Post by: 87samurai on September 07, 2017, 12:22:27 PM
Dear special permit holder,
You drew a permit in an area that is currently experiencing wildfires that makes it nearly impossible to hunt.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife(WDFW) understands the impact that this has on your hunting season, so WDFW has decided to restore your points if you choose to turn in your permit prior to the start of the hunt.
You can send your permit to the Olympia office by mail or bring it to a regional office with a letter indicating that you want your points restored. Returned permits must be postmarked with a date prior to the start of the hunt in order to receive the reinstated points.
If you choose not to turn your permit in prior to the start of the hunt, your points will not be restored. If you choose to proceed with your hunt, please be careful and obey all fire and road closures.
To mail in your permit, use the following address:
Wildlife Program Customer Service
PO Box 43141
Olympia, WA 98504
If you have any questions, reach out to our customer service staff at (360) 902-2515.
Respectfully,
Anis Aoude
Game Division Manager
Post by: SkookumHntr on September 07, 2017, 12:32:07 PM
Post by: Elkfever on September 07, 2017, 12:48:42 PM
Post by: huntnphool on September 07, 2017, 01:15:11 PM
Post by: 7mag. on September 07, 2017, 01:21:08 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 07, 2017, 01:23:45 PM
Post by: Stein on September 07, 2017, 01:27:14 PM
Post by: Bob33 on September 07, 2017, 01:40:53 PM
They should also give back points for the damage hunts where you never get a call, but that's a different topic.They do now.
Post by: jackelope on September 07, 2017, 01:42:28 PM
Post by: fishngamereaper on September 07, 2017, 01:45:52 PM
I'm happy for you guys and glad to see WDFW doing the right thing. Now if everyone could keep anything remotely flammable out of the Goat Rocks, that would be great.
:chuckle:. Gee ....I wonder why.
Post by: Bigshooter on September 07, 2017, 01:55:23 PM
Post by: Stein on September 07, 2017, 02:14:29 PM
They should also give back points for the damage hunts where you never get a call, but that's a different topic.They do now.
Huh, maybe I should call in for my daughter. She was #2 on the list and they never called #1.
Post by: Bob33 on September 07, 2017, 02:45:11 PM
It changed this year.They should also give back points for the damage hunts where you never get a call, but that's a different topic.They do now.
Huh, maybe I should call in for my daughter. She was #2 on the list and they never called #1.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/apr1417c/
"Other hunting rule changes increase the daily limit for white-fronted geese and white geese in response to the growing abundance of those species, and restore points to hunters who draw permits for damage hunts administered by a hunt coordinator but are not called to participate."
Post by: trophyhunt on September 07, 2017, 02:58:25 PM
Post by: Watimberghost on September 07, 2017, 03:02:45 PM
Had the same thing happen years ago, good on WDFW giving this option IMO. :twocents::yeah:
Post by: GOcougsHunter on September 07, 2017, 03:48:01 PM
Post by: 87samurai on September 07, 2017, 03:48:53 PM
Post by: Killmore on September 07, 2017, 04:07:26 PM
Post by: Pegasus on September 07, 2017, 04:15:51 PM
Post by: idaho guy on September 07, 2017, 04:17:19 PM
Unless your permit area is completely in cinders I would think twice about turning back your permit to get your points back. Look how many years it has taken most to get drawn. Do you really want to play that game for the next umpteen years again waiting to get drawn? Besides, the fires not only will concentrate the hunters into smaller areas to hunt it will also likely concentrate the game.
:yeah:
Post by: 7mag. on September 07, 2017, 04:25:22 PM
The only way I would give back any permit is if they pulled it out of my dead cold hands, considering how long it can take to draw, some of you may not draw again. The 336 unit is not on fire so that leaves a lot of public land to hunt.
Just read today that most of the roads on the west end of 336 are now closed. The Peaches Ridge area (336, 346) is getting smaller every day. There is still a bunch of area to hunt, but access is getting a lot more difficult.
Post by: jackelope on September 07, 2017, 04:56:40 PM
I drew the peaches archery with 5 points. I spent all my scouting trips in the 336 unit as that's where I was the most "familiar" with. Scouting didn't go to good for me. Only had 2 bulls on my cams and they disappeared about 3 weeks ago. I'm really torn on what to do :bash: and I gotta make my decision quick :yike:
Bulls probably started feeling their cheerios and left and went to where the cows are.
:dunno:
Post by: Stein on September 07, 2017, 05:06:47 PM
Post by: buglebuster on September 07, 2017, 05:15:43 PM
Post by: Falcon on September 07, 2017, 08:27:14 PM
Pretty sure I'm turning in my Peaches Ridge archery bull tag. Almost all the area I've scouted is closed.
Sorry to hear that Ken. I know you were more than ready for a tough guy elk hunt in that awesome unit :bash:
Post by: HuntnFishnRyan on September 07, 2017, 09:07:06 PM
Post by: bracer40 on September 07, 2017, 11:09:33 PM
Glad to see the state being proactive on this
Sorry to see you tagholders having to go through this..
Hopefully you all find a way to get outside and make some memories!
.
Post by: 7mag. on September 08, 2017, 12:35:47 AM
Pretty sure I'm turning in my Peaches Ridge archery bull tag. Almost all the area I've scouted is closed.
Sorry to hear that Ken. I know you were more than ready for a tough guy elk hunt in that awesome unit :bash:
Thanks Brian, I'm feeling pretty good about it. I had my heart set on a wilderness backpack hunt, so I'm going to save my points and try again. I can still hunt cows and spikes, plus my hunting partner is keeping his bull tag, so I'm going to do my best to call a bull in for him.
Post by: monster on September 08, 2017, 04:27:23 AM
Post by: ShadowHunter on September 08, 2017, 08:11:03 AM
Quote
Just read today that most of the roads on the west end of 336 are now closed.
No idea where you read that, but no roads have been closed in 336....yet. Pretty much the whole "Eastern" half of 335 Teanaway yes, but not 336 Taneum.
Post by: cougforester on September 08, 2017, 09:27:31 AM
Post by: huntnphool on September 08, 2017, 09:49:26 AM
This is purely anecdotal, but I think the smoke is messing with animals and their activity patterns. Just drove between Cle Elum and Ellensburg, and saw two coyotes running around just off the interstate. Right after that, two 4x4 mulies were feeding less than a hundred yards off 90. Seemed odd for the heat and time of day. Could be a silver lining to these fires.
Silver lining, as in the animals are safe or that the fires have made the animals easier to hunt?
Post by: 7mag. on September 08, 2017, 10:01:10 AM
QuoteJust read today that most of the roads on the west end of 336 are now closed.
No idea where you read that, but no roads have been closed in 336....yet. Pretty much the whole "Eastern" half of 335 Teanaway yes, but not 336 Taneum.
I followed a link from inciweb.
Post by: bobcat on September 08, 2017, 10:16:37 AM
QuoteJust read today that most of the roads on the west end of 336 are now closed.
No idea where you read that, but no roads have been closed in 336....yet. Pretty much the whole "Eastern" half of 335 Teanaway yes, but not 336 Taneum.
I followed a link from inciweb.
Aren't the closed roads in the Stampede unit, and not Taneum?
Post by: cougforester on September 08, 2017, 10:19:40 AM
This is purely anecdotal, but I think the smoke is messing with animals and their activity patterns. Just drove between Cle Elum and Ellensburg, and saw two coyotes running around just off the interstate. Right after that, two 4x4 mulies were feeding less than a hundred yards off 90. Seemed odd for the heat and time of day. Could be a silver lining to these fires.Both I guess? :chuckle:
Silver lining, as in the animals are safe or that the fires have made the animals easier to hunt?
Post by: yakimanoob on September 08, 2017, 11:59:57 AM
http://www.lar.wsu.edu/airpact/gmap/ap5/ap5smoke.html (http://www.lar.wsu.edu/airpact/gmap/ap5/ap5smoke.html)
Post by: SpurInSpokane on September 08, 2017, 12:51:23 PM
Post by: 1bugman on September 08, 2017, 01:00:00 PM
I want to thank WDFW for giving us this option, it's not their fault the fires are screwing up these hunts.
Bugman
Post by: Stein on September 08, 2017, 02:12:54 PM
Just mailed my Peaches Quality Archer permit back. Very Depressed with the fire situation, but feeling good about keeping my 13 points. Maybe next year will work out better. I did get some great bulls on my game camera.
I want to thank WDFW for giving us this option, it's not their fault the fires are screwing up these hunts.
Bugman
Man, tough call. I don't envy your situation.
Post by: yakimanoob on September 08, 2017, 02:22:29 PM
:yeah:Just mailed my Peaches Quality Archer permit back. Very Depressed with the fire situation, but feeling good about keeping my 13 points. Maybe next year will work out better. I did get some great bulls on my game camera.
I want to thank WDFW for giving us this option, it's not their fault the fires are screwing up these hunts.
Bugman
Man, tough call. I don't envy your situation.
I don't see how the Peaches area could be anything but dense smoke, even if you did come in another way besides Little Naches. At least you get to keep your points (and your healthy lungs).
Post by: floatinghat on September 08, 2017, 04:34:10 PM
I think if the GMU is shut down they should give you the permit the following year. Points just put you back in the black hole.
Post by: 87samurai on September 08, 2017, 04:37:08 PM
Post by: Stein on September 08, 2017, 04:46:45 PM
I think if the GMU is shut down they should give you the permit the following year. Points just put you back in the black hole.
:yeah:
Post by: CarbonHunter on September 08, 2017, 05:51:51 PM
Post by: Stein on September 08, 2017, 05:53:28 PM
I sure hope some of you are keeping your tags and plan on hunting the season. The year of the Nile slide I was in the 346 during deer season when it was a ghost town and the elk were everywhere. I wish I had a tag because there is still plenty of good ground open if you can handle the smoke and the elk are sure to be concentrated in the ground that's not burning.
:hello:
Post by: CarbonHunter on September 08, 2017, 05:59:56 PM
I sure hope some of you are keeping your tags and plan on hunting the season. The year of the Nile slide I was in the 346 during deer season when it was a ghost town and the elk were everywhere. I wish I had a tag because there is still plenty of good ground open if you can handle the smoke and the elk are sure to be concentrated in the ground that's not burning.I hope you kill a stud Stein so all these guys who turned their tags in can cry in their beers!
:hello:
Post by: Stein on September 09, 2017, 09:37:24 AM
The fire very well could be still going at some level, but I don't expect the access to be nearly as bad and hopefully the smoke has settled a bunch as well. Several really good dudes here have helped me think through what plan B looks like and I have spent many hours desk scouting and should get at least one scouting trip in before the season starts.
I have no idea how the fire will change it up, my guess is that the food in the burn is pretty much gone. One question I have is what the fringe areas between the burn and not burn look like and how much of the growth was actually burned out? One longshot would be to use the burn area to hike into previously gnarly areas that were too thick before. That assumes the bigger trees are still intact and not going to create a huge safety risk.
The way the fire burned, I would be reservedly excited to be in 653 as it may have pushed a ton of animals up over the PCT and into that unit.
Who knows, only one way to find out. I do know that area will rock in 2-3 years for all big game. Should be a total game changer in some of those drainages if you end up being able to see further than 10 yards in any direction.
Post by: Brena.Hunter on September 09, 2017, 10:55:42 PM