IF hunting seasons are canceled, how should WDFW handle special permits?

[idahohuntr]

Curious how folks feel and what has support - not a thread to discuss COVID or stay home orders etc - just a focus on how WDFW should deal with permits IF there are closures, given they are holding a drawing this year.  We know how they've handled things in the past with fire closures and other limited closures, but assuming a widespread closing of seasons for public safety, how should WDFW handle special permit holders?

My personal opinion - if they award a permit, especially for quality and high demand hunts, I think they need to try and honor it...whether by exceptions to closures or carrying it forward.  I can't imagine drawing a M,S,G or Quality elk/deer and then having it taken away. 

[hunter399]

Well I can tell ya ,
I'm holding a spring bear permit ,that I live in the area I can hunt it without stopping for gas just a few miles from my house.They are not gonna honor $@!# .They will give you your points back end of story.If you get drawn with anybody that lives out of area you are screwed.

[Oh Mah]

I would only vote in this if there was an option that said refund all money keep points where they are at now.No i don't think the state should get a dime if they close the season they can suck it up just like all of us in my opinion. 

[Mfowl]

I voted for option 1. I think refunds should only be offered on license fees if the seasons are canceled. If you want ghost points you have to pay the app fees all the same. Restore points but no refunds for apps.

[jackelope]

Restore points back to where they were prior to the draws and refund all permit application money.
I guess you could give everyone a point and keep the $$.

[GurrCentral]

If it was an OIL they absolutely will have to roll the permits over to next year, so the hunter can hunt his permit. OIL permits are soo hard to draw, restoring points will not suffice......

[Oh Mah]

 

[Rainier10]

Let permit hunters hunt.

(I have a permit so I’m biased)

[wags]

I don't have a dog in the fight; never have paid for a chance to draw a tag.
But, why don't they just not have any drawings the next year and let everyone use their 2020 tag during the same season in 2021. It's the only thing that seems fair. Sure, nobody will draw anything in 2021, but at least no one gets screwed out of something they already have.
Or just double up on the hunts next year; so if a unit draws 10 branched antler bull elk tags in 2020, then in 2021 there will be 20 hunters in the unit going after branched antlered bulls. Probably no biological problem with that idea.

[Mfowl]

If it was an OIL they absolutely will have to roll the permits over to next year, so the hunter can hunt his permit. OIL permits are soo hard to draw, restoring points will not suffice......

I agree with something being done for OIL hunts. I would certainly be upset if the carpet was yanked out from under me in that regard.

[jrebel]

I would vote for them to keep the money and those who drew start back at 0 points.  Everyone else gets their point for not drawing and can put in next year.  Really guys....this is not their fault.   Governor Inslee is the one to blame so if you don't like it please don't take it out on WDFW.   How can WDFW be held accountable for this, they are just puppets it Inslee's puppet show.

Clearly this is nonsense.....and some what rhetorical!!!  The fact that the season is not open is stupid.  At the end of all this mess, they should prorate everyone's tags for the lost hunting and fishing opportunity due to shutdowns.  If people want a full refund, they should get it.  For those who drew....they should be able to use their tags next year.  I wonder how many WDFW employees are furloughed or laid off right now?  No reason for them to be employed if there is nothing to patrol. 

Again...my vote is:  people that want a full refund get it with points restored.  People that say in it get a prorated tag next year or partial refund this year.  Those who drew get to keep their tags for next season and those who don't get the opportunity at a draw next year get a free point. 

[jackelope]

I’m pretty sure when the fires shut down the mountain goat hunts a few years ago, those folks got tags the following year. Pretty sure there was a guy on here whose dad had a tag. I believe it was 2018, maybe naches pass or bumping river goat hunts.

[hunter399]

I’m pretty sure when the fires shut down the mountain goat hunts a few years ago, those folks got tags the following year. Pretty sure there was a guy on here whose dad had a tag. I believe it was 2018, maybe naches pass or bumping river goat hunts.

I know a spring bear hunt is not a oil hunt . But I've tried to pitch the idea of double the amount of permits next year.This year's plus next year's and for some reason they don't want to do it.Even though this year is gonna be no harvest for spring tags,and spring bear has a very low harvest rate compared to the amount of tags given each year. Of course fall harvest has went up ,so maybe that's why.

[jackelope]

Non OIL special permit hunts have been cancelled before. Points are returned to the tag holder. No other special handling done.

[hunter399]

Non OIL special permit hunts have been cancelled before. Points are returned to the tag holder. No other special handling done.

I know whole thread is what if.
But I would be shocked if they double down on moose tags the following year.These shutdowns are way stupid with the no travel from the governor.So if we are in a shutdown in the fall there will be no travel even for oil tags.

[daddyelk]

What about the the kids who are 16? What are people’s thoughts about giving them another year in the youth categories?? Their last youth spring turkey season is already gone. My vote would be to give them another year qualifying as a youth at 17.

[Russ McDonald]

I can tell you that this is already being discussed.  WDFW said they would treat special permit holders just like a fire closure but they did say also a refund of money was being discussed to.  Points back for sure. 

Youth turkey season was also discussed if the season does open this spring, which I doubt very seriously.  Possibly do 2 days for youth only in the middle of the week because kids aren't in school. 

Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk

[nwhunter]

What about the the kids who are 16? What are people’s thoughts about giving them another year in the youth categories?? Their last youth spring turkey season is already gone. My vote would be to give them another year qualifying as a youth at 17.

Not a chance. Kids lost their senior year of high school, prom and graduation so I doubt there will be any support for making this happen so kids get a chance at a couple tags.. My oldest had ten youth points when he aged out and never drew one tag …
Draw tags should be treated same as a few years back when  we had fire closures and you got your points back and back in the hat for the next year just like everyone else..

[Jingles]

What about the the kids who are 16? What are people’s thoughts about giving them another year in the youth categories?? Their last youth spring turkey season is already gone. My vote would be to give them another year qualifying as a youth at 17.

Have to say to those that lost their last year of hunting as a youth welcome to life it sometimes has disappointments "no participation trophy this year"

[TriggerMike]

They already set the precedent with spring bear. Refund tag costs and points if wanted, no roll-over to next year. This isn't a fire or earthquake, it's a pandemic where they don't want people traveling. And if you roll the tags over to next year and don't give out new tags, you lose a large portion of next years permit $$$.

[hunter399]

They already set the precedent with spring bear. Refund tag costs and points if wanted, no roll-over to next year. This isn't a fire or earthquake, it's a pandemic where they don't want people traveling. And if you roll the tags over to next year and don't give out new tags, you lose a large portion of next years permit $$$.

That's why I suggested double down on next year spring bear permits.
You make more money That way.
Everybody that draws this year has a tag for next year they would ghost point ,taking 700 people out of the draw next year.Then run draws as normal next year give out another 700 tags.
You make the most money that way everybody is happy.More bears harvested with hunt that has record low harvest rates anyway.

[idahohuntr]

I'm reasonably certain WDFW will just do points restoration, but I think the right thing to do is to look for every possible way to allow the lucky holders of high demand permits to use them.  Don't go with a one size fits all just because its easy...look for any and all exceptions that might allow a permit to be used.  I get the fairness argument with these travel restrictions, if its closed for one its closed for all, but I also think there are pro's and con's to where people choose to live.  In a pandemic with travel restrictions its a plus to live in a rural area where you can hunt without traveling or using services/populated areas...just like there are perks to living in major metro areas at times.  One things for certain, folks who draw good tags in a few months are going to be on pins and needles I'm guessing!

[daddyelk]

What about the the kids who are 16? What are people’s thoughts about giving them another year in the youth categories?? Their last youth spring turkey season is already gone. My vote would be to give them another year qualifying as a youth at 17.

Have to say to those that lost their last year of hunting as a youth welcome to life it sometimes has disappointments "no participation trophy this year"

Not sure many of the 16 year old hunters out their are looking for “participation trophies”. Just a chance to work hard and have fun hunting in a different season setting with their moms, dads, friends, etc.

[fishngamereaper]

Whatever they do they should make up their mind before the draws and do a disclaimer about what will happen. Don't leave it open for speculation all summer. Let people know exactly what they are in for.

[Bob33]

What about the the kids who are 16? What are people’s thoughts about giving them another year in the youth categories?? Their last youth spring turkey season is already gone. My vote would be to give them another year qualifying as a youth at 17.

I think you mean 15. If they are 16 they are no longer eligible to apply for youth permits anyway.

[idahohuntr]

Whatever they do they should make up their mind before the draws and do a disclaimer about what will happen. Don't leave it open for speculation all summer. Let people know exactly what they are in for.

Completely agree with that...of course, advertising that the State may just cancel your hunt even if you draw...certainly wouldn't help their business, so there will not be that kind of transparency 

That said, there are so many variables that I don't expect them to promise exactly how every scenario could unfold, but at least provide some guidance...if we are under similar stay at home orders this fall, all hunts are off and you get points back...or you can use your permit the following year...etc

Has anyone seen anything in regards to auction permits?  There better not be a different set of rules for them...

[elkh8me]

Well I can tell ya ,
I'm holding a spring bear permit ,that I live in the area I can hunt it without stopping for gas just a few miles from my house.They are not gonna honor $@!# .They will give you your points back end of story.If you get drawn with anybody that lives out of area you are screwed.

Point restoration is not a give as of now
If the season is closed in its entirety, we will consider point restoration at that time.
Above is a quote from letter i got.  They will consider it...

[idahohuntr]

Now that it is no longer theoretical, any permit holders nervous about this fall and a second wave??  My original thoughts are reinforced now that I am the owner of a very hard to draw permit 

[jackelope]

Now that it is no longer theoretical, any permit holders nervous about this fall and a second wave??  My original thoughts are reinforced now that I am the owner of a very hard to draw permit 

What did you draw?

I wouldn't be nervous if I had a permit. 

[Mfowl]

I haven't been thinking about it much but I did draw a couple of tags. I wouldn't be too bothered if I lost my cow archery tag and got my points back but having drawn Desert B archery and my birthday being in the middle of that season would be very frustrating to give up! Even with point restoration. My buddy drew Swakane ram, I can't imagine how it would feel to have to give that up! From the couple of times I have been out of the PS region in the last 2 months, things seem much better than they do in the tri county cess pool of King, Pierce and Snohomish. I am faithful that our seasons will go off as expected.

[bornhunter]

I haven't been thinking about it much but I did draw a couple of tags. I wouldn't be too bothered if I lost my cow archery tag and got my points back but having drawn Desert B archery and my birthday being in the middle of that season would be very frustrating to give up! Even with point restoration. My buddy drew Swakane ram, I can't imagine how it would feel to have to give that up! From the couple of times I have been out of the PS region in the last 2 months, things seem much better than they do in the tri county cess pool of King, Pierce and Snohomish. I am faithful that our seasons will go off as expected.

 

[HUNT JR]

I would hate having to give my tag back and be back in the draw again. With 1.2 ish % chance to draw, id like to avoid having to overcome those odds again.

[idahohuntr]

Now that it is no longer theoretical, any permit holders nervous about this fall and a second wave??  My original thoughts are reinforced now that I am the owner of a very hard to draw permit 

What did you draw?

I wouldn't be nervous if I had a permit.

rifle quality elk.

I'm not too nervous - especially now that we are seeing a more focused/regional approach...but I'm in hunt jr's camp...i probably have zero chance of re-drawing this tag in my life so points back is not all that desirable

[Utah]

Not having a hunting season for residents is not an option.  Period.  Hunt your asses off according to dates.  Those F%#KS are catering food to rioters that don't comply.  Best of luck to all!   I hope memories are made!

[Utah]

Not a damn option the OP provided is acceptable.  I did not vote.  Hunt or forever be sheep.

[huntnnw]

yup! going no matter what

[trophyhunt]

Not a damn option the OP provided is acceptable.  I did not vote.  Hunt or forever be sheep.

[trophyhunt]

yup! going no matter what

[opdinkslayer]

Don’t make me barricade myself in the Entiat this November & declare it the autonomous zone Dimslee!

[idahohuntr]

I think the Department will try really hard to keep seasons on track - especially for special permit holders - so I doubt it will actually happen.

But, if they do close seasons/hunts I would not go.  Part of a quality hunt for me personally means I do not have a fear of prosecution, loss of licenses and points in all western states etc.

[bornhunter]

People people people. If the season gets cancelled and you choose to go anyway and are contacted by wdfw,  you are not hunting. You are participating in a peaceful BLM march with many others who are practicing extreme social distancing. This group is easily identified as all participants are required to wear orange or camo clothing. There, problem solved. You are welcome.