Elk Permits - allow east and west apllication

[Curly]

A year or two later, you can count on permit only for elk because of the overcrowding for branch bulls on the westside and the crappy draw odds on the eastside.

[bullcanyon]

I would bet that most who were in favor of this would change their mind if it was explained to them. My uncle voted for it on the survey. I explained the negative impacts of this and he said "didn't even think of that". He ain't the only one.  This will not go over well during the first season. Overcrowding on the west side will be the most obvious problem. Most people wouldn't draw a tag anyways. So that won't be as big of a deal. But when you can't find a place to go without a few rigs already there. Going to send some hunters away to other states.

[huntnphool]

OK, so I'm still not quite sure what you guys are saying.

Let's see if I'm understanding this correctly- you think that people who now hunt the westside, DO NOT apply for west side special permits, but if they could hunt the west side and apply for east side special permits, they would?

My question is why would these people not already be applying for the special permits on the west side? Apparently some of you feel there are NO special elk permits on the west side worth applying for? Is that correct?

 Yes Bob, thats exactly what they are saying. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of guys that fit in this category. They live on the west side and purchase a east side tag because they are forced to in order to apply for a permit. If they don't draw the east side tag they want then they just don't hunt, spikes are not appealing enough to spend the $$$ and time to go, so the tag is eaten.

[JimmyHoffa]

A year or two later, you can count on permit only for elk because of the overcrowding for branch bulls on the westside and the crappy draw odds on the eastside.

That was kind of my thought too.  How long would the wetside hold out?  Then the whole state would probably go special permit and it wouldn't matter what tag.  This might be a long range WDFW plan anyhow.  Although, I wonder what the revenue potential for that would be if everything was special permit?  Would you get at least one application imbedded into the tag purchase and then have to buy quality bull or antlerless?  Or would all applications be good for same license price?

[bobcat]

OK, so I'm still not quite sure what you guys are saying.

Let's see if I'm understanding this correctly- you think that people who now hunt the westside, DO NOT apply for west side special permits, but if they could hunt the west side and apply for east side special permits, they would?

My question is why would these people not already be applying for the special permits on the west side? Apparently some of you feel there are NO special elk permits on the west side worth applying for? Is that correct?

 Yes Bob, thats exactly what they are saying. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of guys that fit in this category. They live on the west side and purchase a east side tag because they are forced to in order to apply for a permit. If they don't draw the east side tag they want then they just don't hunt, spikes are not appealing enough to spend the $$$ and time to go, so the tag is eaten.

That scenario doesn't explain how the WDFW would generate more revenue by allowing people to apply for east or west regardless of their tag choice. What am I missing?

[huntnphool]

But when you can't find a place to go without a few rigs already there. Going to send some hunters away to other states.

exactly what they have done on the east side for deer, forcing everyone to take off the same week, way to crowded now.

[rtspring]

I don't see PERMIT ONLY hunting happening anytime soon in this state. They would lose a hell of alot of money if they did that..

This my friends is a FACT!!

[huntnphool]

That scenario doesn't explain how the WDFW would generate more revenue by allowing people to apply for east or west regardless of their tag choice. What am I missing?

 I agree Bob, I don't see an increase and in the end will likely see a decrease.

[huntnphool]

I don't see PERMIT ONLY hunting happening anytime soon in this state. They would lose a hell of alot of money if they did that..

This my friends is a FACT!!

 It would be an increase if they continued to require you to purchase a license in order to apply. All they would have to do is make one unit available for non permit hunting and they could justify it.

[bobcat]

That scenario doesn't explain how the WDFW would generate more revenue by allowing people to apply for east or west regardless of their tag choice. What am I missing?

 I agree Bob, I don't see an increase and in the end will likely see a decrease.

OK, well that's what I was trying to figure out- why some people are saying the WDFW wants to make this change for the increased revenue. And I just can't see how there would be any significant increase in revenue.

[B.G.hunter]

OK, so I'm still not quite sure what you guys are saying.

Let's see if I'm understanding this correctly- you think that people who now hunt the westside, DO NOT apply for west side special permits, but if they could hunt the west side and apply for east side special permits, they would?

My question is why would these people not already be applying for the special permits on the west side? Apparently some of you feel there are NO special elk permits on the west side worth applying for? Is that correct?

 Yes Bob, thats exactly what they are saying. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of guys that fit in this category. They live on the west side and purchase a east side tag because they are forced to in order to apply for a permit. If they don't draw the east side tag they want then they just don't hunt, spikes are not appealing enough to spend the $$$ and time to go, so the tag is eaten.

This is what I do and I live on the Eastside.  If I don't draw a tag I will not go hunting spikes the success rates are just that bad.

[Woodchuck]

My thought was quality east and quality west, as an example, gives you more catagories to choose from thus more income.  I don't know that would be the case but would not surprise me.

[B.G.hunter]

I have to disagree with most here. 

Yes it may lower your odds of that monster Dayton bull tag....  However, everyone complains about the lack of hunting options in this state.  They are offering you one, that will increase your opportunities for elk.  Now your gonna bad mouth the WDFW for doing that?  Make up your minds.

How many more people are actually gonna hunt the wetside?  Not that many more.  Most do not like to hunt in the rain, and the damp and the fog, and the brush.  I see it as a good thing, something that our letters and comments have actually done some good about. 

The fewer Restrictions we have the better I like it.  Although this may just be something to appease us hunters after the wolf issues.

Just my 

This will decrease east side hunter opportunites and increase west side hunter opportunities.  Everyone knows which big bull tags to apply for on the east side, but unless you live on the west side, you might as well hunt spikes than try to go figure out a west side branch bull area.

 I say go back to the 5 elk regions.  Apply for the hunts where you actually hunt, not where you hear all the elk are.  Once you do get drawn, you will have a vast amount of knowledge on the elk in that area and wont be scrambling to figure out the area the month before the season opens.

 

[Atroxus]

I cant believe this is even a question. That would be absolutely terrible for both east and west side hunters! Making it near impossible to get drawn on the east side and completly over crowding the west side. This is coming from a west side elk hunter.

Other than revenue for WDFW does anyone really think this is gonna make a huge impact? Personally I agree with the thought that this is just a revenue generation plan for WDFW. I have a hard time believing things would be all that bad though. Some people from west side will start putting in for east side permits, but realistically a bunch of people with 1 point are going to be at a HUGE disadvantage vs the people who have points already. If someone has 10 points west side, and no points east side,  why would they want to put in for permits with worse odds of getting drawn? As far as eastside hunters coming over here to hunt, I would think that if they want a branch bull bad enough to travel across the state that they would already be doing so. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't it true that currently east side hunters can just buy an OTC west side elk tag, come over here and hunt branch bulls without having to put in for a permit? 

[JimmyHoffa]

It would seem to me that the 'winners' in this would be those that like hunting spikes on the eastside.  The number of people with eastside tags that want branch bulls would head west and take that much competition off of the spike hunters.