This yrs permits

[bobcat]

24,040 applicants for 563 bull tags in 2010.   

OK, well using those numbers, odds come out to about 1 in 42. So that means, on average, a person should expect to draw once every 42 years.

[huntnnw]

I do think the system could use some changes.  It's not perfect.  I don't think any system is perfect, however.  Washington simply has too many hunters and too few quality deer/elk.  No system will easily solve that without some backlash.  If we adopt a system of giving permits to those with the most points, it will work for a few years until the hundreds of applicants with 8 or 9 points become "those with the most" and vie for 10 or 15 permits.  Then the system breaks down.  New applicants would never draw in their lifetimes.  Washington could go permit only.  That would make hunting better for everyone with permits, but make hunting an "every other year" affair.  That' s not very appealing to me: I want to hunt every year.

What I think Washington should do is become more aggressive at predator control, which would increase huntable animal populations, which could lead to more permits, which could lead to shorter wait times to draw.  The state has made bear and cougar hunting very difficult, and now wants to bring in wolves.  Go figure.

Boom....we have a winner! exactly why we dont have a % to highest point holders..it breaks down after a few years..next thing you know everyone has 10 pts in it..there is simply to few opportunity's in this state with the population.

That's great trophy hunt stay on that side and better my odds over here

[rtspring]

Permit only? What are we a bunch of trophy hunters? I am fine with hunting spikes and any 3 pt deer I see.
I want to hunt deer and elk every year. No way would I ever be a part of permit only.

As for the numbers and your odds. You need to be lucky thats all their is to it....

good luck everyone on the draw....

[Curly]

Trophyhunt: go for it.  Good luck. The system could use some change.

You agree that the system could use some change?? That's all I'm saying.... or crying about.

The system definitely could use some change.  But I'm afraid that the reason we have the crappy system they implemented last year is because of the whiners complaining about never getting drawn and WDFW tried to "fix" that problem by coming up with this crappy category bullsh#* and made a bigger mess out of things.  While trying to appease a few whiners, they saw a way to make a bunch of money off of hunters and came up with categories for everything they could think of. 

Instead of fixing the problem by eliminating the point system altogether or at least 1) reducing the number of hunt choices and 2) increasing the price of an application, they came up with this category system that didn't fix the problem of some guys almost never getting drawn.......it actually made the odds worse for those guys trying for the premier hunts and made the odds worse for the guys trying for cow or doe permits.   (But it is making WDFW more money, so I guess it is a success according to Dave Ware.)

[bucklucky]

I really think only having 1 hunt choice for quality would help.

[SkookumHntr]

-what about adding the cant hunt for 3 days rule back! A ton of people wouldnt apply if that rule was re emplimented! Plus up the cost for quality hunts apps! those 2 things would help big time in draw odds i bet!

[bucklucky]

Make the quality elk permit apps like 180 bucks for resident, 1800 for non resident , that would piss off alot of people.... flame on boys 

[jackmaster]

-what about adding the cant hunt for 3 days rule back! A ton of people wouldnt apply if that rule was re emplimented! Plus up the cost for quality hunts apps! those 2 things would help big time in draw odds i bet!

what is the 3 day cant hunt thing, i have hunted here my whole life and have never heard of it

[bucklucky]

-what about adding the cant hunt for 3 days rule back! A ton of people wouldnt apply if that rule was re emplimented! Plus up the cost for quality hunts apps! those 2 things would help big time in draw odds i bet!

what is the 3 day cant hunt thing, i have hunted here my whole life and have never heard of it

It was if you put in for special permits you lost 3 days of hunting. That was back in the 90's and earlier If I remember right, maybee early 90's and earlier.

[trophyhunt]

.......it actually made the odds worse for those guys trying for the premier hunts and made the odds worse for the guys trying for cow or doe permits.   (But it is making WDFW more money, so I guess it is a success according to Dave Ware.)
[/quote] They lied about doing it to make the odds better of drawing, if not they would see the results have not worked and they would do something about it.

[jackmaster]

ok so do this, make it to where you can only put in for one unit per animal, you can still have points this way and it would thin everyone out, dont give anyone the option of picking a 2nd 3rd or 4th choice. they could still keep all the extra categorys that way the wdfw doesnt have to lose money, but you have to limit the amount of choices people can put in for, problem solved oh and raising permits to 180 dollars is crazy talk this isnt suppose to be just for the people that are well off financially

[fair-chase]

-what about adding the cant hunt for 3 days rule back! A ton of people wouldnt apply if that rule was re emplimented!

Your darn right I wouldn't apply if that was the case. So my reward for applying and sending WDFW more money would be to get a 4 day elk season for muzzy. I think the 7 day season we have now is too short.  No thanks.

[bucklucky]

I wish I was well off but Id pay 180 for a quality elk permit.

[GoldTip]

ok so do this, make it to where you can only put in for one unit per animal, you can still have points this way and it would thin everyone out, dont give anyone the option of picking a 2nd 3rd or 4th choice. they could still keep all the extra categorys that way the wdfw doesnt have to lose money, but you have to limit the amount of choices people can put in for, problem solved oh and raising permits to 180 dollars is crazy talk this isnt suppose to be just for the people that are well off financially

Unless the "premium" tag is right out your back door.  A $180 tag fee would be the cheapest expenditure of a premium hunt.  I live in Spokane, in 2009 I drew a Moose tag for the Selkirk unit.  I had spent well over $300 in gas alone by August of 2009 just on gas going to scout the unit, and I probably made another 2 or 3 trips before season.  I live in the Hangman unit and I would probably still spend $180 on gas for scouting the unit prior to season if my wife were to draw.

That being said, I think $180 is excessive for the deer and elk tags, but I think they should be $75, and if the proposal for Moose, Sheep and Goat goes through to change them to $300, I'll be happy as hell.

[Lowedog]

I have never heard of this 3 day rule either and I have been applying for special permits since the early 90's.