Status of Senior Hunters

[Dhoey07]

Here is an e-mail i sent to WDFW on Tuesday.  Haven't heard back, just wanted some input from you guys.  I tried to be as cordial as possible while trying to get my point across.  What do ya'll think? 


To whom it may concern,

                Reading through the license types and fees page on wdfw.wa.gov, I noticed some items that really rub me the wrong way.  First, the age to be considered a senior is set at 70.  Second, the price of hunting licenses and tags are the same for seniors as residents.  I find this offensive and disrespectful to the older generations of hunters residing in our state.  Most these seniors have been in the woods and fishing our rivers for decades, contributing countless amounts of money through license sales, gear, and gas and you make them wait until 70, and no discount on hunting?!   This won’t pertain to me for a long time, as I am only 26, but I feel ashamed that our government disregards the involvement and contributions this group has given to the younger generations and yourself (through tax dollars) .  What is the reasoning for this?  A lot of sportsmen are unhappy with wdfw as a whole and I can understand why. 

Thank you for your time,

Danny Hoey

[h20hunter]

Copy and pasted, age and name changed, sent as well. I agree and think your statement is well written.

[GoldTip]

Agreed, very well written and hits the nail on the head.

[boneaddict]

WELL SAID!

[Elkaholic daWg]

 Great letter.

[Wacenturion]

Not too long ago, fishing licenses for seniors were free.  Then the agency decided that was a loss of revenue so they changed it to a discounted license.   What a insult to those who were getting it or soon to be recipients.

You have to understand that WDFW doesn't give a rat's a** about sportsmen.  You're just revenue mules to them.  In house they commonly refer to sportsmen as "Joe Six Pack".  That tell you anything?

[Dhoey07]

Thanks guys.  I have never written to wdfw before and honetstly, i doubt i'll even get a reply.  You gotta start somewhere i guess.

[bigtex]

The ones that actually make the decision on fees and licenses is the legislature. For example the Two-Pole endorsement WDFW wanted it to be $10 or $15, it was the legislature that made it $25.....

[400out]

  So tex your telling me that WDFW has no say at all in the rates    Great letter! Glad you found a nice way of putting it! I had not noticed the age reguirment for seniors! How many 70 year olds do you see in the woods!            

[grundy53]

Great letter! When I get to a computer I'm going to send one off too. We can also send them off to the legislature.

[bigtex]

So tex your telling me that WDFW has no say at all in the rates

WDFW can provide input, but they are not the final decisionmaker. Like I said with the two-pole endorsement, WDFW wanted it to be $10-15 cheaper then what it currently is....

[doyourtime89]

Great letter....I totally agree

[buckhorn2]

Good letter hope you get a reply in oregon my grandmother and Dad always got what they called pioneer licenses that were free but can;t remember what the age was to obtain one you also had to be a resident for a certain time.

[Arteman]

I agree this is bs, they really should cut the older generations a break.  With age they are already restricted by their body on what they can do or how and where they can hunt, usually less desirable ways then they would like to.  With trying to get by on whatever retirement they have set up and lots with medical issues it should be a no brainer to let them have a free ride, they at least deserve a discount.  This year in my hunting spot while coming out on are bikes I came across an oldtimer packing a buck head out.  I had to stop and check it out, it was a nice buck.  He was retying his tag on the antler but hands where shaking pretty bad and struggling.  I asked if he had help or needed help getting the meat out, he didn't want help in the chance of giving up his spot, which I respect, but for the next couple days I seen him toting meat out in a wheelbarrel.  Any of us would have had it out the first trip, his hunts are numbered up there, and glad he got that buck if anybody.  I'll post you guys a pic of it later because I know we all like those.  My whole point is, this guy obviously loves hunting so much that he went through more hardships with his age to get it done then typical, and wonder how many others from a financial aspect go through hardships to do what they loved to do their whole life but just cant go make that money like they once could to pay for it.   

[Wacenturion]

The ones that actually make the decision on fees and licenses is the legislature. For example the Two-Pole endorsement WDFW wanted it to be $10 or $15, it was the legislature that made it $25.....

Granted, but WDFW proposes them to begin with.  Two pole endosement is a prime example of just how ridiculous it all is.  For eons, two polling equates to a ticket.  Had to be bad for the resource if you got a ticket right?  Well welcome to the 21st century WDFW mentality.  No longer bad for the resource.  Now you can just pay for the privilege to do what used to be illegal.  Thanks for your support.   

[Slenk]

Great letter! Glad you found a nice way of putting it!How many 70 year olds do you see in the woods!

I know of quit a few of us over 70 and several over 80 still out there.

In Idaho I could get a hunting license for $4 

[Dhoey07]

Great letter! Glad you found a nice way of putting it!How many 70 year olds do you see in the woods!

I know of quit a few of us over 70 and several over 80 still out there.

In Idaho I could get a hunting license for $4

I think you and your fiends are definitely the exception to the rule.

[NWBREW]

   Great letter! Glad you found a nice way of putting it! I had not noticed the age reguirment for seniors! How many 70 year olds do you see in the woods! 

My father went hunting with me last year at 80 years of age. Sadly it will most likely be his last. The price should be a lot less in my opinion because the number of years left to be in the woods hunting will be less as well.  Great letter.

[Dhoey07]

Update for ya'll.  This was the response e-mail i recieved from wdfw.

Danny

Thank you for contacting the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.  The age in which a license purchaser is considered a senior was decided through legislation.  WAC governing the age requirement was enacted prior to the Department of Wildlife and Department of Fisheries merged into the current WDFW.  I would recommend that you contact your legislator on this issue because legislation is the only means to change the pricing that is charged for licenses.  You can look up your legislator at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rosters/Members.aspx.  If you have any more questions please feel free to contact us at 360-902-2464 or by email at licensing@dfw.wa.gov.

Kris Thorson
WDFW - Licensing Division
Recreational Licensing Supervisor
Phone: 360-902-2451
Email: Kristopher.thorson@dfw.wa.gov
 
I e-mailed my 3 legislators today.  I'll let ya know when i get a response from them.

[Wacenturion]

Typical agency reply sending you somewhere else.  Yeah the legislature approves it, but initially WDFW or either agency prior to the merger in 1993 proposed it in a license package.  Eventually they'll blame it on Bush.   

[Bob33]

RCW 77.08.010 was established in 1993. RCWs are written by legislators.  I believe that to what extent they were provided input on the senior age being 70 would be pure speculation at this time.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.08.010

See (49).

[TheHunt]

You want to change the age...  Call your AARP reps from a united group of hunters. 

The lobby for the AARP is one of the strongest in the nation.  Business and Government fear them.  Get together and make your case to the AARP. 

[wence5]

Good letter hope you get a reply in oregon my grandmother and Dad always got what they called pioneer licenses that were free but can;t remember what the age was to obtain one you also had to be a resident for a certain time.

The Pioneer License is a free lifetime license. In order to qualify you will need to be 65 years or older on the date of the application, and have lived in Oregon for 50 years.  A senior citizen (age 70) can get a lic. for $21.50, an $8 reduction. Washington, it would appear, is in it for the $$$$.