the DISCOVER PASS

[washelkhunter]

How do you all feel about the new Discover Pass (TAX) being put upon hunters to access and hunt on state lands? Im very angry about this. I already pay handsomely for the privilege to hunt the STATES wildlife, pay to register my vehicles, pay the highest fuel taxes in the nation to pay for the roads, pay sales taxes and special taxes for sporting goods, pay property taxes, pay pay pay. And now the state of wash wants to squeeze another 30 bucks out of me to hunt on state lands! I refuse to do it. These money grubbing
*censored*s can KMA. what say you all?

[muzzlebuck]

...

[Curly]

It has been talked bitched about a lot on this board.  There are a lot of pissed off people regarding the D-pass.  I refuse to buy one too.

[TheHunt]

Do we have to buy another pass at the first of the year?

[wraithen]

Only if that's when your old one expires. Mine's good through November. Yet another expiration to track...

[Yummy and Tasty Animal]

E-mail your state legislators at tell them to support Senate Bill 5986.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5986

[bearpaw]

I think this will make the WDFW access permit you get with your hunting license valid for DNR lands too. Am I reading this right?


SENATE BILL 5986
_____________________________________________
State of Washington 62nd Legislature 2011 2nd Special Session

By Senators Becker, Carrell, Shin, Swecker, Stevens, Morton,
Schoesler, Hobbs, Hatfield, Honeyford, and Delvin

Read first time 12/08/11. Referred to Committee on Energy, Natural
Resources & Marine Waters.

1 AN ACT Relating to providing that the vehicle access pass provide
2 access to the department of natural resources' recreation sites; and
3 amending RCW 79A.80.040.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
5 Sec. 1. RCW 79A.80.040 and 2011 c 320 s 5 are each amended to read
6 as follows:
7 (1) The vehicle access pass is created solely for access to the
8 department of fish and wildlife and to the department of natural
9 resources' recreation sites or lands. The vehicle access pass is only
10 available to a person who purchases a current valid: Big game hunting
11 license issued under RCW 77.32.450; small game hunting license issued
12 under RCW 77.32.460; western Washington pheasant permit issued under
13 RCW 77.32.575; trapping license issued under RCW 77.65.450; watchable
14 wildlife decal issued under RCW 77.32.560; or combination, saltwater,
15 or freshwater personal use fishing license issued under RCW 77.32.470.
16 (2) One vehicle access pass must be issued per purchase pursuant to
17 subsection (1) of this section.
p. 1   SB 5986

1 (3) The vehicle access pass is valid for the license year of the
2 license it is purchased with.
--- END ---
SB 5986   p. 2

[boneaddict]

I was at the sheep feeding station.  15 rigs showed up.  One parked outside of the lot and walked in, two had passes in the window.....the other 12 did not have them.   1 of those was probably tribal (just an assumption) and was legal.  That left 11 folks without a pass even though it was posted all over the place.  8 of the eleven were hispanic, one of the remaining  was senior citizen.  Just some statistics I took.....

[elksnout]

I just sent my emails. So shouldn't all members of this site who have been bitching about the Discover Pass all last year start typing?

[bobcat]

I think this will make the WDFW access permit you get with your hunting license valid for DNR lands too. Am I reading this right?


SENATE BILL 5986
_____________________________________________
State of Washington 62nd Legislature 2011 2nd Special Session

By Senators Becker, Carrell, Shin, Swecker, Stevens, Morton,
Schoesler, Hobbs, Hatfield, Honeyford, and Delvin

Read first time 12/08/11. Referred to Committee on Energy, Natural
Resources & Marine Waters.

1 AN ACT Relating to providing that the vehicle access pass provide
2 access to the department of natural resources' recreation sites; and
3 amending RCW 79A.80.040.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
5 Sec. 1. RCW 79A.80.040 and 2011 c 320 s 5 are each amended to read
6 as follows:
7 (1) The vehicle access pass is created solely for access to the
8 department of fish and wildlife and to the department of natural
9 resources' recreation sites or lands. The vehicle access pass is only
10 available to a person who purchases a current valid: Big game hunting
11 license issued under RCW 77.32.450; small game hunting license issued
12 under RCW 77.32.460; western Washington pheasant permit issued under
13 RCW 77.32.575; trapping license issued under RCW 77.65.450; watchable
14 wildlife decal issued under RCW 77.32.560; or combination, saltwater,
15 or freshwater personal use fishing license issued under RCW 77.32.470.
16 (2) One vehicle access pass must be issued per purchase pursuant to
17 subsection (1) of this section.
p. 1   SB 5986

1 (3) The vehicle access pass is valid for the license year of the
2 license it is purchased with.
--- END ---
SB 5986   p. 2

It reads that way to me too. This is great news. I sure hope it goes through. This is how it should have been in the first place. The only thing better is if they would actually enforce it on DNR lands next year.

[blackdog]

There is a companion House Bill also.

[Todd_ID]

Here's what I sent to my Senator (a co-sponsor):

Senator Schoesler,
Thank you for co-sponsoring SB 5986 regarding the Discover Pass.  As an avid outdoorsman I was amazed at the money-grab tactics that were passed with the invention of the Discover Pass.  I already pay extensively into the state coffers in the pursuit of my outdoor passions: over $200 per year for hunting and fishing licenses, plus the exorbitant gas taxes, sales taxes, and Pittman-Robertson taxes that are added to all of my purchases related to hunting. 

This bill to allow sportsman access to state lands with the WDFW Access Pass we already pay for is a good, common sense solution to a serious shortcoming in the Discover Pass program.  Many hunters and fishermen, myself included, will thank you for not allowing this bill to die in committee. 

Please keep this bill moving forward to right a wrong!

Thank You,
Todd Johnston
Clarkston, WA

[fireweed]

Go to the Wa. State Legislation website and type in the Bill search section "discover pass".  Several more bills pop up, including  one's that allows the use of two vehicles, no use fees.  The best one I see of these, so far, is SB5998.  This bill allows two vehicles per permit, and limits Discover Pass requirement  on DNR land to:
(c) Department of natural resources developed recreation sites, including campgrounds, trails and
 trailheads, and the associated parking areas.

This would apparently get rid of that onerous "designated" loop-hole that allowed the DNR to create recreation areas on paper from timberland with no recreation facilities.
These are just pre-introduced bills SO FAR.  Be careful which bill you are commenting in favor of.  Only a two (SB 5998, SB 5986) address the problem of needing a Discover Pass on DNR land for hunting.  Also, if Bill 5998 moves forward, it might address the Tribal hunting issue.  Tribal members, like everyone else, would need the pass for using designated recreation sites (campgrounds, trails and trailheads and associated parking areas) but not for hunting.  Under the bill that makes the Vehicle use permit good for DNR land and WDFW land, tribal would still get a complete exemption, whether using a developed site or not. 
Keep watching as the new bills and modified bills pile up.

[bigtex]

I think this will make the WDFW access permit you get with your hunting license valid for DNR lands too. Am I reading this right?


SENATE BILL 5986
_____________________________________________
State of Washington 62nd Legislature 2011 2nd Special Session

By Senators Becker, Carrell, Shin, Swecker, Stevens, Morton,
Schoesler, Hobbs, Hatfield, Honeyford, and Delvin

Read first time 12/08/11. Referred to Committee on Energy, Natural
Resources & Marine Waters.

1 AN ACT Relating to providing that the vehicle access pass provide
2 access to the department of natural resources' recreation sites; and
3 amending RCW 79A.80.040.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
5 Sec. 1. RCW 79A.80.040 and 2011 c 320 s 5 are each amended to read
6 as follows:
7 (1) The vehicle access pass is created solely for access to the
8 department of fish and wildlife and to the department of natural
9 resources' recreation sites or lands. The vehicle access pass is only
10 available to a person who purchases a current valid: Big game hunting
11 license issued under RCW 77.32.450; small game hunting license issued
12 under RCW 77.32.460; western Washington pheasant permit issued under
13 RCW 77.32.575; trapping license issued under RCW 77.65.450; watchable
14 wildlife decal issued under RCW 77.32.560; or combination, saltwater,
15 or freshwater personal use fishing license issued under RCW 77.32.470.
16 (2) One vehicle access pass must be issued per purchase pursuant to
17 subsection (1) of this section.
p. 1   SB 5986

1 (3) The vehicle access pass is valid for the license year of the
2 license it is purchased with.
--- END ---
SB 5986   p. 2

It reads that way to me too. This is great news. I sure hope it goes through. This is how it should have been in the first place. The only thing better is if they would actually enforce it on DNR lands next year.

You are correct. However the problem is there are 5+ bills dealing with the pass, all covering different topics. I know of this proposal, another that has to do with the actual fee, and several different bills relating to the transfer between vehicles.

The issue comes down to which (if any) bills are passed this legislative session. It appears that the transfer between vehicles bill is basically a done deal. If I were a betting man this (the DNR/WDFW) bill would be the one with the least likelihood of being passed.

[Elkaholic daWg]

 which my senator is one of the sponsors of. (Stevens)

[longstevo]

The Discover pass is BS.  Paying to hunt on public lands?

[Elkaholic daWg]

The Discover pass is BS.  Paying to hunt on public lands?

VERY TRUE, but what of those who are not hunting?

[Elkaholic daWg]

 just sent 10 messages regarding this and 2214

[lokidog]

I'm all for making those that use state lands pay for the maintenance and upkeep of those lands and access to them.  It is about time the non-hunting, non-contributing users have to pay their share.  If a hunting/fishing license is purchased, the WDFW one should work for DNR lands.  The only problem is lack of enforcement as mentioned earlier.  I hope that bill passes.

[fireweed]

To me SB5998 looks like a better solution.  It limits the Discover Pass to real developed sites like trailheads, campgrounds, and picnic areas.  It is a fee-for-service provided.  Not an entry fee to DNR land, like the current system.  This is better because EVERYONE (including tribal members) would  need the Pass to stay in a campground but could access timberlands for hunting, berry picking, etc. for free.  This would plug the tribal exemption (they can't be charged a fee for hunting).  It would also streamline the rules for a DP with the NW Forest Pass, and get rid of the nasty requirement of driving around with a huge yellow hangtag.  It needs more sponsors to get a fair hearing, though.

[PlateauNDN]

To me SB5998 looks like a better solution.  It limits the Discover Pass to real developed sites like trailheads, campgrounds, and picnic areas.  It is a fee-for-service provided.  Not an entry fee to DNR land, like the current system.  This is better because EVERYONE (including tribal members) would  need the Pass to stay in a campground but could access timberlands for hunting, berry picking, etc. for free.  This would plug the tribal exemption (they can't be charged a fee for hunting).  It would also streamline the rules for a DP with the NW Forest Pass, and get rid of the nasty requirement of driving around with a huge yellow hangtag.  It needs more sponsors to get a fair hearing, though.

Not trying to    but where are you getting this from?  In 5998, 5986 and the companion bill it doesn't state anywhere in either one of these that it applies to Tribal Members?  The Discover Pass does apply when for example if I went outside of my Tribes Ceded Area and attempted to enter DNR Land let say on the West Side then yes I would need the pass but when I'm in my Tribes Ceded Area this does not apply.

I've already spoken with the DNR, our Wildlife Program Manager and our Council Members in regards to the issues with the Discover Pass and as long as we (Yakama Members) are in our Ceded Lands this does not apply, everywhere else outside of the Ceded Lands it does.   

[fireweed]

Here's an article that lays out the problem

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110822/NEWS01/708229919

Seems like if they made the DP on a fee-for-service and limit it to parking at developed sites (SB5998) and not fee for access then the whole issue of special exemptions would be solved.  We wouldn't have to have all these exemptions--which just increase angst between groups.  It seems unreasonable for tribal members to expect free campgrounds with their associated services while exercising treaty rights, but seems perfectly reasonable to expect free access to the land itself.  Currently, do tribal members stay at state park campgrounds for free while exercising treaty rights neaby? 

[PlateauNDN]

I've read that as well and it's been put to rest pretty much due to the conflict that has and is occurring with the enforcement issue on Tribal Members.  I believe the conclusion was just distribute an established amount of passes to each Tribe and move on.   I have no clue if Tribal Members stay at state parks, I don't and probably never will?  We usually camp out near where ever we're going or sleep in the truck so I can't answer for anybody else on that matter.

[summit creek]

i wont buy it period i use to hunt elbe hills all the time but i live right in the midle of the stormking and skoocumchuck units ill just hunt here

[summit creek]

30 bucks isint that much money i live 7 miles from gmu 654 wich is all state land use 2 be 1 of my favorite spots 2 hunt b tails refuse 2 pay it so ill hunt around here in morton mineral area 4 free not getin my 30 bucks just wont support it period

[summit creek]

The Discover pass is BS.  Paying to hunt on public lands?

ur rite it is bs they want more money from the hunters no money back 2 the game and the hunting sucks any way 4 the most part do 2 poor game management