WDFW/DNR/Parks Discover Pass Site Up

[bigtex]

The only DNR areas that will need the pass are the ones on the DNR Recreation site. There is actually quite a bit of DNR land that you won't need the pass at.

[Armadillo]

schweet! thats the best news ive heard all day 

[280ackley]

So you need one just to be in the Capital Forest?  What about people working in there, is there a exception?

[Armadillo]

there has to be a reason why the restrictions are so vague  I have the feeling a lot of folks are going to be ticketed this year

[Elkaholic daWg]

schweet! thats the best news ive heard all day 

 The signs on Coleman Rd used to read DFW Colockum Wildlife area, now it's

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naneum Ridge State Forest (Chelan and Kittitas counties)

Recreation Area      Status       Additional Information
Naneum Ridge State Forest      Open      No open fires or barbecue briquettes allowed from April 15 to October 15.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Looks like about $150 in our camp

[cryfowl]

If I hadn't already purchased my licenses and tags this year I would be done with Wa.  If this is still in effect next year, I will no longer be hunting in Wa.  Final straw for me.  Licenses and tags went up in price so now I am paying $200 just to have an opportunity to hunt my home state.  Along with this came a mandatory parking permit which apparently is no longer good, but I'm sure I've paid for anyways.  What's another $30......It's a joke.  Punishing the people for their financial screw ups is not the way to go. I am making a road trip this year to Wyoming where I can take 6 animals for around $400 and chances are very good I will get all 6.  No brainer to me.  Mismanagement of funds+ mismanagement of animals+ mismanagement of fisheries = Road trip to other States for quality outdoor recreational opportunities.   

Here's what the flyer says:

The Discover Pass – your ticket to Washington’s great outdoors
Beginning July 1, visitors will be required to display a Discover Pass on their vehicles to access Washington state parks and state recreation lands managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A bill creating the Discover Pass was passed by the 2011 Legislature and has been signed into law by the Governor.
Revenue from the Discover Pass is needed to make up the loss of general fund money that historically has been available for recreation on state lands. As a response to the state budget crisis, budget proposals for the next two years include almost no general fund dollars for recreation on state lands. To ensure the public may continue to enjoy these recreation lands, the state must shift from relying on tax revenue from the general fund to a user-pay approach to pay for recreation.
The three agencies are working together to provide one pass for access to nearly 7 million acres of state-managed recreation lands, including parks, campgrounds, wildlife areas, trails, natural and wilderness areas and water access points.
Following are some questions and answers about the Discover Pass. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov or call toll-free (866) 320-9933.
Q. How much does the Discover Pass cost?
A. The Discover Pass costs $30 per vehicle per year or $10 per vehicle for a day-use pass. Dealer and transaction fees may apply. Dealer fee is $2 per annual pass or $.50 for the day pass; transaction fee is 10 percent of the cost of the pass/permit. The annual pass is good for one year from the purchase date.
Q. Where will I need a Discover Pass?
A. The pass provides access to state recreation lands and water access sites managed by State Parks State Parks, WDFW and DNR. These lands include state parks, water access points, heritage sites, wildlife and natural areas, trails and trailheads.
Q. When will the Discover Pass go into effect?
A. The pass goes into effect on July 1, 2011. The three agencies are working together to make the Discover Pass available for purchase prior to July 1, 2011.
Q. Where can I purchase a daily or annual pass?
A. You have several options for purchasing a pass:
1. In person at any of nearly 600 sporting goods or other retail stores that sell hunting and fishing licenses.
2. Online through WDFW’s online recreational licensing system. Visit online at www.discoverpass.wa.gov
3. When you renew your vehicle license. Beginning in fall 2011, you will be able to purchase a pass when renewing a vehicle license through the Washington State Department of Licensing.
Q. Can we just purchase one Discover Pass and share it among our vehicles?
A. No. You will need the pass for each street-legal vehicle you intend to use to access state land.
Q. If I am gathering mushrooms, berries or firewood for my personal use or doing other dispersed recreation activities such as geocaching, driving forest roads, bird watching, etc., do I still need to purchase an access pass?
A. Yes. All street-licensed vehicles will need a Discover Pass to access state recreation lands managed by the agencies, regardless of the type of activity or use.
Q. What is the penalty for not having a Discover Pass or daily pass on my vehicle?
A. The penalty is $99. This penalty is reduced to $59 if an individual provides proof of purchase of the Discover Pass to the court within 15 days after the notice of violation.
Exemptions to the Discover Pass requirement
Your purchase helps to maintain state recreation lands; however, the following are exempt from needing a Discover Pass.
(Please note that even though the following are exempt from the pass requirement, when you purchase your pass you are helping to maintain and operate state recreation lands. You also can help by continuing to donate to Washington State Parks when you register a vehicle through the state Department of Licensing.)
Q. Can volunteers obtain a complimentary Discover Pass?
A. Yes. Volunteers who work 24 hours on agency-approved projects can earn a complimentary annual pass. Each agency must provide vouchers to volunteers, recording the number of hours they worked on each project. Volunteers can redeem the voucher for the annual Discovery Pass. The three agencies are currently developing the details of the complimentary Discover Pass, such as where and how volunteers get vouchers, what constitutes an agency-approved project and where people can go to redeem their vouchers.
Q. Do I need a Discover Pass when I camp at a state park?
A. No. Your camping reservation stub where you have reserved a campsite or your camping fee receipt at a first-come, first-served park will serve as your permit for the duration of your camping stay in the park. If you were to visit other parks in the area, you would need an annual or daily pass. A Discover Pass is required to camp on lands managed by DNR and WDFW since the two agencies do not charge for camping.
Q. Will disabled veterans and other State Parks pass holders need to purchase the pass?
A. Qualified disabled veterans and other pass holders will not need to purchase a Discover Pass for access to Washington state parks, but they will need to purchase the pass for access to lands managed by WDFW and DNR.
Q. If I purchase a Natural Investment Permit for State Parks watercraft launch sites, do I need to purchase the Discover Pass?
A. No, you will not need a Discover Pass to launch your boat from a State Parks boat launch. You will need the Discover Pass for boat launches managed by DNR and WDFW.
Updated May 12, 2011

[bigtex]

So you need one just to be in the Capital Forest?  What about people working in there, is there a exception?

Yes you need one for the Capital Forest. There are exceptions in the bill for workers and other people that are there for department needs.

[bigtex]

schweet! thats the best news ive heard all day 

 The signs on Coleman Rd used to read DFW Colockum Wildlife area, now it's

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naneum Ridge State Forest (Chelan and Kittitas counties)

Recreation Area      Status       Additional Information
Naneum Ridge State Forest      Open      No open fires or barbecue briquettes allowed from April 15 to October 15.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Looks like about $150 in our camp

In the past 4 years or so DNR and WDFW have been doing land swaps basically to remove the checkerboard layout of WDFW and DNR land, as a result the DNR created the Naneum St Forest.

[sakoshooter]

I just received this response this morning from Phil Anderson(WDFW Director):

Persons who have purchased one of our major fishing or hunting licenses, e.g. big game, small game, fishing, western Washington pheasant, will have access to all WDFW lands and access sites for no additional charge. You can go to our website and find a complete set of Q&A's including a complete list of our licenses that qualify for free access to WDFW lands.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/

[bigtex]

I just received this response this morning from Phil Anderson(WDFW Director):

Persons who have purchased one of our major fishing or hunting licenses, e.g. big game, small game, fishing, western Washington pheasant, will have access to all WDFW lands and access sites for no additional charge. You can go to our website and find a complete set of Q&A's including a complete list of our licenses that qualify for free access to WDFW lands.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/

And thats exactly what we've been saying the entire time.....     

[bobcat]

Here are all the exemptions listed on the Discover Pass website:

Exemptions to the Discover Pass   

Your purchase of the Discover Pass supports recreation on state lands. However, you do not need to purchase the pass under the following circumstances:
 

• Camping in a Washington state park: Your camping reservation stub or camping fee receipt will serve as your permit for the duration of your stay in the park where you have paid for a campsite. If you visit other state parks in the area, you will need an annual or daily Discover Pass. You will need a pass if you are camping on lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) or Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
• Hunting and fishing on WDFW-managed lands. When you buy certain types of hunting and fishing licenses, you will receive a vehicle access pass for WDFW-managed lands and won’t need the Discover Pass on those lands. You will still need the Discover Pass to hunt or fish on DNR or State Parks land.
• Sno-Park seasonal permit holders:  You do not need a Discover Pass to use a designated Sno-Park between Nov. 1 and March 31 for winter recreation activities. The Sno-Park permit exception does not apply to non-winter recreation activities.
• Off-Road Vehicle (ORVs):  If your ORV is required to display an ORV tab, you do not need a Discover Pass for that vehicle. Generally, ORVs are non street-legal vehicles. You will need a Discover Pass for the street-legal vehicle that transports your ORV to a state recreation site. The trailer does not require a pass.
• Disabled veterans and other State Parks pass holders: Qualified disabled veterans and other qualified State Parks pass holders registered through State Parks do not need to purchase a Discover Pass for access to Washington state parks. They will need to purchase the Discover Pass for access to lands managed by WDFW and DNR.
• State Parks boat launch sites. You will not need a Discover Pass to launch your boat from a State Parks boat launch if you have the appropriate permit. You will need the Discover Pass for boat launches managed by DNR and WDFW.
• Volunteers. Volunteers who work 24 hours or more on agency-approved projects are eligible for a complimentary Discover Pass.
• Those with certain written agreements with agencies.  Individuals or parties with written authorizations including, but not limited to, leases, contracts and easements do not need to purchase a Discover Pass to access state recreation lands.

Please note: Even though the pass is not required in these cases, your purchase helps to maintain, manage and operate state recreation lands. As funding for recreation shifts from tax support to user fees, the responsibility to cover the costs of these exemptions will shift from the general public to visitors. You also may continue to donate to Washington State Parks when you register a vehicle through the Department of Licensing.

[Special T]

I think this pass is like rearranging the chairs on the Titanic.  I highly doubt this will raise the kind of $$$ the state is hoping for. I will use the WDFW areas my included pass will allow. For those who use State park launches, the pass may actually SAVE them $$$. and for all the people that traditionally use the parks and pay nothing won't even bother showing up... So i see a net decrease in $$$ earned not an increase. 

[bigtex]

I think this pass is like rearranging the chairs on the Titanic.  I highly doubt this will raise the kind of $$$ the state is hoping for. I will use the WDFW areas my included pass will allow. For those who use State park launches, the pass may actually SAVE them $$$. and for all the people that traditionally use the parks and pay nothing won't even bother showing up... So i see a net decrease in $$$ earned not an increase. 

 
If you think about the top 2 users of State Parks are campers and those using the boat launch, and those people are exempt from buying the Discovery Pass because they are already paying camping/launch fees. So the only people that will really be buying the pass for Parks are day use people.

[bobcat]

I think a lot of people will buy it so they can visit state parks. My wife already said she would get it for her car, so she could take the kids to Millersylvania State Park. But that doesn't do me any good, because I'm not going to use her car for hunting. So I simply have to stay out of Capitol Forest, or park outside of it and walk in. But rather than doing that, I will be more likely to just hunt elsewhere.

[Jack Diamond]

personally,I do not have a problem with the state charging the masses, for the use of areas that traditionally have been funded by sportsman's dollars. the concert venue at the gorge ampitheater is a prime example, these people camp all over the Quincy wildlife area, and for the most part have been a mess for L.E. in Grant county. The worst offenders of all are the "foreign exchange" users and recipient's of our resource's here in this state. So I would only hope that enforcement will ramp up, rather than turning away from the alien problem that has been the the plaque of the central WA. recreation areas. I do no of circumstances here in the basin where a game Leo has turned a blind eye , simply because he knew that citing someone with a violation would just not be feasible, as no sure way to track them down for Failure to appear and the Friday night warrant parties, are fruitless. So Go Ahead and charge another $30.00 but they damn sure had better ramp up enforcement.