Multi-season permits should be available

[ValleyHunter]

Anyone think that we as hunters and consumers should have the right to buy a multi-season tag? I mean don't you think we should be able to try archery, muzzleloaders and modern firearms during the same season? I'm not asking for more deer (although that would be great) but why would the state not want me to spend more money on my hunting licenses if that was what I wanted to do. The way I see it, if I could I would try more tactics (this year I'm doing archery for deer) but if it's not hot I would love to go out for modern as well. Too bad the state doesn't let me. What can we do about this?

[PolarBear]

There are multi-season permits and they are fairly easy to draw.  Hell, I was drawn for elk one year and deer the next.  I know several guys who were drawn for both in the same year. http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/multi-season_permit.html

[ValleyHunter]

I saw that it was possible to draw these but I didn't think getting these were very common, thanks for the reply. Anyway the thought is still the same here -- If Washington is hard up for cash budget wise, I don't see why they don't let us hunt all the seasons (archery, muzzys, modern) for a given species if we're willing to pay for the permits.

[Button Nubbs]

youll draw a deer multi season every other year if you put in. but then you will have to pay the $180 also.

[PolarBear]

Sometimes the health of the wildlife is more important than $$, even in the eyes of our back asswards WDFW.  If they made available to anyone multi-season permits, even at a high price, they would sell a ton and have potential to devastate herds and piss off a lot of general season hunters.  Basically, the WDFW wants you to buy your license and tags but really does not want you to be successful.  There would be far more deer and elk killed if they had o.t.c. multi-season tags.

[ValleyHunter]

I hear you and absolutely wouldn't want to destroy the herds, but it would be fun to not be stuck to a particular technology for the entire year. I'd expect that I'd still have the same restriction on number of animals I could harvest (1 deer, 1 elk per season) and I wouldn't expect more than that. WDFW would make more money (hopefully to manage the herds more), and I'd buy more gear. Everybody wins.

[PolarBear]

Nope, the herds lose because there would be more successful hunters than would be under the current system, hunters that might not get a deer or elk every year, or every other year or even every 5 years.  The fact that it would still only be one deer per year would be somewhat irrelevant.  I would also love to be able to hunt all 3 seasons but I think that the draw system is our best way to go about that instead of a o.t.c. situation.

[ValleyHunter]

Thanks for the reply. I'll definitely be putting in for the multi next year as I'm completely addicted to hitting the woods and water. Sounds like that might not be as difficult to draw as it looked. I appreciate the discussion.

[high country]

I am curious if they raised the price like they did on second tags.

[PolarBear]

They raised it somewhere around $20

[kenbell27]

The price of the multiple season permits stayed the same, they are still $180.00, they must of overlooked that one. 

[Rooster1981]

The wdfw increased the # of  Multi season permits in 2011 becouse of the 3 of tags that were not puchased by the hunters the drew the tags. I will have to look up the info again, but as I remember only 50% of the deer tags are bought, and 70% of the elk tags are bought on average. So this year the # of tags were increased so the state could collect more revenue from these over priced tags. I put in for the elk but not the deer, the deer hunting in wa is definetley good enough for me not to spend 180.00 on a tag. But if I could elk hunt from sept 8 - dec 15 that would be awsome!

[Wenatcheejay]

Most States make the bulk of revenue off of out of state tags. (Like Idaho does) Washington is not interested in attracting out of state hunters as we have many (200,000) in state hunters. So, we pay more. Just look at it as in state hunting at out of state prices. 

You live here and Your getting screwed, welcome to Washington.

[halflife65]

I agree with PolarBear to keep this a draw.  That being said, after drawing every second year, I'm now on year 4 without drawing (somehow.)  Bad luck, I guess.

[Wenatcheejay]

I agree with PolarBear to keep this a draw.  That being said, after drawing every second year, I'm now on year 4 without drawing (somehow.)  Bad luck, I guess.

I'm in this club.

[pianoman9701]

I hear you and absolutely wouldn't want to destroy the herds, but it would be fun to not be stuck to a particular technology for the entire year. I'd expect that I'd still have the same restriction on number of animals I could harvest (1 deer, 1 elk per season) and I wouldn't expect more than that. WDFW would make more money (hopefully to manage the herds more), and I'd buy more gear. Everybody wins.

This would up the success numbers and screw up the targeted goals. I think you'd see an effect on herds within a very few years.

[MAVsled]

multi season permits that are not sold, should be made available for open sale.
so if 75% of the permit draws for deer are sold, the other 25% should be made available; first come & first sold until gone.

[buckfvr]

I was told they draw more names than there are available permits......over draw in other words, because of the high number of guys who do not buy......it is also first come , first served, for those drawn.....if you wait too long, after being drawn, you risk the chance of no tags being available....thats why they do not sell off tags at this point....like I said,  so Ive been told.

[TheHunt]

I typically do the elk only.  Too expensive for deer.

[bobcat]

I was told they draw more names than there are available permits......over draw in other words, because of the high number of guys who do not buy......it is also first come , first served, for those drawn.....if you wait too long, after being drawn, you risk the chance of no tags being available....thats why they do not sell off tags at this point....like I said,  so Ive been told.

I don't believe there's any risk of not getting a tag if you draw it. Last year they increased the number of people drawn for the deer tags from 2000 to 4000, with the hopes of selling 2000. But I believe they said all 4000 people would be able to purchase them if they choose to. Same with the elk tags. I could be wrong but that's the way I remember it.