Moose permit---please read

[Bob33]

Goldtip, I think Skinnyman is correct above.  It clearly states "Anyone may apply" under the antlerless moose category.

I agree. Goldtip was correct prior to 2010, but with the subcategorization of permits this year, anyone can apply for an antlerless permit, even if he harvested a moose with a "any moose" permit.

[bobcat]

Goldtip,  When did you make the phone call to the WDFW

[PA BEN]

I've found out over the years that even the people who work for the game dept. don't keep up on new rules. You have to take them by the hand sometimes and point it out to them. It's like mechanical broad heads for turkey, first time I asked they said no, I pointed it out to them that turkeys were not big game. Then o, yes you can use them.

[Antlershed]

In addition to what skinnyman just said, I read it as if you draw an "any moose" tag, and report that you did not harvest a moose, then you may apply for an "any moose" tag in the future. What stops people from shooting a moose and then reporting they didn't...  

Bighorn sheep is the same.  Mountain goat is the same.

This is a theoretical possibility, but practically speaking it is unlikely.  First, the odds of someone drawing an "any moose" permit are on the order of 1 in 150 per year.  The odds of drawing two in a lifetime would be very low.   Next, he would have to harvest a 1000 pound animal and get away with not reporting it.

It has actually been this way for as many years as I can remember.

How many big game animals have you harvested? Of those, how many times has someone came to your house to verify your online hunting reports matched what was in your freezer? It would be pretty easy. Sheep you have to get checked by wdfw, so those would be highly unlikely for someone to shoot one and then report they didn't.

[WDFW-SUX]

Its disappointing that some people will draw 2 moose tags before most of us draw 1....  Whats the rule if you shot a cow with a bull tag?

[GoldTip]

Goldtip, I think Skinnyman is correct above.  It clearly states "Anyone may apply" under the antlerless moose category.

I agree. Goldtip was correct prior to 2010, but with the subcategorization of permits this year, anyone can apply for an antlerless permit, even if he harvested a moose with a "any moose" permit.

Believe me, I read the regs very clearly, and I came tothe same conclusion as above.  But if you read the outlined box at the head of the Moose regs page, it clearly says if memory serves me, that you may only harvest one Moose in the state of Washington if you use a "any Moose" tag.  And yes, I agree that it then say's "anyone may apply" at the head of the "antlerless Moose" category.  Believe me, I was jacked, hell yes I'd kill a cow for sure.  When I called Spokane F&G around the 10th of this month, they said that it was only open if you had not already harvested a Moose on an "any Moose" tag.

[bobcat]

You're right Goldtip. I'm looking at the regs right now. The information given for "Who May Apply" in each category is conflicting. Here is what it says for "who may apply" for the any moose tags:  

Anyone, EXCEPT those who have previously harvested a moose in Washington under the authority of an Any Moose special permit. An individual may only harvest one moose during their lifetime, except this restriction is waived for hunters who have harvested a moose in an antlerless only hunt or raffle and auction hunts.

I think somebody needs to write a letter to the WDFW and let them know of the discrepancy. Maybe I will, if I have time today.

[Skinnyman]

Its disappointing that some people will draw 2 moose tags before most of us draw 1....  Whats the rule if you shot a cow with a bull tag?

There are no more true "bull tags" anymore, there are only "Any Moose" and "Antelerless" now. So if you harvest a cow with an "Any Moose" tag then you have fulfulled your once in a lifetime, even though you harvested a cow. So if a Bull is important, and you are lucky enough to draw an Any Moose tag, spend the time and energy it takes to harvest a bull.

Under the once in a lifetime rule, what you harvest doesn't matter (cow or bull), what matters is the tag you harvested it with, Any Moose Vs Antelerless.

But who knows, they will probably change the rules again in years to come.

[rickc]

Its disappointing that some people will draw 2 moose tags before most of us draw 1....  Whats the rule if you shot a cow with a bull tag?

There are no more true "bull tags" anymore, there are only "Any Moose" and "Antelerless" now. So if you harvest a cow with an "Any Moose" tag then you have fulfulled your once in a lifetime, even though you harvested a cow. So if a Bull is important, and you are lucky enough to draw an Any Moose tag, spend the time and energy it takes to harvest a bull.

Under the once in a lifetime rule, what you harvest doesn't matter (cow or bull), what matters is the tag you harvested it with, Any Moose Vs Antelerless.

But who knows, they will probably change the rules again in years to come.

Skinneyman is correct, if you harvest any moose with the "any moose tag" then you are done in that category but you can now still apply for the "antlerless" tags. I drew the "any moose" tag in 2007  (I guess I'm an *censored* since I drew with 2 points), the next year they created the "master hunter" moose tag. I sent an email to WDFW saying that I believed it was not fair to allow those that harvested with the "antlerless" tags to still put in for "any moose" tags but not vice verse (who knows, maybe they listened).When I went online to buy my permit applications this year there was a glitch in the system and I had the option to purchase "any moose", "antlerless", and "master hunter" aplications, after about a week the "any moose" option was pulled out of my profile. So, as Skinneyman put it if you draw the "any moose" tag you better go find yourself a bull because once you harvest anything in that category you're done in that category, but you can now still put in for cow tags.

[bobcat]

rick,

So if that is true, how do you account for this statement in the 2010 regulations: 

An individual may only harvest one moose during their lifetime, except this restriction is waived for hunters who have harvested a moose in an antlerless only hunt or raffle and auction hunts.

[Bob33]

It does say that in the "any moose" category.  I believe that is an error that needs to be corrected.

I killed a bull moose and I can purchase an antlerless moose application this year.  I cannot purchase any other application for which I am not eligible.

I don't believe the state wants to discourage me and others who have harvested a moose from giving them another $6.50.

[Bob33]

Sheep you have to get checked by wdfw, so those would be highly unlikely for someone to shoot one and then report they didn't.

Not if you don't report that you killed one...what would they check?

[GoldTip]

Whether you can purchase it or not, the person I talked to at the F&G at the Spokane office told me it was not legal for me to now put in for the antlerless category, since I had already harvested a Moose using a "any moose" tag.  Maybe you guys can get away with it, but it seems to me that although the regs are a bit fuzzy, it does say in the HEADER you are only allowed ONE moose in Washington state if taken with an "any moose tag".  Sure hate to see someone get nailed killing a cow.

[bobcat]

Well, I think we need some clarificaton on this in writing from someone at the WDFW.

[GoldTip]

Hell, I'd be happy to find out I can apply in the antlerless category, that's why I made the call to begin with, because it sure seems I can, as it say's, "anyone may apply".  Thats just not what they said when I called.