New Discover Pass law is WORSE for Hunters.

[Special T]

Write your legislators.  User fees are the way that the state is moving.  Think of the poor *censored*s that have to drive across the 520 bridge over Lake Washington every day.  They pay more than $30 in a week.  Once the leg decided to de-fund State Parks, they increased the fee that WDFW and DNR were proposing.  I hate user fees, I'd rather just pay taxes, but that's the way things are going.  Other states charge a lot more.  California's access pass is a couple hundred bucks.

I want to be REAL clear about something. USER FEES ARE GOOD! the reason why this pass is so bad is because it is not a REAL user fee. Some years ago this state tried to institute a parking fee @ parks. Attendance dropped like a lead brick so they had to do away with it to justify parks. the DP is about making 1 group pay for an-others usage. IF you use state parks you should buy one and be happy to support it. I don't use parks and see this as a way for the state to make me pay for something i don't use.  TRUE pay to play is fair because it puts the burden on those who use the resource. IF there was an equal distribution of $ between 3 agencies I would buy one in a heart beat. I plan on cutting back what i do to make a point. The state increased my fees on my hunting shack (trailer) and wants hunters and fishermen to pay for parks they don't use by offering up 2 LP numbers for the pass. F-U. I'm parking it for a year and won't travel on state lands. I'm even thinking i'm just gona only duck hunt instead of the full boat of lic this year.

[predatorpro]

i agree with you im only buying deer and small game this year for my licenses....didnt buy a discover pass last year and wont buy one this year, i will take away my support from the wdfw as much as possible, i just wont be hunting for anything else this year

[bobcat]

I think user fees are fine too, they just need to set it up differently so that the people using the parks are paying for the parks, and the people using DNR "DEVELOPED RECREATIONAL AREAS" are paying for them.

We as hunters, in general, do not use DNR's developed sites. If I did, that would be fine and I wouldn't mind paying a fee for that use. But I don't.

Even then I wouldn't mind so much if the Discover pass could be used on all four of my family's vehicles. As it is, if I bought it for hunting on DNR lands, I would have to pick whether to use if on my truck, or my Bronco II. Because the other vehicle it would go on is my wife's car so she could take the kids to the local state park. I don't want to decide between my two hunting vehicles. I should be albe to use whichever one I want at no additional cost.

Like I said before, State Parks needs to have their own individual pass, and DNR should have their own. The WDFW already had one and that's fine because we hunters get it for free, as we should.

[Special T]

The DP ISN'T about simplifying the numbers of passes. Its about making 1 user group pay for another's bill! By saying i'd buy one IF... just confuses the reasoning. There is 1 reason to buy the current pass. Support state parks. 

[bigtex]

I think user fees are fine too, they just need to set it up differently so that the people using the parks are paying for the parks, and the people using DNR "DEVELOPED RECREATIONAL AREAS" are paying for them.

We as hunters, in general, do not use DNR's developed sites. If I did, that would be fine and I wouldn't mind paying a fee for that use. But I don't.

Remember, the "developed recreation areas" are no more. The Discover Pass is now going to be required on all DNR lands. Bigger impact to hunters

[bobcat]

I think user fees are fine too, they just need to set it up differently so that the people using the parks are paying for the parks, and the people using DNR "DEVELOPED RECREATIONAL AREAS" are paying for them.

We as hunters, in general, do not use DNR's developed sites. If I did, that would be fine and I wouldn't mind paying a fee for that use. But I don't.

Remember, the "developed recreation areas" are no more. The Discover Pass is now going to be required on all DNR lands. Bigger impact to hunters

I know that, and I'm not happy at all about that change. That's where the title of this thread came from:  "New Discover Pass law is WORSE for Hunters."

[bobcat]

The DP ISN'T about simplifying the numbers of passes. Its about making 1 user group pay for another's bill! By saying i'd buy one IF... just confuses the reasoning. There is 1 reason to buy the current pass. Support state parks. 

No, there's another reason, and that is if you want to hunt on DNR land, without taking a chance on receiving a $99 or $200 ticket.

I understand what you're saying, but I'm sure a lot of hunters are being forced into buying it if they don't want to give up hunting the areas they're already familiar with.

[MADMAX]

Agree with the above
Its a matter of simple logistics
99 dollar ticket or day in court vs 30 bucks for a pass
I bought one for me and one for the wife so she could do her beachcombing

[Special T]

I guess some of us will just change our activities and say enough is enough. I think its bad enough that we are not well represented by the WDFW on Wildlife issues, and i have continue buying tags.  I'm not the states goat to be milked for the rest of its pet projects and for people's activites i don't partisipate in. If its so damn important fund it through the general fund!    I'll just shoot my bow at my club, stay off state land as much as possible and make them feel the pinch... I've had to tighten my belt like lots of other washington residents. The state hasn't even balanced the budget in the last 2 years! 

[seansfire]

i guess it is a good thing there are thousands and thousands of acres of hunting grounds in this state that have nothing to do with DNR. all the timber companies have lots of gates that are free or low cost to go into.

perhaps a couple years of alot of people refusing to buy theses extra passes will get them to figure it out.

[JohnVH]

. The state hasn't even balanced the budget in the last 2 years! 

I doubt they ever have, they clearly dont stay within it

[Hunting7mm]

After the stories I've heard and the need to be legal I GAVE IN and bought the DP.  My family needs are more important such as pulling off and using a park restroom in which citations have been written if you do not have a pass.  We plan to camp this summer so there it is to pull my trailer to any park it's a must.  I don't agree and I don't like it but the choice is citation or $35 bucks!!!!!!!!  Plus you may find the pass required on private roads if DNR has an easement to their land.  I found it to be true in my area.

[Elkaholic daWg]

. The state hasn't even balanced the budget in the last 2 years! 

I doubt they ever have, they clearly dont stay within it

And the majority party in Oly is MORE interested in BS social issues to even give  the budget a serious thought in 3, 4, will it soon be 5 special sessions and a regular session a chance to be worked out. Maybe they should be charged immensely for using their offices.

[fireweed]

Check out the DNR recreatio newsletter  http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/amp_rec_newsletter_031512.pdf
How do they justify expanding the DP to all DNR land??  They call it "simplifying".   Talk about spin-doctoring!
We all need to contact anyone who voted for these changes, AND the WDFW who didn't stand firm for hunters who already pay, pay, pay.  Just bought my license yesterday about $200 for both combo hunt and fish-- thats before DP, before NW forest pass, before all the WDFW extras.   All that goes to the state for me to hunt in this state: the DP to hunt on undeveloped land NEEDS TO GO!

[Hunting7mm]

Check out the DNR recreatio newsletter  http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/amp_rec_newsletter_031512.pdf
How do they justify expanding the DP to all DNR land??  They call it "simplifying".   Talk about spin-doctoring!
We all need to contact anyone who voted for these changes, AND the WDFW who didn't stand firm for hunters who already pay, pay, pay.  Just bought my license yesterday about $200 for both combo hunt and fish-- thats before DP, before NW forest pass, before all the WDFW extras.   All that goes to the state for me to hunt in this state: the DP to hunt on undeveloped land NEEDS TO GO!

I think we all agree with you and wish it was that easy but common sense no longer exists in this state!!!!!!!!