Author Topic: Snow goose quality hunt draw...Success! (Read 7663 times)

The Weazle · « **on:** October 06, 2009, 04:40:48 PM »

I have finally been drawn for a snow goose hunt!

Early in the season, (31 Oct) but hopefully early enough to have them not to decoy shy already.

NWWABOWHNTR · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:02:53 PM »

Great, since I didn't draw again this year... you can take me along with you Travis!

The Weazle · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:05:28 PM »

Sounds good! Did you get anything in the mail?

Jerome · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:23:15 PM »

Negative for me and my boy.

NWWABOWHNTR · « **Reply #4 on:** October 06, 2009, 05:34:21 PM »

got a card saying"try again".....

Snowgoose1 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 06, 2009, 07:06:32 PM »

With Saturday the only draw day, don't worry because this year we should be able to keep the birds moving. The fact that 40 percent juvies are coming is enough to work with the decoys again. The Stanwood fields are every day, daily fields which will help too. I would bet that fir island seven days a week will come in the future as well. The good part of this year will be moving birds and getting to hunt between the hops is gravy.

h2ofowlr · « **Reply #6 on:** October 06, 2009, 08:09:16 PM »

They are still trying to decide how many days they are going to allow hunting. They were going to cut them back due to funding, but many of the farmers participating in the quality hunt program were going to pull out if they didn't offer more hunting as the fields are getting tore up and the geese are getting smart.
I saw a lot of juvies today. Should be a good season.
I don't waste my time putting in for the fields anymore as it is really hit and miss.
Here is a phone pic from this afternoon.

Shadow Cat · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2009, 08:21:05 PM »

Well, I went ahead and put it for it was was shocked to see I actually got drawn for it in November... We shall see how the hunting is then.

coyotemadness · « **Reply #8 on:** October 06, 2009, 08:44:32 PM »

December for me

The Weazle · « **Reply #9 on:** October 06, 2009, 09:30:12 PM »

Quote from: h2ofowlr on October 06, 2009, 08:09:16 PM

They are still trying to decide how many days they are going to allow hunting.

WDFW website says Tuesday thru Saturday, with Tues-Fri being first come, first served...Sat quality hunt drawing winners, and Sunday closed...

D-Rock425 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 07, 2009, 05:22:07 PM »

I got the notice in the mail today. I was not selected. does this mean i can't hunt in the quality hunting areas on saturdays but i can during the week?

Goldeneye · « **Reply #11 on:** October 07, 2009, 07:22:36 PM »

I was drawn for November as well.

To answer the question, if you weren't selected for the quality hunt, can you hunt the quality hunt areas during the week.

The way I'm reading the link supplied by WDFW it states as the requirements to hunt the quality area:

Rules and Guidelines Snow Goose Hunters Need To Know

Each hunter must possess these items to utilize a quality hunt unit:

A current Washington State hunting license and Federal Migratory Bird Stamp
A written authorization to hunt for snow goose in Goose Management Area 1
A written authorization to hunt Snow Goose Quality Hunt Unit
If selected, a Special Drawing Authorization for Saturdays

So I would say, no you can't hunt the areas unless your with a permit holder. Contact Doug Huddle from WDFW for a more detailed answer.

h2ofowlr · « **Reply #12 on:** October 07, 2009, 08:57:40 PM »

I believe anyone with a snow goose permit. Can hunt the fields. They will proabably assign the fields prior to legal shooting hours, hold a drawing or something. Then provide an authorization card for the field selected.

Goldeneye · « **Reply #13 on:** October 07, 2009, 09:19:57 PM »

A little more definition on the question:

From the green authorization card recieved in the mail:

This is special written authorization to hunt the quality hunting area program for snow geese in goose management area 1. All persons possessing this authorization are welcome to hunt in any quality hunt unit, but restrictions apply on Saturdays. All Saturday hunts are only open to hunters selected by random drawing. If you were selected for a Saturday hunt, your reserved Saturday date is listed below.

Another piece from the web:

On Fir Island the Quality Hunt units are closed on Sundays and Mondays.Tuesdays through Fridays the units are first-come, first-serve.The unit is held by the hunter who parks in that unit’s parking space.The units are reserved on Saturdays for those randomly drawn in early October.

h2ofowlr · « **Reply #14 on:** October 07, 2009, 09:32:06 PM »

It will probably be the same guys hunting the fields everyday. There are many retired or not working that will be hunting them daily. You will have to get there early.

Shadow Cat · « **Reply #15 on:** October 07, 2009, 11:24:29 PM »

I don't know how the hunting will be this year. I went up today and talked to some of the farmers I know to get permission to hunt and was told they wont be putting in winter wheat this year because it wont germinate in time. Most of the fields are just bare dirt at the moment so there is not a lot of selection for the birds. It has just been to dry in the area for the farmers and the birds. I saw 2 flocks of birds with about 1,000 birds in each, one in the reserve and one out in the bay. A good number of juveniles with them so the bigger flocks should have a good number with them as well when they come down.

h2ofowlr · « **Reply #16 on:** October 08, 2009, 07:09:06 AM »

The birds will just spread out a little more once they have ate out the normal fields. There are still plenty of green fields and I am sure they will blanket the mud fields as well. That is the way it has worked in the past. Something will sprout in them.

BIGBULLBALLS · « **Reply #17 on:** October 08, 2009, 08:12:02 AM »

Shadow Cat, who the heck told you they won't be putting in wheat because it won't germinate. Wheat is planted clear in to the middle of November here in the valley, thats if it doesnt get too wet. If they arent planting wheat its because the price took a *censored* and will be putting in a cover crop.

luvtohnt · « **Reply #18 on:** October 08, 2009, 08:13:51 AM »

Quote from: BIGBULLBALLS on October 08, 2009, 08:12:02 AM

Shadow Cat, who the heck told you they won't be putting in wheat because it won't germinate. Wheat is planted clear in to the middle of November here in the valley, thats if it doesnt get too wet. If they arent planting wheat its because the price took a *censored* and will be putting in a cover crop.

Wheat took a huge dive this summer. In ellensburg I saw a couple of smaller fields just get plowed under, never even harvested it. Boy do the geese love those fields!!

Brandon

washelkhntr · « **Reply #19 on:** October 08, 2009, 01:09:21 PM »

Is that the only way you know if you got selected, from the card in the mail? Or can you look online? I tried to check the DFW site, but cant find anything.

Goldeneye · « **Reply #20 on:** October 08, 2009, 01:57:34 PM »

I think your right. I could not find anything either. Give WDFW a call to confirm one way or the other: 425 775-1311.

h2ofowlr · « **Reply #21 on:** October 08, 2009, 02:47:07 PM »

If you were selected for a Saturday Hunt. You will get a green card in the mail with the date you were selected. This is for Saturday's instead of the entire week. During the week it will be a first come first serve basis. This may allow for good hunting for those that scouted the fields the prior day. Also as the snow geese work the fields and the eagles push them around others will get shooting as well.

D-Rock425 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 08, 2009, 03:49:47 PM »

My buddy got his for Jan 9. how do you find out where the hunt unit is. I think he said unit 17 or maybe 14 not sure

Skyhigh · « **Reply #23 on:** October 09, 2009, 06:40:27 AM »

a little bit of reading will answer many of your questions.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/snow_goose/index.htm

Snowgoose1 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 09, 2009, 07:40:04 AM »

If your down in Stanwood in January it sometimes can be pretty darn good on the quality hunts there. 17 usually gets a lot of birds about then. In January they fly along Marine veiw drive a lot. Last week the game department showed field 20 in a different location and now this week it is moved east by one field. One week to go and they have to get all the markers and posts in. I have a field in the end of January. There have been some speckled geese on 17 already this past week.

CP · « **Reply #25 on:** October 10, 2009, 12:45:23 PM »

No luck for me on the Saturday draw. There are already a lot of birds in the reserve and lots of young birds in the flock. Should be a good season.

road.kill · « **Reply #26 on:** October 11, 2009, 10:18:58 PM »

Quote from: Goldeneye on October 07, 2009, 07:22:36 PM

I was drawn for November as well.

To answer the question, if you weren't selected for the quality hunt, can you hunt the quality hunt areas during the week.

The way I'm reading the link supplied by WDFW it states as the requirements to hunt the quality area:

Rules and Guidelines Snow Goose Hunters Need To Know

Each hunter must possess these items to utilize a quality hunt unit:

A current Washington State hunting license and Federal Migratory Bird Stamp
A written authorization to hunt for snow goose in Goose Management Area 1
A written authorization to hunt Snow Goose Quality Hunt Unit
If selected, a Special Drawing Authorization for Saturdays

So I would say, no you can't hunt the areas unless your with a permit holder. Contact Doug Huddle from WDFW for a more detailed answer.

I was successful for late December, so hopefully the birds are moved down by then.

The way I read the regulations is that you must have applied for a quality hunt unit in order to hunt one of the quality hunt areas, even for the non-Saturdays.

Reading directly from the game regs

“Private lands enrolled in the program are only open to hunters with Quality Hunt Authorizations. Most program lands are open as Feel Free to Hunt or Register to Hunt.” (This section was not talking about Saturday hunting)

Well…..now that just about contradicts itself doesn’t it.

Goldeneye · « **Reply #27 on:** October 14, 2009, 12:07:39 PM »

It does contradict itself. I did get ahold of WDFW up in Laconner. From what I was told you need both pieces of paper (area 1 authorization & Quality hunt Authorization) to hunt the quality units. So I don't know what to say. I do have both pieces of paper so I guess I am clear to hunt no matter the what the interpretation of a potential game cop. If you don't have both pieces of paper it is a definite gray area that may get you in trouble if confronted by a gamey...

road.kill · « **Reply #28 on:** October 14, 2009, 02:17:28 PM »

Quote from: Goldeneye on October 14, 2009, 12:07:39 PM

It does contradict itself. I did get ahold of WDFW up in Laconner. From what I was told you need both pieces of paper (area 1 authorization & Quality hunt Authorization) to hunt the quality units. So I don't know what to say. I do have both pieces of paper so I guess I am clear to hunt no matter the what the interpretation of a potential game cop. If you don't have both pieces of paper it is a definite gray area that may get you in trouble if confronted by a gamey...

were you successful on your quality hunt drawing? I am curious if people who were not selected still received a card in the mail giving them their quality hunt authorization. The card they sent me (which was for a sucessful draw) says right on it that it is " the written authorization to hunt in the quality hunt program."

Goldeneye · « **Reply #29 on:** October 14, 2009, 02:46:00 PM »

I was successful. A November hunt. The way I understood it, the unsuccessful applicants for the quality hunts also will receive the authorization. It's just the folks that did not apply for the quality hunts who did not.

Skyhigh · « **Reply #30 on:** October 14, 2009, 06:17:47 PM »

Quote from: Goldeneye on October 14, 2009, 02:46:00 PM

I was successful. A November hunt. The way I understood it, the unsuccessful applicants for the quality hunts also will receive the authorization. It's just the folks that did not apply for the quality hunts who did not.

I understand that anybody that has a small game license w/apporpiate migratory stamps....a snow goose card (the ones we have always needed to record harvest) You can go on-line and print their "Feel Free to Hunt" authorization for any of the units as long as its not Saturday or a closed day for Fir Island QHU (I think Sunday and Monday)

In summary, if ya got your license and cards and you see birds in units you can go print an a FFtH authorization and go...What I am un-clear on is the FFtH authorization unit specific or is it for any unit that is available?

Skyhigh · « **Reply #31 on:** October 14, 2009, 06:22:29 PM »

Didn't Participate in the Drawing?
For those that didn't participate in the drawing you can still utilize the Quality Hunt Units. Print a Snow Goose Quality Hunt Authorization online now. Get started here.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/goose/quality_hunt/authorization.php

Goldeneye · « **Reply #32 on:** October 14, 2009, 09:56:59 PM »

Good, now those that choose will have both pieces of paper (area 1 authorization & Quality hunt Authorization). Plain and simple. Glad to see that those can be printed by those left out of the drawing.

Schmalzfam · « **Reply #33 on:** October 15, 2009, 12:24:32 PM »

Our son drew a Nov.14th hunt field 7. So, hopefully he has some fun!! and luck of course.

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Author Topic: Snow goose quality hunt draw...Success! (Read 7663 times)

Shadow Cat

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