Snow goose quality hunt draw...Success!

[Shadow Cat]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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

[Snowgoose1]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.