Deer hunters please read and help! This affects your points for permits.

[3am]

Current special permit tag holders are being offered to turn in their tags to redeem their points due to the fires and closures in many units. The problem I have is that they want the permits post marked 2 weeks before the season. There is no reason to send permits in this early. Many hunters have been waiting 14+ yrs to draw these tags. Why not make the post mark date due the day before the opener so hunters can really know what the current status of fires and land closures are. This affects hunters that did not draw this year because you don't want permit holders back in next years pool, and the majority of us with special permits truly want to hunt! What I am asking is that you call or email the WDFW to change to post mark date to a day or two before the opener. I realize this probably affects bowhunters and muzzleloaders the most with land closures but what about the dream rifle rut tag guys for elk? Please help us out fellow hunters!

Attached is the email with contact info. Moderators, I realize Buggy posted this in the virtual campfire but I am asking you to leave it in deer hunting for more exposure.
Thanks everyone.

Dear Special Permit Holders,

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recognizes that current fire conditions may substantially impact special permit holders in many hunt areas.  As such, we are providing you information about the opportunity to return your special permit and have your preference points restored.

If you choose not to participate in the hunt, you are eligible for point restoration. You must return the special hunting season permit to us at the Olympia headquarters two weeks before the opening day of the special hunting season. Once we receive your permit, we will restore your points to the level prior to the permit drawing (WAC 220-412-080).

It is your responsibility to monitor your permit hunt area for fire-related impacts and closures. Because of the ever-changing fire scenario, WDFW will not be able to notify hunters of impacts to specific permit hunt areas.

If you elect to return your permit, and you applied for your hunt on a group application, everyone in the group must turn in their permit for us to restore your points.

If you are unable to get your permit turned in two weeks before the start of your hunt, and if more than 75% of your hunt area is closed to access due to fire restrictions, we will work with you to restore points provided we get your permit before the special permit season starts.

Only include your permit, not your transport tag. You will need your transport tag if you choose to hunt during a general season or if you have other special permits for that species.

Returning your permit will restore your preference points for that hunt category. There will be no refund of your application or license fees (WAC 220-220-100).

Please note, if you choose to turn in your permit and fire conditions improve, we cannot return the permit back to you.

If you decide to return your permit, simply mail it to:
WDFW – Point Restoration
PO Box 43141
Olympia, WA.  98504-3141

Please call us at 360-902-2515 or email us at Wildthing@dfw.wa.gov with any questions or concerns.

[Bullkllr]

Well enough.

Prior to this year it would take a dire situation to turn in a permit and/or get points back at all. If part of the unit was open you were generally hunting or eating it. I'm not sure 2 weeks (and that will be well into fall for most permits) is all that bad of a timeline. I think most of the fire damage and closures should be well known by then. Early archery/muzz is maybe a different story.

[Platensek-po]

Current special permit tag holders are being offered to turn in their tags to redeem their points due to the fires and closures in many units. The problem I have is that they want the permits post marked 2 weeks before the season. There is no reason to send permits in this early. Many hunters have been waiting 14+ yrs to draw these tags. Why not make the post mark date due the day before the opener so hunters can really know what the current status of fires and land closures are. This affects hunters that did not draw this year because you don't want permit holders back in next years pool, and the majority of us with special permits truly want to hunt! What I am asking is that you call or email the WDFW to change to post mark date to a day or two before the opener. I realize this probably affects bowhunters and muzzleloaders the most with land closures but what about the dream rifle rut tag guys for elk? Please help us out fellow hunters!

Attached is the email with contact info. Moderators, I realize Buggy posted this in the virtual campfire but I am asking you to leave it in deer hunting for more exposure.
Thanks everyone.

Dear Special Permit Holders,

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recognizes that current fire conditions may substantially impact special permit holders in many hunt areas.  As such, we are providing you information about the opportunity to return your special permit and have your preference points restored.

If you choose not to participate in the hunt, you are eligible for point restoration. You must return the special hunting season permit to us at the Olympia headquarters two weeks before the opening day of the special hunting season. Once we receive your permit, we will restore your points to the level prior to the permit drawing (WAC 220-412-080).

It is your responsibility to monitor your permit hunt area for fire-related impacts and closures. Because of the ever-changing fire scenario, WDFW will not be able to notify hunters of impacts to specific permit hunt areas.

If you elect to return your permit, and you applied for your hunt on a group application, everyone in the group must turn in their permit for us to restore your points.

If you are unable to get your permit turned in two weeks before the start of your hunt, and if more than 75% of your hunt area is closed to access due to fire restrictions, we will work with you to restore points provided we get your permit before the special permit season starts.

Only include your permit, not your transport tag. You will need your transport tag if you choose to hunt during a general season or if you have other special permits for that species.

Returning your permit will restore your preference points for that hunt category. There will be no refund of your application or license fees (WAC 220-220-100).

Please note, if you choose to turn in your permit and fire conditions improve, we cannot return the permit back to you.

If you decide to return your permit, simply mail it to:
WDFW – Point Restoration
PO Box 43141
Olympia, WA.  98504-3141

Please call us at 360-902-2515 or email us at Wildthing@dfw.wa.gov with any questions or concerns.

Because then they can’t give those permits to someone else who might still want them. Seems reasonable to me to have it be 2 weeks before the opener. How would you not know if you want to hunt that tag or not by then? Seems like an ok deal to me but maybe others see it differently.

[bow4elk]

Current special permit tag holders are being offered to turn in their tags to redeem their points due to the fires and closures in many units. The problem I have is that they want the permits post marked 2 weeks before the season. There is no reason to send permits in this early. Many hunters have been waiting 14+ yrs to draw these tags. Why not make the post mark date due the day before the opener so hunters can really know what the current status of fires and land closures are. This affects hunters that did not draw this year because you don't want permit holders back in next years pool, and the majority of us with special permits truly want to hunt! What I am asking is that you call or email the WDFW to change to post mark date to a day or two before the opener. I realize this probably affects bowhunters and muzzleloaders the most with land closures but what about the dream rifle rut tag guys for elk? Please help us out fellow hunters!

Attached is the email with contact info. Moderators, I realize Buggy posted this in the virtual campfire but I am asking you to leave it in deer hunting for more exposure.
Thanks everyone.

Dear Special Permit Holders,

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recognizes that current fire conditions may substantially impact special permit holders in many hunt areas.  As such, we are providing you information about the opportunity to return your special permit and have your preference points restored.

If you choose not to participate in the hunt, you are eligible for point restoration. You must return the special hunting season permit to us at the Olympia headquarters two weeks before the opening day of the special hunting season. Once we receive your permit, we will restore your points to the level prior to the permit drawing (WAC 220-412-080).

It is your responsibility to monitor your permit hunt area for fire-related impacts and closures. Because of the ever-changing fire scenario, WDFW will not be able to notify hunters of impacts to specific permit hunt areas.

If you elect to return your permit, and you applied for your hunt on a group application, everyone in the group must turn in their permit for us to restore your points.

If you are unable to get your permit turned in two weeks before the start of your hunt, and if more than 75% of your hunt area is closed to access due to fire restrictions, we will work with you to restore points provided we get your permit before the special permit season starts.

Only include your permit, not your transport tag. You will need your transport tag if you choose to hunt during a general season or if you have other special permits for that species.

Returning your permit will restore your preference points for that hunt category. There will be no refund of your application or license fees (WAC 220-220-100).

Please note, if you choose to turn in your permit and fire conditions improve, we cannot return the permit back to you.

If you decide to return your permit, simply mail it to:
WDFW – Point Restoration
PO Box 43141
Olympia, WA.  98504-3141

Please call us at 360-902-2515 or email us at Wildthing@dfw.wa.gov with any questions or concerns.

Send your concern to the wildthing email address, which goes directly to the Wildlife Program. It's a good suggestion

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[Odell]

It seems a bit clunky that it’s postmarked snail mail. It is the year 2021 and we aren’t talking about thousands of people. Not sure why it can’t be an email or phone call the day before but welcome to government bureaucracy.

At least they are giving you the option


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[3am]

I will call to see if they can clarify what is means "if you are unable to turn in your tag they will work with you." I will post what I can find out. I currently have a archery permit which over  half of the is state land that is closed. No fires but the land is closed. Will it be open for the hunt or not. I want to hunt and will keep my tag regardless but their are others with a harder decision.

[3am]

Thank you for reaching out to us, and yes I can clarify.  If it gets close to your hunt and 75% or more of your GMU is closed due to fire, mail back your permit postmarked prior to the hunt start date and we will restore your points.

 

Heather Bonagofski

Management Analyst, WDFW Wildlife Program

1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia, WA. 98501


This was the email response I got. I did speak to her on the phone and explained there are no fires in my area but the majority of land is currently closed. She said we could mail back the permit post marked the day before and be ok. I plan on keeping my tag but maybe this will help some of you other tag holders. What she said on the phone is not wht she emailed so take that for what it's worth. Good luck this season.

[jackelope]

I’m assuming you’ve seen the new rule stating you could turn your permits back in 2 weeks before the season that came out earlier this year regardless of the fire situation.  This new rule has nothing to do with the current Fire situation.