Writing Letters to the WDFW and/or Commission Regarding Permit Proposal

[bobcat]

I just thought it would be interesting to get a count as to how many people are sending letters. You can only vote once, but you can go back and change your vote, so after you send your letter or email, come back and change your vote to "I have already done so..."

[Curly]

My letter to the commission asked them to vote against the proposal until the vendor (Outdoor Central) can figure out how to design the software with a way for us to check a box telling them what category we want our accumulated points to be placed (instead of placing the points in all categories).  I'm certain that this could have been accomplished by now if they would have tried to do it since apparently they've been working on this concept since 2008.

[Bob33]

My letter to the commission asked them to vote against the proposal until the vendor (Outdoor Central) can figure out how to design the software with a way for us to check a box telling them what category we want our accumulated points to be placed (instead of placing the points in all categories).

That means we won't see this until 2015.  Good job!

[Curly]

 

I don't have much hope that they will even listen.  But at least I've let them know how I feel.  

OC as a vendor is another topic altogether.........I don't like the idea of using out of state vendors.......seems like someone in this state could have done this and kept the money in state.....   (At least OC is not in China or India.......)

[Bob33]

I don't have much hope that they will even listen.  But at least I've let them know how I feel. 

Actually I have good reason to believe they are hearing from a significant number of constituents.  Don't give up hope.

[winston2789]

Would it really be that hard for them to add a box to check for which category you want your points to go for? 

[Curly]

Would it really be that hard for them to add a box to check for which category you want your points to go for? 

I don't think so, but I asked that exact question to WDFW and they said it would be too complex......

[winston2789]

We haven't got many letters sent by the looks of the poll.......

[Elkaholic daWg]

We haven't got many letters sent by the looks of the poll.......

I'm very sure that they got at least 6 letters that are not in the poll from emails to my contact list.

[winston2789]

Right on Elkaholic Dawg   

[bbarnes]

My question to the commission was,when will archery hunters have to buy cow tags like the other groups.If they want revenue this is one thing to look at also doe tags.Seems to me the rifle hunters are paying the bills, for all the other user groups and get allot less time out there.

[Bob33]

Has anyone wondered what happens to the (un)lucky applicant who draws two tags?

Dave Ware has answered that question: "we planned to stick with our current SOP which says you must have a specific reason to return a permit and get points reinstated: application error, illness, deployment, etc."

Here are my questions to this plan:
1.  How does WDFW plan to increase revenues by selling more applications, if applicants will be penalized for drawing two tags?
2. What happens if an applicant draws two tags and does not return one?  How will WDFW know? Will they contact the applicant?  How would an enforcement officer know that a person is hunting with a second tag?
3.  If the tag is returned for a hunt that has a very low quota or is a premiere hunt (Desert A deer, for example), what happens to the unused tag?  Will the department implement alternates for deer and elk like they do for the OIL tags?  Will there be a second draw?
4.  What provisions have been made with Outdoor Central to acccommodate return of tags?  What testing has been done?

[provider]

You do not have to return additional permits.  If you draw 5 different categories in one specie, you could hunt all of them.

We're not drawing "tags"...  we're drawing permits to utilize the one tag in your pocket.  Of course, unless it's a "2nd tag"...  but you get the idea. 

[bobcat]

Bob, I'm a little confused by your post. First, you are using the term "tag" when you are really talking about a "permit." In the new proposal they have a slight change in wording to the rule which allows the return of a permit. This is it:

If an applicant makes a mistake, applies for the wrong hunt,
and is successfully drawn, the special hunting season permit can be
returned to the department of fish and wildlife Olympia headquarters
before the opening day of the special hunting season ((or the opening
day of the general hunting season, whichever comes first)). The
applicant's points will be restored to the level prior to the permit
drawing.

So basically if you draw more than one permit for a species and you only want to use one of them, you can lie and say you made a mistake in applying for that permit, and have your points restored.

But being that they are not "tags," you are free to use as many permits as you draw. Of course you still only have the one tag to use so once you harvest an animal you are done.

[Bob33]

So if you draw an antlered and an antlerless permit, you can hunt for both, but only harvest one?