washington big game permits

[Alan K]

I'm one of those guys who has never been drawn for anything! Other than youth deer permits that is.  I've got 10+ points for everything aside from deer and am happy with the system as it is.  It's all just the luck of the draw. I know I can put in for a cow tag and be drawn for sure if I want, but I choose to put in for the premier tags.  When you put in for premier tags you've got to be prepared not to draw for a long time.  When I do draw though, and my points go back to zero, I'm glad I'll have a chance, though a slim one, to draw each year.

These guys who draw great tags seemingly every year or every other year are exceptions not the rule.  With 10 points you are 100 times more likely to draw over someone with 0.  I'm perfectly happy with those odds.  If someone draws over me with those odds, congrats to them on their luck, and I hope I get as lucky as them when I'm back down at their point level.


I would be absolutely opposed to choosing deer/elk or OIL, but would be all for limiting hunt choices.  I'd much rather see it be two choices with the following:  All first choices would be selected first, then any left over tags would be drawn out to the second choice people without effecting their accumulated points.  If there are still tags left even after second choicers draw, the remaining would be sold at a first come first serve basis over the counter.  

[billythekidrock]

I think that a really good way to give everyone a better chance is to not allow anyone to put in for 2 years once they have drawn a tag.  Allow them to get the points but not give them the opportunity to draw every single year.  

I was thinking the same thing but with only a one year wait and the guy I mentioned it to said no one would go for it. An idea similar to this, along with a 50% allocation to those with 10 or more points might be goo. It might not be the best way, but like I said above, it is an option worth looking at.

[furbearer365]

I still think they should look at the rule of anyone who draws this year is uneligible for the next two years.  I am not certain how many draw tags there are but if their are 2,000 tags given out (just a number, could be more or less) for instants, that is 2,000 people that the rest of us do not have to go up against for the next two years.  After the first year of running this program 2,000 wouldn't be eligible, but every year after that it would make 4,000 we wouldn't compete against.  After all, there are more than enough OTC tags to satisfy those people.

[bobcat]

There are about 9000 special permits for deer, and 7000 for elk.

[SHANE(WA)]

NV also has a good system. I agree with picking 1 choice, something will have to be done in the future, its just to easy to put in for everything. Pick OIL or buck and bull tags, people will have to apply for what they really want!

[javman]

One choice for each species gets my vote. Somebody drew the tag I want with their third choice this year. Kinda makes ya  but oh well. I don't think the WA system is horrible, but it could be improved.

[bobcat]

I really don't think being limited to one choice will improve odds much. Sure it will on some permits, but on others odds will be worse. I mean think about it... there will still be the same number of hunters applying, and the same number of permits. When the numbers stay the same how can the overall odds change? I'm thinking odds for less desirable permits like the antlerless permits, will get better, but the best hunts for bucks and bulls will be harder to draw.

[SHANE(WA)]

I guess what needs to be explained is the number of people applying for permits, lets say moose, you have 12,000 applying for this tag and 5,000 applying for this one, where do they get this number? do they count people in every drawing?If you applied for 4 choices are you counted in those 4 permit numbers? If thats the case and u had to pick 1 odds would be better, there were a few 2nd and 3rd choice pulls this year that would be eliminated and those tags would be the 1 choice people.I just dont get how someone pulls a tag with their 3 rd choice with 5 pts when a guy has 14 and his first.

[KillBilly]

It's fairly simple, 14 or 40, if his name is drawn after the quota is filled, then he comes up with nada. The first name might only have 1 point but they will look at their choices and award them one that still has openings.

Of course the person with 14 points has multiple more possibilities/odds of being pulled but odds are odds, sometimes a person with 1 point can be pulled and defy odds. that's whay makes it exciting for everyone.

[Skyvalhunter]

You left out frustrating.

[rasbo]

I put just one choice..and would be nice if that was it..If I draw a moose tag some eon I want it to be in the area I want first hand.

[Skyvalhunter]

Can't go with just one choice as the MH permits need to be accounted for.

[SHANE(WA)]

OIL needs to be 1 choice and trophy bull and bucks also

[Sawbuck]

I really don't think being limited to one choice will improve odds much. Sure it will on some permits, but on others odds will be worse. I mean think about it... there will still be the same number of hunters applying, and the same number of permits. When the numbers stay the same how can the overall odds change? I'm thinking odds for less desirable permits like the antlerless permits, will get better, but the best hunts for bucks and bulls will be harder to draw.

I could be wrong, but wouldn't limiting to one choice reduce the number of applicants for each hunt?

[billythekidrock]

I really don't think being limited to one choice will improve odds much. Sure it will on some permits, but on others odds will be worse. I mean think about it... there will still be the same number of hunters applying, and the same number of permits. When the numbers stay the same how can the overall odds change? I'm thinking odds for less desirable permits like the antlerless permits, will get better, but the best hunts for bucks and bulls will be harder to draw.

I could be wrong, but wouldn't limiting to one choice reduce the number of applicants for each hunt?

Yes, but it would reduce them across the board so in that respect the potential odds stay the same. But if it goes to 1 choice then some permits may spike higher since people have to make a narrower choice. The permits that will be easier will probably tend to be antlerless, damage hunts or some of the extra bull hunts. You know, the ones that people throw on as a "hail mary".

I was looking at the 5 permits in the Quinault and 4 people drew as first choice and one as fourth choice. That 4th choice person probably doesnt know the unit and applied only because it was a bull hunt. There were over a hundred guys that wanted that hunt as a first or only choice. If it were down to two choices it would force guys to apply for the unit they want and not just apply for anything to fill the application.

Same with the bigger bull hunts. On the westside make the guys decide between Margaret, Toutle, Green River and Nooksack instead of applying for all 4 and rasing the odds for every unit.