I'm back, let the questions begin.

[6x6in6]

Welcome Back!!!   

Good stuff, thanks.

And FWIW, sounds more like Ware's old lady needed a job and you got ran up the meat pole for a little internet surfing on State time.  Lame!!!
And there's nothing wrong with dipping the pen in company ink.  It's worked for me in the past. 

[Kain]

You could try to clear up night and hound hunting rules.    

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,58219.0.html

These rules are so bad that nearly everyone has a different idea on what is legal and when.

[Fireant11]

Mike, I left you a PM, but maybe someone else on this forum can roll in with an answer.

I have an issue where I was going to hunt Western rifle for elk.  The person I was going with got hurt in an accident and can't hunt.  The WDFW said I could swap tags provided the season I had a tag for hadn't already started (which Western rifle elk hasn't). 

Now, when I go to Dick's Sporting Goods today and the clerk calls WDFW to exchange my tag, they say I can't because I put in for a special permit under my Western tag.  I was not selected for a special permit, but somehow this locks me in to my current tag.

Why should this prevent me from exchanging tags?!!!  I'm not hunting two seasons or owning two tags, and I'm not taking away a special permit from someone since I wasn't drawn?  This makes not sense!!

While I'm at it, I'd like to see the state do away with purchasing a tag prior to putting in for special permits!  Let people try for what they want, and if they don't get drawn, then let them buy a tag they will use.  There's no harm with this, as no matter what a person puts in for, the state has limited numbers for each draw.  Even if everyone put in for the same special permit, so what?!!  Only a certain number of tags will be issued.  All that will happen is it would increase the odds of getting drawn. 

[stumprat]

I'll name names, Dave Ware and Donny Martorello.  I'll start with the answer you'll like.

Like I said earlier, Donny is a biologist, not a manager.  He's in the office maybe 2 days out five.  You're not alone if you are frustrated with not being able to get a hold of Donny, so is the staff.  The 2009 spring bear drawing/packets almost didn't happen on time because he went awhol.  I had my brother on standby to be the citizen witness for the drawing because Donny didn't get one.  I finally sent out the permit packets without his approval because he didn't answer a bunch of e-mails, phone calls, or headups from his boss (Dave Ware) and mine.  Don't even get me started on Trapper reports.

Dave Ware like I said is basically a politician.  Three quarters of his day is spent in meetings.  Right about now I bet he's getting 20 to 30 calls a day and 30-40 e-mails from hunters.  He just doesn't have time to answer them all.  And 99% of the calls/e-mails he gets were answered farther down the food chain.  There were quite a few times I'd give an answer to a caller, they wouldn't like it and ask to speak to Dave.  Dave would get the message come back to me, and have me respond to the caller and give the exact same answer I gave the caller in the first place.

Dave is really good about sitting down with the front-line staff (360-902-2515 and Wildthing@dfw.wa.gov) and going over questions we got.  A majority of the calls/e-mails I received I had already had an answer from Dave on.  A good example is point refunds. There's a pretty cut and dry policy on when I could refund points.  If I said I'm sorry, going over my head wouldn't change it.  If it was something questionable, I'd tell the caller I call them back, walk over to Dave's office and ask him face to face.  I'm sure that his communication with the front desk staff has improved since then seeing how the person who basically replaced me on the phones/e-mails is his wife.

When you get go above the front-line staff, there really is no tracking and what not.  Nine times out of ten the answer you got by calling 360-902-2515 is the answer you'd get if you went up the food chain.
 

When I have contacted the dept. Dave has always seemed to be as forthright as possible. Donny on the other hand makes no sense and gives alot of double talk. IF YOU CAN EVER REACH HIM AS YOU STATED. Does he ever go through a personal audit??

[Curly]

Mike, I left you a PM, but maybe someone else on this forum can roll in with an answer.

I have an issue where I was going to hunt Western rifle for elk.  The person I was going with got hurt in an accident and can't hunt.  The WDFW said I could swap tags provided the season I had a tag for hadn't already started (which Western rifle elk hasn't). 

Now, when I go to Dick's Sporting Goods today and the clerk calls WDFW to exchange my tag, they say I can't because I put in for a special permit under my Western tag.  I was not selected for a special permit, but somehow this locks me in to my current tag.

Why should this prevent me from exchanging tags?!!!  I'm not hunting two seasons or owning two tags, and I'm not taking away a special permit from someone since I wasn't drawn?  This makes not sense!!

While I'm at it, I'd like to see the state do away with purchasing a tag prior to putting in for special permits!  Let people try for what they want, and if they don't get drawn, then let them buy a tag they will use.  There's no harm with this, as no matter what a person puts in for, the state has limited numbers for each draw.  Even if everyone put in for the same special permit, so what?!!  Only a certain number of tags will be issued.  All that will happen is it would increase the odds of getting drawn. 

The reason they won't let you switch is because everyone would do that if they allowed it.  A lot of people would love to apply for Little Naches or a Blue Mountains Big Bull Permit and if unsuccessful, they would then get a western WA elk tag so that they could hunt 3-point or bigger.  It states in the regs that you can't switch if you've applied for a permit, although I did read on this forum about a guy getting his tagged switched, so they don't always stick to their own rules.  Keep after it and you may get them to switch it.

The reason they won't do away with the requirement of purchasing a tag prior to applying for a special permit is due to money.  The elk tag sales would probably be 1/3 of what they currently are because of the fact that a lot of guys won't hunt spikes and only buy the tag in hopes of drawing a special permit that allows them to hunt big bulls.

I'm curious to see if InsideWDFW has any more insight, but that is my 

[tlbradford]

What is your personal opinion of private ranches that receive public funds?  Specifically Buckrun.  Thanks

[BlackRidge]

Thanks InsideWDFW, this has been an eye opener for sure

[Special T]

InsideWDFW I'm really surprised that they would not want you talking on a hunting/fishing board answering questions about non political issues. Basically you could have been limited to providing boiler plate answers that would clear things up and educate hunters in general. Was there any discussion by you or anyone else about the pros and cons of someone interacting with their customers? Had it ever been discussed in the past? If you cannot answer please say so... Thank you for elevating the discussion on this board.

[InsideWDFW]

@Fireant11: Curly pretty much nailed it on the head.  Exceptions are made, but you have a better chance at winning the raffle than getting an exception.

InsideWDFW I'm really surprised that they would not want you talking on a hunting/fishing board answering questions about non political issues. Basically you could have been limited to providing boiler plate answers that would clear things up and educate hunters in general. Was there any discussion by you or anyone else about the pros and cons of someone interacting with their customers? Had it ever been discussed in the past? If you cannot answer please say so... Thank you for elevating the discussion on this board.

I tried getting something this rolling, specifically a WDFW sponsored forum for answering the standard questions.  Unfortunately the agency is very old fashion in some odd ways.  Those who would have to sign off on it aren't exactly the most tech oriented and don't understand the power of forums like this one.  I had to beg, borrow, and steal to get Dave Ware to go along with consolidating the drawing results (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/wa/specialhuntlookup).  Also there was some concerns on who would moderate/answer the questions.  Public affairs is paranoid that wrong information from an official source would get out.  It's one thing for a customer service to give wrong information out over the phone, it's a whole 'nother thing to give it out in writing.  The agency is extremely paranoid about lawsuits.

What is your personal opinion of private ranches that receive public funds?  Specifically Buckrun.  Thanks

In all honesty I don't know much about the private ranches.  Though I don't think they get private funds.  From the little I did (creating the permits/log sheets), my understanding was that they were private lands that got x amount of permits, a certain percentage had to be given (sold/raffled) to the public.

[Machias]

Welcome back, glad you are taking the time to try and answer a few questions.  Very sorry about your job and I hope your able to bounce back quickly!

Who was the complete moron who decided coyote hunting with dogs was socially unacceptable?

[nontypical176]

Seems to me like the WDFW is always looking for more ways to pinch pennys out of hunters and fisherman.  We continuously fork over more and more cash, yet we are the ones used to keep the game populations at the levels they need.  Where is all the money going?  Why constantly more more more.  I hear talk about these oportunities we are gaining in land access and such, but as far as I'm concerned things have been down hill since I started hunting and fishing.  Why is it always hunters/fisherman forced to pay for WDFW programs?  Is there anybody else in this state that pays for our wildlife, besides the fisheries money recieved from dams?  How do you feel about the way our money is being spent by the WDFW? 

And for the fish.  Lots of these smaller rivers in the west are getting either no more hatchery fish released or a small fraction of what they used to.  Basicly the rivers I grew up fishing steelhead on are now going to be almost all catch and release except for a few hatchery fish that come from other rivers.  Whats the plan here?  Will these rivers be off limits at some point?  If numbers are good do they plan on letting us keep natives....eventually?

How many times would I have to call the WDFW, email and write letters to make them give the Toutle unit to the general hunters?...lol.  Do you believe the reasons for a special permit unit as big as the toutle is strictly for the $$$$?  Its just a personal pet peeve of mine because it is so close to home, a huge unit, heavily poached because its too big for them to manage, the permit aint really that "special", has lots of special permit land nearby, and would open up a ton more room for general elk tag holders on the west side.

Sorry, I have a lot on my mind.

[gasman]

Glad you back 

[billythekidrock]

Seems to me like the WDFW is always looking for more ways to pinch pennys out of hunters and fisherman.  We continuously fork over more and more cash, yet we are the ones used to keep the game populations at the levels they need.  Where is all the money going?  Why constantly more more more.  I hear talk about these oportunities we are gaining in land access and such, but as far as I'm concerned things have been down hill since I started hunting and fishing.  Why is it always hunters/fisherman forced to pay for WDFW programs?  Is there anybody else in this state that pays for our wildlife, besides the fisheries money recieved from dams?  How do you feel about the way our money is being spent by the WDFW? 

Hunters are actually paying less and less every year when you look at the big picture. Other outdoor user groups are quickly catching up (and some say paying more) and many programs are paid for from the general fund.

As for the game levels.....wait until the wolves really take hold.

[Special T]

If other user groups are paying more or close what is the WDFW doing??? What activities are they doing that are not hunter fisherman related? Animal research is one big thing, but that is mostly funded by federal grants... BTKR you have anywhere to back that statement up?

[Fireant11]

Curly; you sound just like the guy I talked to at the WDFW.     He sited the same reasons for tag exchange and permit purchases.  It's all about the Benjamen's for sure! 

I don't know if I agree that the state will lose such a large number of hunters by allowing special permits to be purchased without declaring a tag.  I also don't buy into the fact that the western half would be over-ridden with hunters.  The state doesn't limit the number of Eastside or Westside tags now, so what would they do if suddenly, everyone went and purchased an over-the-counter tag for one side of the state?  I know this would never happen, but under the current rules, everyone in the state could buy a Westside elk permit.  Using this as an argument against letting people put in for a permit prior to declaring a hunting method and side doesn't cut it.

I'm not upset with this, and will follow the rules.  It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.