Okanogan County Mule Deer Endorsement

[GoldenRing270]

Could have titled this "Another proposal for Washington mule deer" but anyway here's another idea...

Would you be willing to pay for an Okanogan County Mule Deer Endorsement in order to hunt for mule deer in Okanogan county? This would be similar to the upper Columbia salmon and steelhead endorsment required to fish for salmon and steelhead on the upper Columbia river and its tributaries. All of the funds would go toward improving the mule deer habitat lost during the past several big fires and maybe some of it could go toward mule deer studies.

I am curious how folks would feel about this. If your answer is yes then how much would you be willing to pay? I think the salmon steelhead endorsement cost $10 and it is just an add on to your fishing license. Would $25 be pushing it?

How about if this were made state wide for all mule deer hunting? Or would you be more willing if it were only for Okanogan county?

Anyways I am curious what you guys/gals think about this. Please keep this on topic.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Nope, they would cook the books and spend it on wolves.

Lots of stuff they could do with what they have know.

[idahohuntr]

 
No. 

I do not believe a lack of funding is the cause of mule deer declines.  I'm sure WDFW would like to push an idea like this as they have for many other fees they conjure up. 

They have enough money to do good things for mule deer, they just need the leadership to prioritize appropriately and cut all the waste.   

[Smokepole]

No.

[boneaddict]

They’d squander the funds.  I’d only support it if it would deter people from hunting it for a year or two.  They need to shut it down for a couple years. 

[huntnphool]

 This is not a revenue issue..........NO!

[grundy53]

They’d squander the funds.  I’d only support it if it would deter people from hunting it for a year or two.  They need to shut it down for a couple years.

Agreed

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[Mtnwalker]

I don't want to give wdfw a dollar more than I have to. I wouldn't be surprised if my money was somehow being spent on the anti hunting agenda knowing WA state. Now if somebody started a volunteer group or foundation for okanogan mule deer I'd gladly donate both time and money

[uplandhunter870]

in a word...no

 by requiring an endorsement to hunt a single county (one of the two most hunted counties) it will only push more people to other units where there is no additional fee like say the entiat. thus hammering that drainage even harder.....and the wheel goes round and round and round

[SCRUBS]

No, for the same reasons listed above.

[GoldenRing270]

Thanks for the replies. I had a feeling the answer was no but wanted to see opinions. I can't blame anyone as I feel the same way. When they introduced the upper Columbia salmon and steelhead endorsement I stopped fishing for salmon and steelhead.

[steeleywhopper]

charge for bicycle tabs in Seattle and then use that money.

[GoldenRing270]

What if they used the money to build mule deer hatcheries. Just think... brand new 100 million dollar facilities pumping out hundreds of thousands of fawns each year with 1-2% mortality rates. They could plant them into the national forest a week before the season starts as 3 year old shootables. Kinda like the trout catchables for the lowland lakes opener except the deer would be grain fed and taste delicious. 

[Boss .300 winmag]

What if they used the money to build mule deer hatcheries. Just think... brand new 100 million dollar facilities pumping out hundreds of thousands of fawns each year with 1-2% mortality rates. They could plant them into the national forest a week before the season starts as 3 year old shootables. Kinda like the trout catchables for the lowland lakes opener except the deer would be grain fed and taste delicious. 

They would just let the... I’ll just keep that thought to myself. 

[dvolmer]

Our hunting license funds go into the general fund for the state and then a reduced amount gets put back into a WDFW budget.  Our license funds are already supporting the Liberal agenda of our states law makers.  As far as I know, my license money is paying for high school kids condoms or abortions for kids without there parents knowing!  If all the money that was taken in by sportsmen was used to better enhance the hunting experience and help with game, we would have a wonderful hunting and fishing program in our state.  But on the second hand, if the libs didn't get the cut they were getting, they would have probably outlawed all hunting in the state for its mean and cruelty to animals!!!  This place will drive you nuts if you try to use any common sense at all!!!

[BigGoonTuna]

i wouldn't use the columbia river endorsement as any kind of measure of success.  initially it was supposed to be for the upper river, however WDFW got greedy and required it for the entire system, so every river that doesn't flow into puget sound or the pacific is affected.  as far as i know they haven't really done anything of consequence with the money and won't let it expire like it was supposed to, either.

i definitely wouldn't shell out extra to hunt certain units, as WDFW has demonstrated that they are irresponsible with our money.

[huntnut26]

If the funds went to a mule deer organization other then the state then absolutely. 

[Skyvalhunter]

No it just needs to be closed down for a while to hunting except Cougars, Yotes and bears. We are not going to be able to hunt wolves any time soon or I would include them.

[JLS]

Our hunting license funds go into the general fund for the state and then a reduced amount gets put back into a WDFW budget.  Our license funds are already supporting the Liberal agenda of our states law makers.  As far as I know, my license money is paying for high school kids condoms or abortions for kids without there parents knowing!  If all the money that was taken in by sportsmen was used to better enhance the hunting experience and help with game, we would have a wonderful hunting and fishing program in our state.  But on the second hand, if the libs didn't get the cut they were getting, they would have probably outlawed all hunting in the state for its mean and cruelty to animals!!!  This place will drive you nuts if you try to use any common sense at all!!!

http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.12.170

The information on license fees is incorrect.  Please reference the RCW.

[winshooter88]

Our hunting license funds go into the general fund for the state and then a reduced amount gets put back into a WDFW budget.  Our license funds are already supporting the Liberal agenda of our states law makers.  As far as I know, my license money is paying for high school kids condoms or abortions for kids without there parents knowing!  If all the money that was taken in by sportsmen was used to better enhance the hunting experience and help with game, we would have a wonderful hunting and fishing program in our state.  But on the second hand, if the libs didn't get the cut they were getting, they would have probably outlawed all hunting in the state for its mean and cruelty to animals!!!  This place will drive you nuts if you try to use any common sense at all!!!

http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.12.170

The information on license fees is incorrect.  Please reference the RCW.

JLS is correct, the hunting license and tag fees go into the WDFW Wildlife fund, not into the general fund and haven't gone into the general fund for several years. The bad part is that the legislature gets to tell WDFW what they can spend most of the monies they have on.

[dvolmer]

Our hunting license funds go into the general fund for the state and then a reduced amount gets put back into a WDFW budget.  Our license funds are already supporting the Liberal agenda of our states law makers.  As far as I know, my license money is paying for high school kids condoms or abortions for kids without there parents knowing!  If all the money that was taken in by sportsmen was used to better enhance the hunting experience and help with game, we would have a wonderful hunting and fishing program in our state.  But on the second hand, if the libs didn't get the cut they were getting, they would have probably outlawed all hunting in the state for its mean and cruelty to animals!!!  This place will drive you nuts if you try to use any common sense at all!!!

http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.12.170


The information on license fees is incorrect.  Please reference the RCW.

Yes it does go into the "State Wildlife Fund" or so they call it.  That is where the money is collected and held.  It doesn't say what it can be used for and what other funds can be subsidized from it.

[boneaddict]

....wolf preservation

[shotguunar]

I would go for a 25 dollar endorsement as long as it says good for one dead wolf okanogan county for mule deer preservation

[jstone]

NO

[RB]

NOPE!

[jstone]

Getting tired of the people in control out of control...!!!!

[Britt-dog]

That is simply an additional tax. I am not against additional taxes for good cause, but certainly not when I believe my current tax dollars which should be utilized for the same purpose are squandered.

[bobcat]

I'd like to see a requirement that a hunter kill a certain number of predators before they're allowed to hunt mule deer. Let's say 5 coyotes, or 1 bear, or 1 cougar.

[KFhunter]

They’d squander the funds.  I’d only support it if it would deter people from hunting it for a year or two.  They need to shut it down for a couple years.

and give out hound hunting permits like candy, get them cats running

[RB]

I'd like to see a requirement that a hunter kill a certain number of predators before they're allowed to hunt mule deer. Let's say 5 coyotes, or 1 bear, or 1 cougar.

 

Make it two Bears anywhere in the state. I heard more Coyotes this year than any time in the 30 years I have been hunting!

[GoldenRing270]

I like the idea bobcat. Maybe something like, You can hunt for mule deer every year but after you notch a tag on a muley you have to wait 2-3 years for another muley tag or sooner if you harvest 2 bears.

[Britt-dog]

I'd like to see a requirement that a hunter kill a certain number of predators before they're allowed to hunt mule deer. Let's say 5 coyotes, or 1 bear, or 1 cougar.

Different take on the "earn a buck" program some other states have.

[Ridgerunner50]

I would support any effort that excluded the game department or a national organization where most of the money collected goes to administrative costs. I would love to support/be a part of an Okanogan county mule deer association.

[fishngamereaper]

I like the idea bobcat. Maybe something like, You can hunt for mule deer every year but after you notch a tag on a muley you have to wait 2-3 years for another muley tag or sooner if you harvest 2 bears.

This is where your going to run into problems..People will notch their tag in the field to stay legal but won't report the harvest. Relying on peoples honesty to base tag allocation is flawed because unfortunately a lot of people are selfish. More so these days with the inter web pressure of success because everyone else is killing big deer..

As for killing predators to earn a deer tag..how does that get accurately reported...pictures, online self reporting, check station.....I just don't see it happening.

If everyone, myself included makes a good hearted effort to hunt more predators this winter that would be a start. I know I talk about coyote hunting but then get busy and rarely get out..This year Im going to make it a goal to kill 5 dogs in my hunting area.

[JLS]

Our hunting license funds go into the general fund for the state and then a reduced amount gets put back into a WDFW budget.  Our license funds are already supporting the Liberal agenda of our states law makers.  As far as I know, my license money is paying for high school kids condoms or abortions for kids without there parents knowing!  If all the money that was taken in by sportsmen was used to better enhance the hunting experience and help with game, we would have a wonderful hunting and fishing program in our state.  But on the second hand, if the libs didn't get the cut they were getting, they would have probably outlawed all hunting in the state for its mean and cruelty to animals!!!  This place will drive you nuts if you try to use any common sense at all!!!

http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.12.170


The information on license fees is incorrect.  Please reference the RCW.

Yes it does go into the "State Wildlife Fund" or so they call it.  That is where the money is collected and held.  It doesn't say what it can be used for and what other funds can be subsidized from it.

Actually, it does.

http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.12.190

For the record, I think the original idea floated out is a bad idea.

[boneaddict]

They closed Alta for a three year period once.   Man there were some nice bucks following that.   I suspect they did it for the wolves and nothing to do with the deer, but of course that’s just heresay right because I need proof.   Anyways, I’d love to see that again. 

[bobcat]

Yeah, wasn't Alta closed (permit only) at the same time as Umtanum?

[boneaddict]

And you wonder why we are skeptics.    That pack was there nearly a decade before they announced discovering it.  They tried hard to get it established.  Closed coyote hunting, closed deer hunting etc.   

[boneaddict]

Not sure when the Ump was closed.   Eastman was here and filmed a couple brutes out by the observatory.

[bobcat]

I'm thinking about 1999-2001 or so. I drew the Umtanum permit, I believe in 2000, when there was no general season, and I think Alta was the same. I think Quilomene was also one that was shut down at that same time, but of course it remains a permit only unit.

[boneaddict]

I would have guessed a hair earlier, but that could be right.   I think it was prior to me going digital.  I picked up a few monster sheds at that time.   I think they are on film versus digital.    Anyone collect old regs lol.   I used to be better at keeping all these dates straight, but a lot of water has passed under the ole bridge since then.

[fishngamereaper]

97-98 was still general any deer. My dad killed a spike and I shot a monster in the Observatory..I think it went 3 point/permit in 2000.

But I could be off a year or so...Ive been wrong before.

[boneaddict]

I wonder if we went to draw only eastside, how that would effect tensions between natives and non natives .   I only bring it up because of the Ump.   Sort of like the Clock and elk.   Make it draw only to help the herd, and some natives exploit it.

[bobcat]

This is 2001, it's the furthest back they have online. Looks like Umtanum and Quilomene were closed, but Alta was opened back up by then.




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[Buzz2401]

Mule deer need to go to permit only and we need to get hound hunting back on the ballot.

[GoldenRing270]

I didn't know that they had closed alta in the past. That's encouraging, thanks for the info.

[boneaddict]

Like I said, I’m sure it wasn’t for the deers sake.   If it was, we are in for it, because the heard is 1\4 what it was then. (That’s conservative)

[Ridgeratt]

Mule deer need to go to permit only and we need to get hound hunting back on the ballot.

 There needs to be some education on species, The check station north of Spokane this fall had several small mulie bucks that had been shot.