Hunters need to make a Statement

[Jingles]

Yes I know some will say I've spent to much already to not continue and others will say if I don't someone else will.  But we as hunters need to make a statement and hit WDFW in their purse. How? you ask, simple don't spent that 300.00 or more for those special permits that you have a better chance of winning the powerball and mega millions lottery in the same week than drawing the special permit. We pretty much agree that the multi season permit is a bunch of BS just to get more money for their mismanagement of game. And we all pretty much agree that when you buy a
 tag you should be able to hunt that species with the weapon of your choice during that weapons season and if not successful during that weapons season should be able to use the weapon for the next season and continue to do so until you u either fill your tag or seasons end, paying 200.00 to do what you should be able to do already is ridiculous  and counter productive.
If just those on Hunt WA did not purchase special permits and multi season permits for just 1 year what kind of a financial impact do you think it would have on the revenues of WDFW? This could be the hunters opportunity to do a kind of Boycott of their non scientific decisions.
But I'm as sure as I am that the sun comes up in the east and sets in the west there are those that will say but this could be my year after 10 to 15 years or m oh re of putting in for a special permit that will go ahead and do it all over again only t o read  Not Selected

[ghosthunter]

I don’t disagree with you.
Except that you think it matters to them. Really?

I don’t, I think there is a concentrated effort by the folks pulling the strings to eliminate hunting in this state. I think the only thing that might change it is if a group dedicated to holding their feet to the fire  steps up. And that we as hunters donate enough to that group to make it work.

The message on the wall is clear if you have a large number of points use them now and get out.
If you can.

And we break the democrat hold.

I am not a multi season guy anyways.

[bobcat]

I don't agree that everyone should be able to hunt all seasons. It's already too crowded as it is, that would only make it worse, and it's the reason in the first place many years ago that they went to a choose your weapon type system. However I do agree people should try to cut back as much as they possibly can on how many licenses and applications you purchase.

[Ridgeratt]

I don't agree that everyone should be able to hunt all seasons. It's already too crowded as it is, that would only make it worse, and it's the reason in the first place many years ago that they went to a choose your weapon type system. However I do agree people should try to cut back as much as they possibly can on how many licenses and applications you purchase.

So explain to me then. Why do people choose to spend money in other states where they can hunt with their choice of several weapons. I believe that you are one who does this. I also get that there are different species you can hunt. But other than speed goats we have pretty much the same choices.

[Jingles]

I don't agree that everyone should be able to hunt all seasons. It's already too crowded as it is, that would only make it worse, and it's the reason in the first place many years ago that they went to a choose your weapon type system. However I do agree people should try to cut back as much as they possibly can on how many licenses and applications you purchase.

Well yes it is crowded but do you really think every gun hunter is going to go out and purchase archery equipment or A muzzle loader or those that hunt archery are all of a sudden decide to go back to modern? The reason I went to Archery is more for the challenge of getting close to my target game rather than firing an artillery round out to 800 yards or more as some here do, to me that is not hunting and I prefer to hunt rather than need a forward observer.

IMO shooting that far just says the hunter lacks the hunting skills to get close

[Karl Blanchard]

I don't agree that everyone should be able to hunt all seasons. It's already too crowded as it is, that would only make it worse, and it's the reason in the first place many years ago that they went to a choose your weapon type system. However I do agree people should try to cut back as much as they possibly can on how many licenses and applications you purchase.

So explain to me then. Why do people choose to spend money in other states where they can hunt with their choice of several weapons. I believe that you are one who does this. I also get that there are different species you can hunt. But other than speed goats we have pretty much the same choices.

not very many western states allow multiple weapon season hunting and if they do it usually involves an additional fee.

Fact is MS (deer specifically) puts a lot of additional strain on a limited resource. Ive been shouting for years that this state needs to tighten up deer hunting for the sake of our mule deer. We are THE ONLY western state with completely wide open and unbridled deer hunting and we have embarrassingly low deer numbers. We have all screamed "follow the science" in recent months due to the spring bear debacle but we fall silent on mule deer when following the science means less opportunity. 

As for hitting wdfw in the wallet, that does nothing more than feeding into exactly what Inslee and his anti's want. Their goal is NO HUNTING so if everyone stops participating they have achieved their goal. Its quite literally exactly what they want. License sales are a mere drop in the bucket that is WA states annual budget. They'll reallocate some funds to pay for blue bird boxes and wolves and they won't give hunting a second thought.

[elkboy]

I think people go to other states, where they can hunt more than one season, because there is simply more game to go around.  Washington State has 116 people per square mile, and her human population has been doubling every 20 years since the late 1800s.  Idaho has 22.3 people per square mile.  Even Oregon has only 44.1 people per square mile.  And then, of course, Montana and Wyoming- 7.5 and 5.9 people per square mile. 

I don't disagree that there is currently a concerted effort by the animal rights types to eliminate as many kinds of hunting in Washington State as they can get away with.  But when it comes to opportunity, or lack thereof, I think it is due in part to just too high a population density of people.  I think the state had to go to a "choose your weapon" system to manage pressure on the game and maintain some kind of quality to the hunt.

[bobcat]

I should have also said that in addition to areas being too crowded, allowing everyone to hunt all seasons would result in a much higher harvest of deer and elk. Another thing that's not needed at this time.

Maybe if you're not happy with the situation, don't buy any big game licenses, and spend all year hunting predators instead.

[hughjorgan]

I don't agree that everyone should be able to hunt all seasons. It's already too crowded as it is, that would only make it worse, and it's the reason in the first place many years ago that they went to a choose your weapon type system. However I do agree people should try to cut back as much as they possibly can on how many licenses and applications you purchase.

So explain to me then. Why do people choose to spend money in other states where they can hunt with their choice of several weapons. I believe that you are one who does this. I also get that there are different species you can hunt. But other than speed goats we have pretty much the same choices.

We have more people and less land to hunt and shorter seasons which would lead to overcrowding without choose your weapon imo

[huntnnw]

A very small percentage are hunting multiple seasons outta state that allow it unless you live close to that state. Most who are traveling 5 plus hours are taking their week or whatever it is and making that their hunt trip. Most don’t have the vacation time , family time or funds.

[Iveexcaped3]

Not buying tags does nothing. Tags and licenses are only 1/3 of wdfw budget so if we stop funding will be found elsewhere to make up for it and they’ll roll it into some “we’ve saved the animals” tax. You want opportunities then get out and create habitat on our public lands, everyone wants the benefit of good conservation but doesn’t want to do the work. Skip the 2x2 bucks because a “small buck is better than no buck”. Leave them so they can breed, a breeded doe by a small buck is better than a does that’s not pregnant. The fact we hunt before breeding season doesn’t make sense to me but that’s a matter of personal opinion.

[Wphunt]

I agree that not buying tags won't do anything positive for hunting. WDFW has been told that hunting is a dying past time, the governor and his commission would love to see actual data to back this up.
As GH said a central, dedicated, well funded group to lobby for hunting would probably help the most. There are a lot of sporting groups in the state but no cohesive voice to lobby effectively. How many "save the predators" groups had lawyers speaking for them during the spring bear comments? Almost all of them. That is what they spend their money on and it seems to work.

[hunter399]

Not buying tags does nothing. Tags and licenses are only 1/3 of wdfw budget so if we stop funding will be found elsewhere to make up for it and they’ll roll it into some “we’ve saved the animals” tax. You want opportunities then get out and create habitat on our public lands, everyone wants the benefit of good conservation but doesn’t want to do the work. Skip the 2x2 bucks because a “small buck is better than no buck”. Leave them so they can breed, a breeded doe by a small buck is better than a does that’s not pregnant. The fact we hunt before breeding season doesn’t make sense to me but that’s a matter of personal opinion.

I was with you till you said to leave those 2x2 bucks.
If it's legal deer in the freezer it goes.
They have all those super smart biologists and stuff.
That let me know it's ok .

[Twispriver]

When you write "we all pretty much agree" who are you referencing? I don't agree. 

[jackelope]

Jingles...I also don't agree with most of what you said.

Us not buying tags, judging by the way things are going so far this year, will only make them happy that less people are hunting.

As mentioned multiple times already, I think it's too crowded already. I personally would support permit only mule deer hunting in Washington to reduce the crowds and the pressure, to help the deer herds and to create a more quality experience.

In closing, I fully support everyone on here not buying tags and permit applications this year. That would create much better odds of me finally drawing an elk permit.