Oh No!

[WDFW-SUX]

If we had Idaho or New mexico's system our odds would be exponentially better...there would be less money for WDFW though.

[bobcat]

If we had Idaho or New mexico's system our odds would be exponentially better...there would be less money for WDFW though.

I'd be all for that. I'm not sure how much money they would lose. People would still apply for special permits. But now that we've got the point system we're stuck with it.

[WDFW-SUX]

The big difference between Nevada and washington's system is that almost all if not all of the hunting in Nevada is by permit only so people have to decide if they want to hunt every year or hold out for that "one hunt". Washington has OTC tags so there is no disincentive to hold out for the primo tags and thats why people with 10+ points are a dime a dozen here.

4 choices is 3 too many and we should have to pick one of the OIL. .

If these changes were made it will also mean less revenue and less WDFW employees and thats why it will never happen.  WDFW is more concerned with its own jobs program than it is with quality big game hunting.

[bobcat]

Why would it make for less revenue to reduce the number of choices on an application   Are you thinking that some people would just stop applying if they could only have one choice?

[WDFW-SUX]

Im talking about changing the number of species that you could apply for or eliminating points all together.  Its really crappy that they have decided that the purpose of the draws are to enhance revenue...

Without points lots of people will just skip washington every year especially if they like hunting out of state...and that = less in licence sales and better odds for those that really want the tags. 


Ive bought all of my deer and elk tags several seasons and not used them just so I could build points...I would definitely skip on deer and elk if I wasn't trying to keep up with the Joneses..

[bobcat]

Well, I don't mind the WDFW doing what they need to do to bring in enough revenue to support the agency. I'm not sure the point system is for that reason though. I think they started a point system because people asked for it.

[alanger]

yeah. sounds kinda like a crazy idea but hey we'll see what they slum together for 2010 hunting season

[high country]

I base my choices on how many points I have. if I have 0 or 1 I shoot for easier to draw tags. after a few build up, I go all in. I could care less about all but about two or three units.

what will piss me off is if they change it to eliminate points and then return to a points system.

[SkookumHntr]

If that happened after a decade and a half of building points I think some people would be alittle pissed.

[Ridgerunner]

they won't get rid of the points, no worries on that.  What we need to do something about is the OIL species to increase draw odds on those.

[high country]

they won't get rid of the points, no worries on that.  What we need to do something about is the OIL species to increase draw odds on those.

yeah, like once you draw one OIL tag you are grounded for 10 years on the others.......good idea ridge.





LOL

[wolfbait]

Without points lots of people will just skip washington every year especially if they like hunting out of state...and that = less in licence sales and better odds for those that really want the tags.  

Won't be to many years down the road and folks will be skipping Washington altogether. Lets see a count of how many people plan on deer hunting in the Methow Valley this year? Forty some wolves have been discovered on the res,  from what I heard the Indians will be taking care of them in the near future. The Methow has many wolves now and will have many more come spring and so will the rest of Washington. I guess hunters in Washington will be supporting the wdfw wolf program right up till it turns into one great big park.

[bearhunter59]

I was at the GMAC meeting last month when Dave Ware briefed them on the permit change.  Essentially, you will have 4 anter choices and 4 anterless choices, and earn/loose points separately.  Meaning if you get drawn for an anterless hunt, you don't loose all the points you have accumulated on the anter permits.

And yes, it is about getting more money.

They are offering 15 more raffle deer tags this year.  It is actually only 5 tags, but with this tag you will be able to take a whitetail, blacktail, and mule deer; so they figure that is 15 possible tags.

It was unbeleiveable the amount of money they bring in from these raffle and auction tags.

[boneaddict]

I'm trying to see what you are saying Bobcat, but I don't.  When limited, it makes people be more selective for what they choose.  Say for elk........there are 4 blues tags available rifle rut.  I choose two of them, not all 4.  My name is out of the running for the 3rd and 4th tag. 

deer rifle.  There are 4 methow units available, or 3 or 4 chelan units.  I have to choose which two I want.  If I miss being drawn for those two, I am out where I could pull my 3rd or 4th try, thus increasing the chance for the applicants for those 3rd or 4th choices. 

In some ways it does decrease your chance of a select unit as you have to put all your eggs in one basket.  If that is what you are meaning.   I am for 1st choice ONLY until all 1st choice applicants are done.  That system ROCKS.  It MAKES people put in for the unit they want, instead of 4 choices and then coming on here and saying I drew ALTA, can someone point out on a map where it IS.

[billythekidrock]

Limiting choices wouldn't always increase odds. It would increase for some permits, and decrease odds for other permits. There would still be the same number of permits and the same number of applicants, so overall the odds would stay the same. That's the way I see it anyway.

-Look at the draw summaries on the hunts you apply for, you will see how many tags get drawn as 3rd, 4th choices. Then you will understand how it will affect your hunts you apply for. The hunts I apply for get drawn 3rd and 4th choice all the time, Limiting choices will increase odds period! Giving 8 choices and being able to draw both Bull and cow permit both, that would be a complete disaster for are system!

You are wrong.
It will only up the odds on certain hunts. Some peope only apply for one unit. It is their first and only choice.
Others are drawn for that unit as a 3rd or 4th choice. If there are only two choices they won't apply and that works in favor of those with only one or two choices.