Don't be foolish!!!

[dvolmer]

I am seeing a lot of threads on here about fires, droughts, and other negative impacts that could affect your quality/bull hunts that some of you have been fortunate enough to draw this year.  Many are mentioning the option of possibly turning the tag back in due to some of these negative impacts.  Don't be FOOLISH and give the tag back!!!  This would be extremely unwise.  Every tag has different draw odds but most Quality tags and bull tags are extremely difficult to draw.  If you turn them back in, odds are you will never draw or see that tag again in your lifetime.  I drew one of the 3 Dayton tags in 2019 and I think there was over 1000 applicants.  This year I think there is just one or two rifle Dayton tags.  If I would have turned it back in, chances are, I would never see that tag again before I was dead!  I drew by bull tag in Bethel last year.  I think 7 tags and approximately 2000 plus applicants.  If I would have had the chance to turn that back in, I would probably never seen that tag again in my lifetime.  Like I said, each tag has its own drawing odds, but most are once in a lifetime if you are super lucky enough to just draw it once (most will never have that chance!).  Don't get caught in the idea that you have a bunch of points and will get them back if you turn the tag in!  Most of the hundreds and thousands of applicants have a butt-load of points too.  Live with the cards mother-nature deals you and make the best of it you can because it ain't going to happen again for most of us!! (and that includes you!)  Its just simple mathematics!

[KNOPHISH]

If I drew a quality tag I’m hunting unless a medical issue or other dire emergency. I was in the hospital for a week last deer season so this can happen during a special hunt. A fire probably won’t burn the entire gmu but they could totally close the forest, most likely, and not even get to use your tag. Agreed odds are not good for drawing again. I put in for elk with only 1 tag. Lol

[emac]

But what if you drew a lick creek archery tag which the unit is going be like 90% burned and still might not be able to get in there still by September.  Now muzzleloader and rifle might be different.  Elk will be in there somewhere.

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[Timberstalker]

I understand your sentiments, dvolmer, but like emac says, if the unit is primarily NF land and it is still closed, there's no point in keeping the tag.

[Stein]

If I had a bull or quality tag and there was decent huntable area, I would keep it.  The burned out are could concentrate animals on the feed that is left and you have all those new edges to target as well.

With the way things are headed, not only will it be long odds to draw again, I wouldn't assume there will be any tags to draw.  WDFW will probably keep them at 1 tag just to sell the permit applications, but there will be over 1,000 people applying for that one tag.  Every year the applicants go up and the tags go down.

[dvolmer]

I understand your sentiments, dvolmer, but like emac says, if the unit is primarily NF land and it is still closed, there's no point in keeping the tag.

Turn it in if you want too.  But I would bet my left-nut you will never see that tag again!  Like Stein says, permits keep going down to nothing and applicants just continue to rise.  If their is 3% of the unit still accessible it is better than returning the tag you will never see again!   Wolves, cats, bears, mis-management, access, and out of control native hunting is just going to get worse, not better.

[dvolmer]

But what if you drew a lick creek archery tag which the unit is going be like 90% burned and still might not be able to get in there still by September.  Now muzzleloader and rifle might be different.  Elk will be in there somewhere.

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Emac, Something to think about.  Back in 2006 we drew 5 of the 13 quality bull tags in the Dayton area.  That was the year that Dayton had their terrible fire that destroyed most of the unit.  We didn't know what to do.  The area we new well was where the fire had burned the most and much of it was blackened and looked like hell!  We hunted the first 3-4 days over on Chase MT where the burn wasn't as bad.  By Thursday we still hadn't filled any of our tags.  I talked to the Biologist for the unit and he told us to not to disregard the burn area so on Thursday we went over to where we used to hunt and we killed four bulls in that years burnt area.  They were right in the worst part of the burn and I was amazed to see them there.  Even after the area has been burned, there are areas within the burn that are oasis's that didn't get burned to bad.  My brother shot a 7x8 398 inch bull laying in what looked like Mars it was blackened so bad.  Ill try to dig up a picture for you if I can.  Just try to make the best of it is my advice.

[emac]

But what if you drew a lick creek archery tag which the unit is going be like 90% burned and still might not be able to get in there still by September.  Now muzzleloader and rifle might be different.  Elk will be in there somewhere.

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Emac, Something to think about.  Back in 2006 we drew 5 of the 13 quality bull tags in the Dayton area.  That was the year that Dayton had their terrible fire that destroyed most of the unit.  We didn't know what to do.  The area we new well was where the fire had burned the most and much of it was blackened and looked like hell!  We hunted the first 3-4 days over on Chase MT where the burn wasn't as bad.  By Thursday we still hadn't filled any of our tags.  I talked to the Biologist for the unit and he told us to not to disregard the burn area so on Thursday we went over to where we used to hunt and we killed four bulls in that years burnt area.  They were right in the worst part of the burn and I was amazed to see them there.  Even after the area has been burned, there are areas within the burn that are oasis's that didn't get burned to bad.  My brother shot a 7x8 398 inch bull laying in what looked like Mars it was blackened so bad.  Ill try to dig up a picture for you if I can.  Just try to make the best of it is my advice.

I understand that and that's why I was referring to the archery tag.  And I said muzzy and rifle would be a different story.

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[dvolmer]

2006 burn.

[NRA4LIFE]

Right on!  I would never turn in a quality or even a bull tag.  I have had some of the worst luck in this state drawing anything.  18 years now for bull and quality or whatever it used to be and nothing.  I would hunt regardless.

[emac]

Great bulls.   Just like I said I wouldn't turn in a rifle tag because they will be back but archery it would be probably a no brainer.

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