quality tag soup

[yajsab]

Thank you for pointing me to the fire thread from my other post.

Well, it looks like I have no choice but to turn in the tag.  It's a bummer to watch the hunting area burning down. 

Thank you for all the info and photos. 

[Woodchuck]

I would suggest waiting as long as you can. The year of the school fire over here was some of the best elk hunting I ever experienced.
If they get it put out, the elk will not take long to get right back in there.
@dvolmer

[bobcat]

Which permit do you have?

[yajsab]

I have the antlerless and my friend has the bull.  Looking at the fire map, it's burning right where we always hunt at swamp creek.

[Jonathan_S]

I have the antlerless and my friend has the bull.  Looking at the fire map, it's burning right where we always hunt at swamp creek.

It's obviously your choice but even without knowing what your hunt is, I wouldn't turn in either tag unless I couldn't get into the unit.

[mburrows]

I have the antlerless and my friend has the bull.  Looking at the fire map, it's burning right where we always hunt at swamp creek.

It's obviously your choice but even without knowing what your hunt is, I wouldn't turn in either tag unless I couldn't get into the unit.

2nd that. Could be years before your buddy gets a bull tag again and even years to get the cow tag again

[emac]

Rifle, muzzy or archery?  If it's one of the first 2 no way am I turning it in.  Archery I would wait as long as could before I made my decision.

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[Woodchuck]

This a quote from him in the Nile fire thread.


Anyone has a view of the fire?  How bad is it?  It's getting near bow season and really nervous that my tag (and some) will go down the drain this year.  Sure, we can turn it in but then there is no hunt, especially when we have been prepping for a year for this.

[yajsab]

It's archery season.  Probably will hold until Thursday before opening.

[kirkl]

You have until September 1st for returning archery permits. whoops, that tag exhange, here is points restored.

You may also return your special permit and have your points restored.
(WAC 220-412-080 (4))
If you choose to return your permit, you must return it two weeks prior to the season starting. We will restore your preference points for that hunt category but will not refund your application or license fees.
Please note that if you choose to turn in your permit, but then fire conditions improve, we cannot return the permit back to you.

Should I consider exchanging my tag or return my special permit for point restoration?
 
Current rule allows hunters to exchange* current tags for seasons and areas less likely to be affected by emergency land closures.
 
You can exchange your tag if:
The season for which the tag was issued has not opened, and
You did not apply for a special hunt, and
You must request a tag exchange by the deadlines listed below:
Archery tags – before Sept. 1
Muzzleloader tags – before Sept. 20
Modern firearm tags – before Oct. 10.
*Tag exchange under WAC 220-220-100 (5) & (6)

[emac]

Is it for the Nile or goose prairie

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[yajsab]

Thanks, Kirk.  Not sure what I would exchange for.   

Emac, it's 352.

[emac]

If it is just for the Nile I would strongly think about turning it in.  But would hold off till the last minute that I could.   With the fire I don't know if that unit will even open so that you can hunt during your season.  I know some people have have said if you turn it back in, there is a chance you will never get drawn again.  But if the unit stays closed for the whole hunting and you don't even get to hunt your tag I would be turning it back in so next year you will still have 1% chance of drawing instead of a .00015% chance of drawing

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[Karl Blanchard]

A 352 cow tag I'd send back most likely as good odds you aren't getting into that unit by archery unless some serious rain shows up. As for the bull tag, no way I'm turning that puppy in! It's a huge area that spans from white to chinook pass and there's elk in every inch of it.  So what if its not "your area" you normally hunt. These tags are impossible to draw.  Adapt and overcome 

[emac]

I thought he was referring to the bull tag as being only in the Nile also.  That's why I asked if it was goose prairie tag.  I looked at the regs and there is no Nile hunt so I will take it that it is a goose prairie tag and no way would I turn that in as karl stated there is plenty, plenty, plenty of ground to hunt as long as it's not shut down.

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[Naches Sportsman]

I would turn in the cow tag, but not the bull tag. Plenty of area to go still off of white pass unless a North wind wipes that out.

[yajsab]

Thanks for the reminder on the bull tag.  Yes, I did made a call to my friend not to turn it in and we can rethink.  lol

Bummer on my cow tag for sure.  Hope they don't close all of Bumping.

[jason stevens]

To those of you turning in your bull tags my 2 cents would be don't.  It takes an act of God to draw an theres always an option. Elk will go back into burned areas after the fire. So do some thinking. Is your so called points worth turning in the tag or is a little research better. Just my thoughts but do what you wish.

[Karl Blanchard]

To those of you turning in your bull tags my 2 cents would be don't.  It takes an act of God to draw an theres always an option. Elk will go back into burned areas after the fire. So do some thinking. Is your so called points worth turning in the tag or is a little research better. Just my thoughts but do what you wish.

the issue isn't with the elk leaving, its actually being able to access the unit. In the case of his cow tag in 352, there's zero access at this time and likely won't be by archery. That bull tag is good for 356 as well as 352 though so unless it makes a serious run to the south, there will be plenty of country to hunt on the white pass side. Personally that's the side id be on anyways with that tag 

[MtnMuley]

To those of you turning in your bull tags my 2 cents would be don't.  It takes an act of God to draw an theres always an option. Elk will go back into burned areas after the fire. So do some thinking. Is your so called points worth turning in the tag or is a little research better. Just my thoughts but do what you wish.

the issue isn't with the elk leaving, its actually being able to access the unit. In the case of his cow tag in 352, there's zero access at this time and likely won't be by archery. That bull tag is good for 356 as well as 352 though so unless it makes a serious run to the south, there will be plenty of country to hunt on the white pass side. Personally that's the side id be on anyways with that tag 

You're taking these elk tags pretty serious these days, Karl

[teanawayslayer]

To those of you turning in your bull tags my 2 cents would be don't.  It takes an act of God to draw an theres always an option. Elk will go back into burned areas after the fire. So do some thinking. Is your so called points worth turning in the tag or is a little research better. Just my thoughts but do what you wish.

the issue isn't with the elk leaving, its actually being able to access the unit. In the case of his cow tag in 352, there's zero access at this time and likely won't be by archery. That bull tag is good for 356 as well as 352 though so unless it makes a serious run to the south, there will be plenty of country to hunt on the white pass side. Personally that's the side id be on anyways with that tag 

agreed 100 percent!

[jason stevens]

To those of you turning in your bull tags my 2 cents would be don't.  It takes an act of God to draw an theres always an option. Elk will go back into burned areas after the fire. So do some thinking. Is your so called points worth turning in the tag or is a little research better. Just my thoughts but do what you wish.

the issue isn't with the elk leaving, its actually being able to access the unit. In the case of his cow tag in 352, there's zero access at this time and likely won't be by archery. That bull tag is good for 356 as well as 352 though so unless it makes a serious run to the south, there will be plenty of country to hunt on the white pass side. Personally that's the side id be on anyways with that tag 

agreed 100 percent!

I agree with this but remember it's not just this unit. There's others that have open land an in 2 months when it's time it will be amazing. I've hunted after burn an you would be surprised. At the end of the day it's the hunters choice. I wish they would hand me a permit after 18 years of waiting I'd make it work. Good luck to everyone regardless of your decision. An if you turn in I hope you draw again

[92xj]

I thought I heard/read, if a unit is fully closed you can wait up until the day before the hunt starts to turn a tag in, instead of the new two week window rule for tag turn in. Is that correct?  I know this topic is dealing with an area that includes more than a single unit, but what about the single unit hunts?

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

I thought I heard/read, if a unit is fully closed you can wait up until the day before the hunt starts to turn a tag in, instead of the new two week window rule for tag turn in. Is that correct?  I know this topic is dealing with an area that includes more than a single unit, but what about the single unit hunts?

This is what I was personally told by WDFW.  Though after this dumping the blues got, and the recent fire behavior…I’m almost certainly going to hang on to my tag.


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[92xj]

I thought I heard/read, if a unit is fully closed you can wait up until the day before the hunt starts to turn a tag in, instead of the new two week window rule for tag turn in. Is that correct?  I know this topic is dealing with an area that includes more than a single unit, but what about the single unit hunts?

This is what I was personally told by WDFW.  Though after this dumping the blues got, and the recent fire behavior…I’m almost certainly going to hang on to my tag.


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Absolutely. I think that’s the correct path forward with your tag.

[goldenhtr]

I thought I heard/read, if a unit is fully closed you can wait up until the day before the hunt starts to turn a tag in, instead of the new two week window rule for tag turn in. Is that correct?  I know this topic is dealing with an area that includes more than a single unit, but what about the single unit hunts?

I called and this what I was told as well. She lots of grace during this fire season.