We as hunters wanted the $40 dollar increase on the 2nd deer tags. Read

[kirkl]

I emailed the WDFW about the big increase on the 2nd deer tags and had a question about quality apps going up to. heres their response.




Thanks for pointing out the omission of the second deer tag on our licensing website.  It was, as you first suggested, a mistake, and you can see the corrected table at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/wdfw/licenses_fees.html.

As for your main point about the price increase, I asked our statewide game manager for an explanation.  This is what he wrote:

Quality permit applications and licenses for species that can only be hunted by special permit (e.g. mtn goat, bighorn sheep, and moose) are considered premium opportunities and the cost to manage these species and provide hunting opportunity is proportionately higher than basic species like deer and forest grouse.  These are more select or optional opportunities and therefore they cost more to purchase. By contrast, basic license fees (deer, youth, and small game) increased very little because we intentionally tried to keep hunting costs reasonable for families and for basic hunting opportunities.   

The $66 price for a second deer or elk tag was recommended by hunters.  The principle behind this recommendation was that the ability to purchase a tag to kill a second animal is a greater privilege than the standard license with its ability to kill a single animal, therefore the cost of the license should greater as well.  We understand the choices that hunters will faced with and that some will choose to not purchase the opportunity.  This “buyer resistance” was factored in to the revenue estimates.

Whether or not you agree with that rationale, I can tell you that the department has lost $30 million in general tax support over the past two years and the Wildlife Fund (supported by fishing and hunting fees) was showing a $10 million deficit for the current budget period. That’s how the fee increase came about.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Shooting a doe is not a premium hunting experience, it's a meat hunt, it should not cost more than your first deer tag. 

[Elkaholic daWg]

"Quality permit applications and licenses for species that can only be hunted by special permit (e.g. mtn goat, bighorn sheep, and moose) are considered premium opportunities and the cost to manage these species and provide hunting opportunity is proportionately higher than basic species like deer and forest grouse."

 What about Quality BULL and BUCK permits? What I read  is these prices are going up too Now  are they going to TRY to tell us they are more expensive to manage too?

Special Hunt Permit Applications                    $6.60    
Special Hunt Permit Application - Quality    $13.20

 BS!

[sebek556]

hmm instead of trying to figure out why we are losing hunters and losing income, let just charge the remaining hunters to make it up! yeah great idea idiots

[bobcat]

I'd actually like for them to do away with most of the 2nd tag hunts they're offering. I don't believe we have the deer numbers to justify it. If the deer population in a particular area truly is overpopulated, then fine. But most of the permits I see are in areas which don't seem to have an excess of deer. As for the new price, I complained about it at first, but after mulling it over for a while, I think it's fair. For those wanting a second chance to hunt deer in a given year, it's a great opportunity to get out in the woods again. However, having said that, I will not be applying for it next year, but only because I'm on a real tight budget right now, with two kids and only one income. I could see myself putting my kids in for it in a few more years when they're old enough to hunt, simply to give them more time in the woods.

[Special T]

Shooting a doe is not a premium hunting experience, it's a meat hunt, it should not cost more than your first deer tag. 

Since i find this to be the case i won't be putting in for the 2nd deer tag that i had gotten in the past... I'll just do something different...

[Jerbear]

They do have a problem with the truth. Since they went from the department of hunting and fishing, to fishing and wildlife it has gone downhill.  Millions of dollars on turtles, frogs, wolves and so on, and they bleed us dry to support it.  This is crap the environmentalists want, and our game dept caves in.
As Field & Stream magazine stated years ago, Washington state has the most political fish and game department in the nation.  Argue all you want, but it is not going to change, until we elect the game commissioners.  Right now they have absolute control and they know it.

[Curly]

The fees are just ridiculous.  The 2nd deer tag shouldn't even exist in the first place, and maybe they know that and are trying to reduce the amount of people that get the 2nd tag.

If there are surplus does that need taken, then they should just have a doe permit and NOT a second deer category.  It is simply a money grab........and the price increase proves it.  Truth is probably that they can't justify the taking of those extra does (biologically speaking), but if they can get enough money out of the sale of the permits, then they figure what the hell......they'll sacrifice some does if they can make X amount of permit fees off of hunters.

[spookgus]

If the department of wildlife wants to increase revenue from hunters there should be a plan to increase participation in the sport and not price people out of the sport. The department of wildlife seems to want less hunters and more revenue. I would like to see first time purchasers of hunting licenses be charged half price for tags and license. We need to get people hooked and keep it affordable or hunting will fade away for most of us. The first timer that thinks he will give this hunting thing a try by taking part in the dove season will get sticker shock when he has to pay over $50 to try to shoot a couple doves. I know most of us are going to continue to go hunting as long as we can afford it, but the prices are going to deter some from joining the sport.

[seth30]

If the department of wildlife wants to increase revenue from hunters there should be a plan to increase participation in the sport and not price people out of the sport. The department of wildlife seems to want less hunters and more revenue. I would like to see first time purchasers of hunting licenses be charged half price for tags and license. We need to get people hooked and keep it affordable or hunting will fade away for most of us. The first timer that thinks he will give this hunting thing a try by taking part in the dove season will get sticker shock when he has to pay over $50 to try to shoot a couple doves. I know most of us are going to continue to go hunting as long as we can afford it, but the prices are going to deter some from joining the sport.

the reason I have boycotted Upland hunting for the past two years.

[DoubleJ]

Very little will change.  As I read the chart located here http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/results/points/2010.php
 
12,520 people put in for 2nd deer last year.  3,875 were drawn. 
 
If 2/3 of the people from last year say "Screw you guys, I'm not even applying next year", they will lose $52,800 in tag application revinue. 
 
BUT, with the fact that 4,000 people will still apply, they will still issue 3,875 tags.  At the increased price, they will make an additional $155,000. 
 
When you subtract the lost tag application fees, they will still make $102,200 in additional money.
 
That's if 2/3 of the people choose not to apply for the tags!!!!!  That number is likely to be WELL short of 2/3.  They may lose 2,000 people.
 
God I hate this state

[bigtex]

I do believe that there does need to be a second deer permit/hunt. I have spent time in many of these areas and there truely is a big problem with an increasing deer population. Unfortunately another issue is that in many of these areas the landowners do not allow hunting, but they are the same landowners that complain about the deer #'s. I remember one area that is fairly well-known for its overpopulation of deer actually wanted to eliminate the hunt and instead use either sterilization techniques or trapping the deer and moving them  . So in many of the areas you have an overpopulation of deer, a hunt to control or decrease the numbers, but resistance from many of the locals to allow the hunting, which obviously does nothing to decrease the numbers.

In regards to the price of the permit. I do not think you will see a huge decrease in the number of people that will put in for them. Quite honestly I think the notable decrease will occur in 2013, not next year. My reasoning is that many people do not stay in the loop in regards to fees, they simply head to their local sporting goods store every year and fork out the price no matter what it is. Many people, especially for 2nd deer permit hunts put in for them every year, so they have no reason to look at the price. Many of the people had already purchased this year's 2nd tag before the increase and would probably assume next year's will be the same only to face the sticker shock when they go into purchase next year's tag, that then might reduce the 2013 numbers.

There are some second deer permit hunts that don't meet the quota for permits, especially on the islands. I wish WDFW would sell off the permits that were not drawn, like in other states. There is a nice chunk of change that WDFW never gets because the fact too few people put in for a hunt. Any $ helps in these economic times.

[seth30]

I do believe that there does need to be a second deer permit/hunt. I have spent time in many of these areas and there truely is a big problem with an increasing deer population. Unfortunately another issue is that in many of these areas the landowners do not allow hunting, but they are the same landowners that complain about the deer #'s. I remember one area that is fairly well-known for its overpopulation of deer actually wanted to eliminate the hunt and instead use either sterilization techniques or trapping the deer and moving them  . So in many of the areas you have an overpopulation of deer, a hunt to control or decrease the numbers, but resistance from many of the locals to allow the hunting, which obviously does nothing to decrease the numbers.

In regards to the price of the permit. I do not think you will see a huge decrease in the number of people that will put in for them. Quite honestly I think the notable decrease will occur in 2013, not next year. My reasoning is that many people do not stay in the loop in regards to fees, they simply head to their local sporting goods store every year and fork out the price no matter what it is. Many people, especially for 2nd deer permit hunts put in for them every year, so they have no reason to look at the price. Many of the people had already purchased this year's 2nd tag before the increase and would probably assume next year's will be the same only to face the sticker shock when they go into purchase next year's tag, that then might reduce the 2013 numbers.

There are some second deer permit hunts that don't meet the quota for permits, especially on the islands. I wish WDFW would sell off the permits that were not drawn, like in other states. There is a nice chunk of change that WDFW never gets because the fact too few people put in for a hunt. Any $ helps in these economic times.

Whidbey is overun, but lack of public hunting and many private owners like you stated resisting... We have a deer killed everyday here by a vechile. For Whidbey there should be no drawing for a second tag, it should be given to the local hunters, or hunters that have the fortune of hunting private property on the island.

[headshot5]

The only 2nd tag I'd pay $66 dollars for would be a 2nd wolf tag.   

[JimmyHoffa]

It's still less than a tank of gas.  I think it's high, but when compared to other hunting related costs not that much.