

That's the coolest smoke map ever. Thanks for posting!

[1bugman]

Just mailed my Peaches Quality Archer permit back. Very Depressed with the fire situation, but feeling good about keeping my 13 points. Maybe next year will work out better. I did get some great bulls on my game camera.

 I want to thank WDFW for giving us this option, it's not their fault the fires are screwing up these hunts.

Bugman

[Stein]

Just mailed my Peaches Quality Archer permit back. Very Depressed with the fire situation, but feeling good about keeping my 13 points. Maybe next year will work out better. I did get some great bulls on my game camera.

 I want to thank WDFW for giving us this option, it's not their fault the fires are screwing up these hunts.

Bugman

Man, tough call.  I don't envy your situation.

[yakimanoob]

Just mailed my Peaches Quality Archer permit back. Very Depressed with the fire situation, but feeling good about keeping my 13 points. Maybe next year will work out better. I did get some great bulls on my game camera.

 I want to thank WDFW for giving us this option, it's not their fault the fires are screwing up these hunts.

Bugman

Man, tough call.  I don't envy your situation.

I don't see how the Peaches area could be anything but dense smoke, even if you did come in another way besides Little Naches.  At least you get to keep your points (and your healthy lungs).

[floatinghat]

I think if the GMU is shut down they should give you the permit the following year.  Points just put you back in the black hole.

 

[87samurai]

Well I made the tough decision to turn in my tag as well. Always next year right? 

[Stein]

I think if the GMU is shut down they should give you the permit the following year.  Points just put you back in the black hole.

 

[CarbonHunter]

I sure hope some of you are keeping your tags and plan on hunting the season. The year of the Nile slide I was in the 346 during deer season when it was a ghost town and the elk were everywhere. I wish I had a tag because there is still plenty of good ground open if you can handle the smoke and the elk are sure to be concentrated in the ground that's not burning.

[Stein]

I sure hope some of you are keeping your tags and plan on hunting the season. The year of the Nile slide I was in the 346 during deer season when it was a ghost town and the elk were everywhere. I wish I had a tag because there is still plenty of good ground open if you can handle the smoke and the elk are sure to be concentrated in the ground that's not burning.

 

[CarbonHunter]

I sure hope some of you are keeping your tags and plan on hunting the season. The year of the Nile slide I was in the 346 during deer season when it was a ghost town and the elk were everywhere. I wish I had a tag because there is still plenty of good ground open if you can handle the smoke and the elk are sure to be concentrated in the ground that's not burning.

I hope you kill a stud Stein so all these guys who turned their tags in can cry in their beers!
 

[Stein]

I'm in a much different boat in that my hunt doesn't start until Oct 23.  Archery guys had herds located and bulls on a list whereas I was basically scouting areas that looked promising post rut, not looking for elk at all.

The fire very well could be still going at some level, but I don't expect the access to be nearly as bad and hopefully the smoke has settled a bunch as well.  Several really good dudes here have helped me think through what plan B looks like and I have spent many hours desk scouting and should get at least one scouting trip in before the season starts.

I have no idea how the fire will change it up, my guess is that the food in the burn is pretty much gone.  One question I have is what the fringe areas between the burn and not burn look like and how much of the growth was actually burned out?  One longshot would be to use the burn area to hike into previously gnarly areas that were too thick before.  That assumes the bigger trees are still intact and not going to create a huge safety risk.

The way the fire burned, I would be reservedly excited to be in 653 as it may have pushed a ton of animals up over the PCT and into that unit.

Who knows, only one way to find out.  I do know that area will rock in 2-3 years for all big game.  Should be a total game changer in some of those drainages if you end up being able to see further than 10 yards in any direction.

[Brena.Hunter]

Stein did you receive the email for Any Bull rifle yet?