Advanced Hunters your thoughts on them.

[fishunt247]

I've had a very similar experience in that the Master Hunter's I've talked to and ran into thought they were far superior to me. Whatever, man. A title of "master" doesn't make you superior to me, I don't believe. I'm sure there are lots of good guys in the program, though. I have no interest in it, but if somebody wants to clock their volunteer hours to get a cow hunt, have at it.

Weatherby, do those pukes that live out by you still have their Master Hunter rights? If so, the program is officially a joke.

[Lowedog]

Call it jealousy all you want but it seems to me the only people defending the program are those involved in it. 

It's great that some want to donate their time to WDFW but I don't believe that you should be awarded with special privileges that take away from other user groups because you do that.   

High Country, would you be in the program if you weren't given the opportunity to shoot extra deer and elk? 

I have no desire to be in this program and I shouldn't have to be in order to have an opportunity to hunt elk on public land. 

Have you or anyone you know volunteered for the WDFW just because? In today's world it requires a little incentive for the average person to give up their valuable time. There are some that do it for the simple fact that they are giving back. As far as I see it it is a good program that works to reduce damage to crops and get some quality work for free. That last statement is one we should all smile about as it cost us nothing!!

Brandon

I haven't but I know people who do every year.  Groups like RMEF and MDF do projects for WDFW and their members volunteer for those projects without expecting an extra elk or deer tag. 

[high country]

lowedog, there was a big pheasants forever project that was built by MH's....just titled pheasants forever, rmef, mdf......they all get help from us.

I initially started the program to hunt with friends who were in th program and had private land on mica peak. I never even hunted a single day with them after a scouting trip that was not my style. at that point I was in and made the best of it. I now help local hunters as much as I can to have a good time. there are several right here on this board that I have had a hand in helping and have turned down every offer for gratuity. I love to hunt, anything that keeps me out there in animals, I am into.
I know about 15-20 MH's personally and I have yet to see one that looks down on anyone, most of the guys I know are just like me, looking to help everyone else have a good hunting expierience. My life is now moving away from seeing how many animals I can amass upon my wall and twards getting younger and new hunters into the game. the MH program does a bunch of interaction with landowners and I feel the ones I have delt with have been very good to me.  I have a hard time understanding how someone can look down on a group that took the time and energy to go above and beyond because the opportunity was there.

[high country]

Unfortunately the program is turning the MH into another user group.  You got your archery, muzzle loader, modern rifle and MH.  That adds permit revenue and gives free labor to the WDFW.

That is my problem with it.  We "regular" hunters have lost opportunities to the MH's.  We used to have some killer elk hunts in the Peshastin and Malaga units that anyone with an east side elk tag could apply for.  We have lost both of those units to the MH program and I think that is a farce. 

I don't know much about the Kittitas MH elk hunt but from things I have heard and been told that go on there with what are supposed to be the cream of the crop it really makes me have my doubts about the whole program and the reasoning behind some of those those who are in the program. 

I have had that malaga tag two times and never been called to hunt.......you might be confusing the fact that there is a permit with killing elk. we have to be called to hunt that hunt.

[high country]

It's great that some want to donate their time to WDFW but I don't believe that you should be awarded with special privileges that take away from other user groups because you do that.   

High Country, would you be in the program if you weren't given the opportunity to shoot extra deer and elk? 

I have no desire to be in this program and I shouldn't have to be in order to have an opportunity to hunt elk on public land. 

you still have the opportunity to hunt on public land. the only reason you would HAVE to be an MH is to hunt the 3911, 3912 tag or the late eastside. there is a last chance doe that is designed to remove whitetails from historic mule deer areas too.

[Lowedog]

I am sure there are many upsides to the program.  I appreciate your efforts but like I said, there has been hunts previously available to anyone to apply for that have been taken away and given to a select user group.  Specifically the ones that bothered me the most were the Peshastin and Malaga units.  I don't feel it is right to take those hunts away from the majority to use as a reward/incentive for the MH program.

It's great that some want to donate their time to WDFW but I don't believe that you should be awarded with special privileges that take away from other user groups because you do that.   

High Country, would you be in the program if you weren't given the opportunity to shoot extra deer and elk? 

I have no desire to be in this program and I shouldn't have to be in order to have an opportunity to hunt elk on public land. 

you still have the opportunity to hunt on public land. the only reason you would HAVE to be an MH is to hunt the 3911, 3912 tag or the late eastside. there is a last chance doe that is designed to remove whitetails from historic mule deer areas too.

The two units I mentioned above were for the most part public land hunts that I no longer have the opportunity to draw tags for that I did before the MH program took it over. 

[high country]

the hunts were taken away but not to give it to MH's. as I said, the tag has been mine 2x and there has not been a need to hunt it. the dept calls us if we can hunt....no call.....no hunt. how would you feel about burning your points on a draw for a tag you may not be allowed to hunt?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

the hunts were taken away but not to give it to MH's. as I said, the tag has been mine 2x and there has not been a need to hunt it. the dept calls us if we can hunt....no call.....no hunt. how would you feel about burning your points on a draw for a tag you may not be allowed to hunt?

I did not know they took your points now, they changed that.
That would suck !, I guess it is not all a "bed of roses"

[Lowedog]

the hunts were taken away but not to give it to MH's. as I said, the tag has been mine 2x and there has not been a need to hunt it. the dept calls us if we can hunt....no call.....no hunt. how would you feel about burning your points on a draw for a tag you may not be allowed to hunt?

Only MH's can draw the tag though so how was it not given to them?  I have a good idea why you weren't called.  Many landowners weren't happy about the hunts being taken over by the MH program so they either deal with the problem themselves or they insist on using local people in the program.  

The dept used to call unsuccessful permit applicants late in the season to deal with problem elk.  

[high country]

well then there is no season to worry about. you can look up this years permit holders also did not hunt. I feel for you, I can tell you are passionate about that hunt, but do not feel like I took it from you. I threw my name in the hat and won, but what I won two years in a row was the frustration of having to wait for a phone call that never came.

[Lowedog]

Don't get me wrong, I don't feel like you took it from me either.  I don't know who thought it was a good idea to change those hunts to the MH program and my only problem is that opportunity was taken away from everyone.  I could see using the MH's for this time of year to help with damage control in the orchards but taking the whole thing away I don't get. 

[DBake]

I've been in it for 6 years and in my opinion everyone should have to go through the program to be able to hunt (yeah, go ahead and flame away).  Hunting is a privilege and the more we can do to improve the public's perception of us, the better.

I've not received any benefit from being in the program other than what I learned in preparation for the exam.  When I signed up for it I wanted to learn as much as I could about hunting in WA since I had just moved here from the southeast.

I think it's perfectly legit for MHs to get extra hunting opportunities.  Heck, how is that different from being a Senior, a youth, a special permit holder a raffle winner except that you have to put in a little extra work for it?

Again, if'n it was up to me, everyone would have to pass it to be able to hunt.

If hunting is a privilege then the WDFW should toughen up of fines agonist people who break the law and not charge the average hunter more to hunt.

[Little Dave]

The state needs to control wildlife populations in urban areas.  One option is to close these areas to all hunting and hire professionals to exterminate problem game animals there.  Another option is to accept volunteers willing to take game under unusual circumstances or at sensitive locations where an error in judgment could cause an incident which leads to drastic and unneeded changes to statewide hunting policy.  The Master Hunter Permit Program is an approximation of that arrangement.

Some guys have real big egos... but those are the same type that would have boasted about being a Costco member twenty years ago.  Brandished a new Driver's License in the freshman hall, etc.  Always going to have people like that.

[Skyvalhunter]

Lowedog your right the MH program has alot of great guys in it that do alot of volunteer time and don't even participate in the MH hunts. You don't see many MH's going around bragging and sticking their chest out. It was a program developed by WDFW so if you choose not participate fine but don't chastise others for choosing to participate and hopefully become a more ethical, responsible hunter.

[MADMAX]

Started it in 1996 got my certifications, had a couple of great permit hunts, lost the certification  in 2008 due to not renewing in the appropraite time frame (forgot to look at my card), tried to do my renewal conservation work and was told due to being late  that I had to do full program again, so I let it go.