Washington Moose Permits

[billythekidrock]

I know killbilly has been drawn for at least one (maybe two) permits that he didn't apply for. One was for an eastside elk but he had a westside tag.

[workstohunt]

I think what ever is done, it will probably not make anyone happy --unless they are lucky enough to be drawn.

I do think that they could draw 50% of the tags from the top 10% of point holders, which would give the people with max points some kind of benefit for being diligent in applying.

I don't think requiring people to pay up front for license and tags is ethical, as it becomes a rich mans sport.

What ever they do it is for sure, not everyone will ever be guaranteed a tag at some point. There are just to many hunters wanting to hunt limited animals.

Its a tough subject and everyone has an opinion. It is what it is for now, and the people drawing probably think it is a good system I myself drew last year only to have the drawing not be certified and ended up not being drawn 2nd time around.
Keep up the discussion--it is very interesting

[popeshawnpaul]

I do think they should make you choose your species each year.  That would cut down on the numbers a bit.  As for fronting the money...the game dept email and conversation I had with the director indicated that they believed it was illegal and it ended up costing them more then they were taking in for the process.  I do not think that makes it a rich man sport though...  You do have to find the funds for a month until they send it back to you, if hunting is that important to you the funds are easier to find.  For some, it's just too easy without having to front the money and many get a tag that don't use/deserve it as much as others may.  When you front the money we find out who is really serious about hunting.  It's not a ton of money like it is with out of state fees anyways.

I hiked throughout the 80's, 90's, and up to the present.  I see tons of goats out there.  Around glacier peak and in a lot of country too rough for people to hike.  They are there if you are out there.  Go ask the trailblazers where they are at...  I'm not saying let's kill them all off.  I just believe they are being pretty conservative with the tags because of a lack of population data.  They use to give tags out for areas up out of granite falls towards Glacier Peak.  I have seen them a bunch around Lake Byrne on every hike up.  I have seen them on Nason Ridge nearly every hike.  Yet we have no tags for those areas...

Shawn

[Ray]

The goats have been on Nason Ridge as far as I have ever known and are scattered in many places which are somewhat close to Seattle or even places which are not popular like you said. They have them on Mount Si and Tenerrife , they have them just 3 miles from the road by the Snow Creek area of Leavenworth and even over at Ingalls Creek near the lake for example. I agree that they don't have good numbers and data and that impacts our hunting tags. However I also believe that the numbers are lower based upon the feedback I have from my source. He posts here sometimes and might pop his head out the ground some day to speak up. I'm going to begin putting in for goats out of town starting this year.

[SkookumHntr]

---If I had my way there would be a % of tags to max point holders, Poacher points guys would get 1 point not 10 and not be able to go over the point accumulation of the guys who have put in since 96.  You would have to choose one of the OIL tags not all three but you can still accumulate points for the other species so if you wanted to change it up from year to year you could. Also I wouldn't mind if you had to either choose between Elk or Deer but not both but still being able to accumulate your bonus points for the species not picked. I think hunt odds would be pretty good compared to now with these changes. You could even take out the % of tags to max point holders and I would be happy but I still think those guys deserve a % of the tags. That's my opinion.

[Intruder]

IMO each point should up your odds significantly.  I don't mind that the system gives a 0 or 1 point guy a shot.... in fact I like that.  I hate the systems that require you to have a certain # of points to even be in the drawing (like CO.).  However, any changes that would give increasingly better odds to each point accumulated would be a great change. 

[Skyvalhunter]

I see Goats each year in the Chiwaukum, Nason Ridge, and Chiwawa. The problem is I don't think there is a significant amount. There use to be an area that went from Highway 2 over to Snoqualmie Pass but the goat population was hit hard and that area was taken out. I have pictures of feeding the goats in the Robin Lakes area. All you had to do was go out take a piss and they were right in on you. I am sure the Biologists for these regions have a somewhat accurate count of the animals in their areas.

[Branden]

There are tons of goats in the ALW. I think there are just to many greenies that hike in that area so they don't want any conflicts. I also see alot of goats up by Noble Nob and there is not a season in that area either.

[Ray]

There's actually tags in the Noble Knob area for goats. Corral Pass..

[huntnphool]

Thats where I see them Ray

[Muleyslyr]

Thanks PB, you know if you could guarantee me that I would live to be at least 80, I would apply every year and not complain once that I didnt get drawn

Ha....I doubt that! 

You know phool it's just one of those things you put in for and hope for but obviously never expect.  I have 10pts. myself for Moose, Sheep, and Goat.....but don't ever expect to draw.  The only thing I can do is if I do happen to draw one, that's gonna be my "hunt".  Meaning every other tag I have is instantly gonna take a back seat.  I would love to draw one while I'm still in my "younger" years too, but if I happen to be 55, hopefully I'll be retired and can spend every minute on that tag. 

Good Luck.....

[bobcat]

IMO each point should up your odds significantly.  I don't mind that the system gives a 0 or 1 point guy a shot.... in fact I like that.  I hate the systems that require you to have a certain # of points to even be in the drawing (like CO.).  However, any changes that would give increasingly better odds to each point accumulated would be a great change. 

But the system already is that way! It doesn't need to be changed to give "increasingly better odds to each point accumulated."  Don't you know points are squared? Which means a person with 2 points has 4 chances and a person with 10 points has 100.

[ramslam]

This is a great discussion that's worth joining.

I'm just going to share my opinion on the OIL species (goat, sheep & moose).  Draw odds or the probability of drawing a tag only has two factors: the number of hunters and the number of permits.  In order for the odds to increase we either have to have more permits or fewer applicants.  Although arguements are being made that permit levels are too conservative, the reality is the permit levels will only vary slightly.  So, for our odds to increase we have to reduce the number of applicants.  There lies the great debate.  

How do we limit the number of applicants?  I think there are only two choices, you either force them to chose a species OR you increase the cost to apply.  Both options have solid arguements but talk is cheap, if we really want to change the system everyone will have to give a little one way or another (ie choices or cash).  So, which is it?

[Ridgerunner]

I'll give up cash. 

[bowhuntin]

I would rather give up choices, money is not hard to come by, most people buy crap on credit these days and could easily do the same thing for the drawing.