Free: Contests & Raffles.
Dear hunting friend, I am writing to inform you about some pending changes to hunting in Washington, and to ask for your support in stopping them. The changes are scheduled to be approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission at their April meeting, and would become effective for the 2010 hunting season. The changes pertain primarily to how special deer and elk permits are handled. Currently and historically an applicant may submit up to four hunt choices for deer, and four hunt choices for elk. All deer hunt choices are submitted on one deer application, and all elk hunt choices are submitted on a separate elk application. When an applicant is not drawn, a bonus point is added to his account. Over time an unsuccessful applicant accumulates more and more points, which increase the odds of being drawn exponentially because the points are squared. In other words, an applicant with 10 points has 100 names put into the drawing. WDFW has proposed changing the way deer and elk permits are processed. Instead of one pool for deer applications and points, and one pool for elk applications and points, it is proposed that eight separate pools would be created for each species. The concept is that bonus points will be kept in each of the eight categories. Drawing a permit in one of the categories will reset the points for that category to zero, but points in the other categories would not be influenced. The pools are as follows: 1. Buck or bull permits 2. Antlerless permits 3. Second tag permits 4. Quality hunt permits 5. Youth hunt permits 6. Senior hunt permits 7. Disabled hunter permits 8. Master Hunter permits An applicant can potentially submit hunt choices in each of the categories in which he is eligible. While this sounds attractive at first glance, and to some it may be, it has some serious drawbacks. Consider a hunter who has been applying for a “quality” permit such as a Margaret or a “Dayton” bull elk permit, or the “Desert A” buck deer permit. Many of those applying for these tags have been unsuccessful for ten years or more, and thus have accumulated ten or more points. While the odds of drawing even with maximum points are low, they will most likely be even lower if this new permitting system is implemented. Why? Because now the pool will not only have those applicants that have been applying for ten or more years, it will also have other applicants joining the pool. The hunters who typically only apply for antlerless tags may now throw their names into the quality pool, and still not lose their points in the antlerless pool. Adding these applicants to the Margaret or Desert A pool will dilute the odds of everyone being drawn. What about those who typically only apply for antlerless hunts? They hunt primarily for sport and meat, and can usually draw a tag every five years or less. The “quality” hunters with 12 or 13 points can now apply in the antlerless pool without jeopardizing their quality points. The hunters that really want the antlerless permits will now have a significantly lower chance of drawing a permit. The bottom line is that every type of hunter will have a lower chance of being drawn for his or her preferred tag. Overall, the same number of hunters will draw, but the distribution will shift. Hunters that traditionally have applied for quality tags will take some of the antlerless tags away from those that prefer them. Hunters that typically apply for antlerless tags will make the odds of drawing a quality tag even worse. Applying will be more expensive. Rather than paying for one application for deer and one for elk, you will be required to buy a separate application for each pool you wish to apply in. If you want to apply for a Master Hunter hunt, an antlerless hunt, and a quality hunt, you will be required to purchase three applications. Do you trust these additional funds will be used to benefit hunting in Washington? The details of these proposed changes were first released to the public by WDFW in early 2010 via this posting: http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/2010_changes_faq.html. QuoteThis 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. On March 15, another news release was issued: http://wdfw.wa.gov/do/newreal/release.php?id=mar1510b Quote"This plan is designed to give hunters more options for getting the special permits they really want,” said Ware, noting that the proposal was developed with broad public input and support from the WDFW’s Game Management Advisory Committee. Note that the first news release mentions “improving hunters’ odds of being selected for hunts they prefer” as a motive. The second news release only mentions “more options for getting the special permits they really want” as a motive. The message has shifted as the department has likely realized this change does not improve odds of being drawn. As for “broad public input”: there are no public minutes of the meetings from the Game Management Advisory Committee that are referenced as support for this change. What questions were asked? What other hunting groups were queried? Did you receive a questionnaire? I am not aware of anyone has had any opportunity to provide input to this major change prior to 2010. There are many unanswered questions. Do I get my points carried over to the Senior pool even though I am not presently a senior? Will everyone have points transferred to the Master Hunter pool? If you draw three permits (one in quality, one in antlerless, one in quality) what is the process for returning the two tags that can’t be used? Do the points get reinstated? Do you trust that Outdoor Central has adequately implemented and tested these changes? If 500 hunters write the Commission before their April meeting, I believe there is a good chance this may be stopped or deferred. Here is what you can do if you wish to express an opinion about this issue. Create an email and address it as follows: TO: commission@dfw.wa.gov; cc: Wildthing@dfw.wa.gov; director@dfw.wa.govSubject: Proposed changes to deer and elk permitting in Washington State (Use your own words, but here is a suggested template): Ladies and gentlemen of the Commission, I am asking that you not approve the changes proposed for deer and elk permitting by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Creating eight separate pools for deer and elk permits will not increase the odds of being drawn for the majority of hunters in the state. These changes will complicate the drawing process. Most significantly, not enough time has been provided for public input and debate. This change is significant, and risks alienating a portion of the hunting community at a time when hunter numbers in the state are already declining. Please do not approve this change for the 2010 hunting season. Sincerely, NameAddress Thank you. Please forward this to your hunting friends and ask them to write the Commission.
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.
"This plan is designed to give hunters more options for getting the special permits they really want,” said Ware, noting that the proposal was developed with broad public input and support from the WDFW’s Game Management Advisory Committee.
Thank you for contacting the Wildlife Program. Due to the large volume of e-mail messages we are currently receiving, our expected response time will be 5 business days from the date of receipt.If you need immediate assistance, please contact our customer service desk at (360) 902-2515.We appreciate your patience.
QuoteThank you for contacting the Wildlife Program. Due to the large volume of e-mail messages we are currently receiving, our expected response time will be 5 business days from the date of receipt.If you need immediate assistance, please contact our customer service desk at (360) 902-2515.We appreciate your patience.
(But I'm not sure the Commission would actually be able to read a letter sent to the mail address since they are spread all across the state).
