I'm doing the happy dance

[Bearmtn]

pulled my 1st 2nd deer tag on 3 points, its not a quality entiat or slide ridge but hey its a good chance for some extra meat in the freezer! i'm stoked!

[Blacktail Sniper]

 

[dvolmer]

I hate to burst your bubble but due to the greed of Wasington State your second deer tag is a rip off.  Second deer tags are a meat only hunt due to them all being antlerless only.  by the time you spend the $6.00 for application fee and the 350% rise in cost for the tag this year at right around $70.00 you arn't getting much bang for your buck.  For $75.00 you can buy a lot of burger and steaks at WINCO.  Not to mention your gas etc.

[buckhorn2]

Still fun to draw something and it;s the hunt part thats the fun part not the meat in the freezer althought it;s nice to have. Have a fun hunt.

[WAcoueshunter]

Congratulations! 

Money well spent.  Buying beef at Winco is not nearly as fun as going hunting, antlerless or otherwise.  Others may disagree, but no one is forcing them to apply.

[matt345]

I agree Congrats, I too drew a second deer tag. And I also agree that you could buy more meat at the store than you will get from a second deer for the cost of hunting, tags, license, travel costs, etc! However if was just about the cost of the meat, most of us wouldn't hunt, its about the experience, the challenge, time spent in the outdoors, and the Organic Game Meat!!!!

[krapmit]

I agree with everyone in this post.  I drew the second deer tag. I am excited to harvest a vashon Island black tail...But at the same time! HOLY CRAP $70 tag?  its $40 for an over the counter archery any bull tag in colorado this year!  Once again Washington State prevails as the laughing stock of West Coast hunting. I'm fresh out of college and looking for a job.  I'm not sure how I'm going to afford to put meat in the feezer this year.      

Enough with my rant, I'm to addicted to splitting lungs with an arrow to not find a way to hunt.  But that sure put a damper on my day

[WAcoyotehunter]

  For $75.00 you can buy a lot of burger and steaks at WINCO. 

PUKE!!!  Beef from winco?  Scary compared to good venison!!! 

[arrowflinger]

Congrats on the draw.....I agree with most. I consider it another chase to get out and chase deer.......Put more vension in the freezer. enjoy the hunt and hope you get to drawn blood.

[Chesapeake]

Your going to pay for entertainment one way or another. With hunting you can have entertainment and food for the same price. Beats going to a bar, dace club, or a movie.

[krapmit]

 

[Fish4Fun]

I hate to burst your bubble but due to the greed of Wasington State your second deer tag is a rip off.  Second deer tags are a meat only hunt due to them all being antlerless only.  by the time you spend the $6.00 for application fee and the 350% rise in cost for the tag this year at right around $70.00 you arn't getting much bang for your buck.  For $75.00 you can buy a lot of burger and steaks at WINCO.  Not to mention your gas etc.

Most of us that have hunted for years already know it would be cheaper to buy meat. BUT, you cannot put a price on the fun and memories you are going to make and have from hunting. I put meat in the freezer almost every year, yeah it has gotten $$$$ but I would rather have a deer or elk steak over some vitamin / chemical un-natural hunk of meat. I know where my meat comes from and how it was taken care of, now that is "Priceless Quality Meat".

[mfswallace]

  For $75.00 you can buy a lot of burger and steaks at WINCO. 

PUKE!!!  Beef from winco?  Scary compared to good venison!!!

[WAcoueshunter]

Man, the money I pay in gas to shoot the occasional pheasant...holy cow.   

[MLBowhunting]

Well i hope you post pics all 70 bucks worth 

[bobcat]

Man, the money I pay in gas to shoot the occasional pheasant...holy cow.   

    I don't know how many times I've spent $300 to $500 in gas to shoot on average probably about 5 pheasants. I guess I never considered I could have bought chicken from Safeway for a whole lot less. Somehow that just doesn't sound like nearly as much fun.

 

[TheHunt]

When I go hunt I am paying for the sport, entertainment, and fellowship of the people I hunt with or share experiences.  Same could be said for a trip to Hawaii.  Plane tickets, hotel, car rental, and aventures or golf. 

Hunting seems a lot cheaper to me. 

[Bearmtn]

Beef at winco?, out of the question!, I'll take a 100$ worth of venison over 50$ worth of what they call beef there, or even at safeway/qfc/alberstons

THERE IS NO SUBSITUTION for wild game over beef/pork in my book.

[Scottystyle]

  Love the enthusiasm over a doe tag    Thats what its about, priceless memories, and for those who love all natural organic venison, thats exciting as a Quality tag to some.  I hunt does in Montana at 80 per tag..... is it a value.... Hells no, but I love venison, I love the scenery, and the low-pressure where we go makes it a Quality experience.  Id say its a good deal if your happy with it 

[dongill]

Wow, congrats on the second tag.

Have to say, the price jumps are pissing me off as well, and have had to start thinking about hunting as entertainment. If I start pricing the value of the meat out vs the cost of going to Fred Meyers for a roast, well...it doesn't add up.

Hell, I can't take my family a 2 hour movies for less than $50 anymore. $70 for a couple more days in the woods chasing deer seems like money well spent.

 

[CAMPMEAT]

.................the big plus is, you can get away from the 2nd half !!! 

[Gobble Gobble]

   Love the enthusiasm over a doe tag    That's what its about, priceless memories, and for those who love all natural organic venison, that's exciting as a Quality tag to some. 

I'm feeling the same way about my antlerless tag I drew this year. More so because I was drawn for the same tag last year and punched my tag at 40 yrds. I plan to do the same this year with my 1 point draw. You can't eat antler and if you factor in the cost of having a buck mounted even euro it will make that second doe tag look cheap in comparison. I'm all about the meat to feed my kids.

[dvolmer]

Ok Ok Ok.  You guys are right!  Its just so frustrating how the state is screwing us for tags.  Its like they have us over a barrell and having there way with us.  It would be one thing if all the money went into the wildlife but it goes into the general fund and we get so little back.  I guess that might be a blessing because if it didnt go into the general fund the right wing tree huggers would outlaw hunting altogether in our state if they didnt get their money for their wacked out programs.  When I put myself, Wife, three daughters, and one son in for licenses and special draws I felt like I got robbed, beaten, and molested all at the same time.  I chose not to put in for second deer because I already was into it close to $1000.00 with all of the pemits.  I do have a question for you all.  Just how much would you pay for a doe tag?  Just wonering.

When I go to Montana to hunt deer I can buy them for around $70.00 each and never have.

[steen]

I hate to burst your bubble but due to the greed of Wasington State your second deer tag is a rip off.  Second deer tags are a meat only hunt due to them all being antlerless only.  by the time you spend the $6.00 for application fee and the 350% rise in cost for the tag this year at right around $70.00 you arn't getting much bang for your buck.  For $75.00 you can buy a lot of burger and steaks at WINCO.  Not to mention your gas etc.

There really isn't any hunting worth the money when you figure in all the expenses, tag, gas, lodging, time off work etc....   It is all about the joy of hunting and eating what you shoot really, right?

[Hunterman]

With all this "Slamming"  about WinCO,,, have y'all seen the people at WINCO??? I coud tell y'all some stories that would make the state charge you for a permitt

Hunterman(Tony)

[Bearmtn]

Ok Ok Ok.  You guys are right!  Its just so frustrating how the state is screwing us for tags.  Its like they have us over a barrell and having there way with us.  It would be one thing if all the money went into the wildlife but it goes into the general fund and we get so little back.  I guess that might be a blessing because if it didnt go into the general fund the right wing tree huggers would outlaw hunting altogether in our state if they didnt get their money for their wacked out programs.  When I put myself, Wife, three daughters, and one son in for licenses and special draws I felt like I got robbed, beaten, and molested all at the same time.  I chose not to put in for second deer because I already was into it close to $1000.00 with all of the pemits.  I do have a question for you all.  Just how much would you pay for a doe tag?  Just wonering.

When I go to Montana to hunt deer I can buy them for around $70.00 each and never have.

I wouldn't be asking that question!, if WDFW finds out we would "maybe" pay more they might make us!

but with all that said its all about hunting to me, and it seems like i can find a doe anyware and the unit i drew i have a buddy with the land hookup and there is ALWAYS a doe or 2 there, that and its a good feeling to know that the 2 hunts i have planned before i try to fill my doe tag I'll be holding out for that big buck knowing i can fall back on the doe tag for that fer sure meat

[Biggerhammer]

I'll take a 500.00 deer over a beef any day. Beef can be had year round.

[Pathfinder101]

PathfinderJR's 2nd Deer Tag from 2011.  Looks like a $70 smile to me.  I'll try to get some pics next time we go to the store and buy some burger, and we can compare grins.   

It might be a while though.  I've still got plenty of venison in the freezer.  

[turbo]

I also drew a second deer doe Whitetail tag (with 1 point)  in my favorite unit in the Methow and will gladly pay the $70. This tag is the layup of all time and I'm going to be hunting Bucks anyway.

The only question I have is when should I take it? Should I get it out of the way opening morning or wait until the end of my trip? How would you feel if your buddy called you on the radio opening day at 7:31 to help you load up a doe??

I think I am going to jump out of the back of the truck and tackle my doe and take it with a knife... Jk 

[dongill]

PathfinderJR's 2nd Deer Tag from 2011.  Looks like a $70 smile to me.  I'll try to get some pics next time we go to the store and buy some burger, and we can compare grins.   

It might be a while though.  I've still got plenty of venison in the freezer.

You win!

[Blacktail Sniper]

PathfinderJR's 2nd Deer Tag from 2011.  Looks like a $70 smile to me.  I'll try to get some pics next time we go to the store and buy some burger, and we can compare grins.   

It might be a while though.  I've still got plenty of venison in the freezer.

Well worth it!!!     

[bobcat]

Nice thing is for kids under the age of 16, the 2nd deer tag is not $70, it's $24.