New Hunting Regulations

[Dirtsquirt]

i have tried to get back on the WDFW site again and for some reason am unable anyone else having this problem?  I agree that giving the points accross the board is a way for someone to cream off all the good hunt choices and that doesnt helpyou should have to say one catagory or another.

[bobcat]

One of the worst parts of the proposal is to give people their points across the board in all categories.......thus totally screwing over anyone that has few or no points.

Yup, this year will be my first season hunting ever. I didn't even bother applying for any special permits since it seems it would just be a waste of money for someone with no points.

Applying for permits isn't an option yet and won't be for a couple months. With our point system you need to start applying ASAP. If you don't apply this year, your chances won't be getting any better. You should start applying just to build up your points. If you don't want to apply for any actual hunts, you can apply for just a point.

[colockumelk]

The new proposals is all about money.  This is a horrible idea.  It's now going to take just as long to draw a cow permit as it does a bull permit.   So for kids who could draw a cow tag every couple of years and get a good hunt.  Now they'll have to wait for 6.  This is why we lose more and more hunters every year.

[Atroxus]

One of the worst parts of the proposal is to give people their points across the board in all categories.......thus totally screwing over anyone that has few or no points.

Yup, this year will be my first season hunting ever. I didn't even bother applying for any special permits since it seems it would just be a waste of money for someone with no points.

Applying for permits isn't an option yet and won't be for a couple months. With our point system you need to start applying ASAP. If you don't apply this year, your chances won't be getting any better. You should start applying just to build up your points. If you don't want to apply for any actual hunts, you can apply for just a point.

Hmm, when I go to the site to purchase a hunting license there are a bunch of raffles available.(no licenses yet fo course) I just assumed those raffles were the special permits drawings. Maybe I still don't understand the drawings. I guess what I should have said though is that I don't *plan* on applying for any. It basically sounds to me like I would be spending a bunch of money every year so that 4-5 years from now I *might* have a reasonable chance of drawing a permit. I'll just buy the basic licenses and hunt the general season and hope that I can get in good enough shape to hunt deep enough in to avoid the "crowds". On the upside though, I am one less person that will be competing with you guys for draws. 

[Skyvalhunter]

I want to thank you for not applying then!!

[Bob33]

Raffles permit are different than draw permits.  Draw permits are issued in limited numbers in order to improve the hunting experience.  The best hunting opportunities are typically available to permit holders. The application period is usually mid April to mid May.  If you do not draw, you accumulate a bonus point.  Bonus points are squared: if you have five bonus points, your name goes in the drawing 25 times.  Therefore your odds of drawing a quality tag increase over time.  They do not start at 0 (in other words, you can draw with no bonus points), and they never reach 100 percent. 

If you simply want to acquire a bonus point and not apply for a specific hunt, you can do so by applying for a "ghost hunt".

Points are available by species: deer, elk, moose, goat, sheep, spring bear, and perhaps some others.  There are also "multi-season permits" for which you can accumulate bonus points.

It is generally considered a good idea to apply and accumulate bonus points, because your odds of drawing a quality tag do increase.

You can definitely have a quality hunt experience with a general tag, but it takes more effort because you need to get away from the throngs of other hunters.

[Atroxus]

Raffles permit are different than draw permits.  Draw permits are issued in limited numbers in order to improve the hunting experience.  The best hunting opportunities are typically available to permit holders. The application period is usually mid April to mid May.  If you do not draw, you accumulate a bonus point.  Bonus points are squared: if you have five bonus points, your name goes in the drawing 25 times.  Therefore your odds of drawing a quality tag increase over time.  They do not start at 0 (in other words, you can draw with no bonus points), and they never reach 100 percent. 

If you simply want to acquire a bonus point and not apply for a specific hunt, you can do so by applying for a "ghost hunt".

Points are available by species: deer, elk, moose, goat, sheep, spring bear, and perhaps some others.  There are also "multi-season permits" for which you can accumulate bonus points.

It is generally considered a good idea to apply and accumulate bonus points, because your odds of drawing a quality tag do increase.

You can definitely have a quality hunt experience with a general tag, but it takes more effort because you need to get away from the throngs of other hunters.

Ahh, thanks for explaining that. It makes a bit more sense now. I am not sure what you mean by applying for a ghost hunt though. Does that mean I could start building points without having to spend the money on applying for a drawing the regular way?

[sako223]

ghost hunt is just paying for points so you can apply them later to a dream unit.
Just as well put in for that unit as many people get drawn with 0 or 1 point.

[link]

Dosen't it cost like 4 bucks to apply for a permit hunt?

[zackmioli]

7 years in and ive still never drawn a cow tag...i have terrible luck. haha.

i like the draw system we have now. it seems to work fine, gives everyone a chance, and gives those that have been putting in longer a better chance.

[huntnphool]

7 years in and ive still never drawn a cow tag...i like the draw system we have now. it seems to work fine, gives everyone a chance

Everyone except you it seems

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I do not like the way this has changed. But what i am seeing is the guys making the most noise about the changes are the ones that have drawn in the last few years. The reason you have few points is because you drew a tag. Some of us have never drawn a tag.
I do not like the changes, my son will start hunting this year, he will start the point game this year and that is why i don't like it, he has little chance of drawing. But he still has a chance. Everybody has a chance, that is one of the things i like about our system, it does give those with the most points the better chance but it is still a chance, so those with few points have a chance also.
I like that they changed the late season ML in wind river, west klickitat. That herd needs help. They need to do some logging over there.

Some changes i like some i do not, but i will not listen to someones complaints that they have 1 or 2 points because they drew last year or the year before because there are people out there that have never drawn;.

[bobcat]

I do not like the way this has changed. But what i am seeing is the guys making the most noise about the changes are the ones that have drawn in the last few years. The reason you have few points is because you drew a tag. Some of us have never drawn a tag.

But it seems like a valid reason to me. The reason some people haven't drawn is because they have been putting in for the more popular bull permits. Other people apply for less popular hunts and are drawn more often.

What would be more fair is to place everyone's points in just one of the categories, and it should be the choice of each person where they want the points to go.

If they would just make that one change, I would be fine with the new proposal.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I agree bobcat. I could shoot a cow every year without trying, but i have 12 points and i will be damned if i am going to use 12 points on a cow hunt...
When they are gone i will put in for co hunts ith my son. Maybe he will draw before me.

[bobcat]

So you aren't going to apply in all the possible categories?

I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but for me it's not as much of an issue as I only have 2 points. I will probably apply in the Quality, Bull, and Antlerless categories, and won't expect to draw in any of them. That is if they make the proposed changes.