Proposed special-hunting permit changes
Frequently asked questions
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is proposing changes in the way random drawings are conducted for special-hunt permits, which give successful applicants hunting options beyond those authorized by a general hunting license. If approved by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission this April, these changes would take effect prior to the special-hunt drawings for the 2010 hunting season.
Why is WDFW proposing changes in the special hunt permitting system?
Because of the conditions and restrictions associated with various hunt choices, hunters have expressed dissatisfaction with the way the current system works. Many hunters surveyed have complained that the odds of securing a permit for especially popular hunts are extremely low. Others say they would like to apply for antlerless permits, but don’t want to lose the points they are saving for popular buck and bull permits.
These complaints have merit. Under the current system, all applications for special deer permits are randomly drawn from the same pool, each weighted according to the number of points the applicant has accumulated from past drawings. The computer calculates these points and registers the hunter’s preferences (e.g. “buck,” “second antlerless”), but ultimately draws successful applications for all special deer hunts from the same pool. The same is true, under the current system, for elk permits.
This “pooling” approach also creates problems for WDFW. Errors and delays in permit drawings are far more likely under a system that requires the computer to cross-reference so many applications at once. Also, if hunters are dissatisfied with the results of special-permit drawings, they are less likely to apply in the future, resulting in lost revenue for WDFW.
How does the department propose to change the current system?
To address these issues, WDFW proposes to require separate applications for specific types of deer,elk, big horn sheep, moose, and cougar permits and conduct separate drawings in each category. Specifically, hunters may purchase and submit separate applications for a variety of categories, to include: 1) buck or bull permits, 2) antlerless permits, 3) second tag antlerless permits, 4) quality hunt permits, 5) youth hunt permits, 6) senior hunt permits, 7) disabled hunter permits, and
Master Hunter permits. WDFW would then conduct a separate drawing for permits in each category.
This approach has several advantages over the current system, which pools all applications for deer permits and for elk permits. First, it would reduce the number of applicants in each drawing, thereby potentially improving hunters’ odds of being selected for hunts they prefer. Those who are interested in more than one kind of hunt would have a chance of being drawn for each of them.
Department managers are hopeful that these improvements will result in greater customer satisfaction and increase applications for special hunting permits. It is anticipated that the additional revenue would be used to increase hunter access to private property.
What happens to the points hunters have accumulated if these changes are made?
Hunters would retain the points they have accrued in years when they applied for a special hunting permit, but were not selected to receive one. To ensure fairness, these points would be applied to each of the new subcategories created under the new proposal. For example, if a deer hunter currently has 10 points, that hunter would be credited 10 points in each of the eight deer categories (e.g. buck, second antlerless, quality). Future drawings would continue to be “weighted,” providing an advantage to hunters with the greatest number of points.
Do hunters lose all of their deer points if drawn for one of the deer categories?
No, hunters will accrue and lose points within an individual category. For example, if a hunter is drawn for an antlerless permit, they would lose their points in the antlerless category, but retain them in all other deer categories.
What happens if I draw more than one permit for the same species?
Unless one of those permits is for a second antlerless deer tag, a hunter would be restricted to harvesting one animal. Hunters who draw more than one permit would be able to choose which hunt or hunts to participate in, but would have to stop hunting once they harvest an animal.
When does WDFW plan to put these changes into effect?
The department is proposing to put the new system into effect in time for the 2010 hunting seasons. Wildlife staff first briefed the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission on the proposal during a public meeting in March 2009. We have been working to modify the computerized drawing system in preparation for permit application sales in April 2010. The commission is scheduled to take public comments in advance of their March 11-12 meeting and take action on the permit proposals at the April 9-10 meeting. The specific proposals will be available for comment in early February.
