Yet Another Reason To Hate Wa.

[Wenatcheejay]

Just in case you did not know, if you choose your Elk Tag and also put in for any special hunts you can not exchange your tag even if it is before the season.

For all you guys who waste your money in this Rat sucking, Wolf Loving, Democrat controlled cess-pool of a State, I have good news. Your chances of being drawn are about .000000000000001 percent higher. I think next time I want to submit for a hunt here I will take my five bucks and burn it in the back yard.

What really gripes me is this is not about me, it is about my 12 year old son. I am sooo pissed! 

[WDFW-SUX]

 

[jackelope]

well how would you like it to be? i want to put in for branch bull permits in e-wa then if/when i don't draw i will exchange it so i can hunt big bulls on the westside??? come on now...

hells bells man if you could do that we'd have every elk hunter in the state doing it.

[shanevg]

... yeah, it's been like that ever since they made you choose Eastside/Westside and weapon choice for your elk tag.  

If you were allowed to exchange it, then you could just apply for all the eastside hunts and then call them after you didn't draw and switch over to the westside.  It really does make sense, you just aren't thinking it through very clearly.

No we can get into a whole different discussion about whether WDFW should make us choose weapon choice/side of state before we apply but that's a different topic entirely.

[WDFW-SUX]

I just take my lumps in advance and buy my westside elk tag

[stringflinger4elk]

went thru this last year myself and had lengthy discussions with liscensing personell about it. I argued with some people over a couple days and ended up talking with a supervisor.
My situation I bought my elk tag and all that like usual my friends initially decided to try to hunt the wetside archery that year and I was going to give it a try with them then the fire closures and gate closures went into effect like usual and we all tried to go for the other side prior to opener. My friends all don't put in for points but I do and I like to use them on the east side. so I put in for the ghost points or points only option as this is the ONLY TWO WAYS it is refered to in the regs. My argument was that since I did not apply for a special "HUNT" Or submit a special "HUNT" application them not switching my license for the other side of the state is rediculous.

Many apologies from the folks at F&G but the real root cause analysis of this came down to a pretty pizz poor excuse to me.

Ready here you go ... they told me they could not switch my tag to the other side because it messes up the computer programs point accumulation history for you the hunter.  They have known about it and they can't (won't or are to lazy to) fix it.

IMHO It whould not matter whatever the situation is if somebody wants to switch thier tag to a different weapon or side of the state as long as they do it before the opener for the tag they have in  hand they should be allowed to.
now they would have to give up a permit if they drew one for what they had that's obviously not transferable but in any other circumstance that should be a no brainer.
give up your permit and just get your point  instead.  Sure it leaves a permit un issued but it gives everyone flexibility  they will get to take more peoples money in the long run you think they would be all about this but HELLS NO they are sitting on thier butts pawning responsibility on a programming error.
FIX it already!       
How retarded is it we live in the land Of Micro soft and all that and the states F&G liscensing is screwed up because of a programming error they have lived with since they went all electronic on everything.
R E D I C U L O U S ! ! ! !         

[jackelope]

again...if they did that then everybody and their brother would swap their tag to a westside tag so they could hunt big bulls OTC once they don't draw an east side bull tag.

they can't do it for one and not the rest of the state.

   i don't understand where the mystery is.

[JackOfAllTrades]

because it messes up the computer programs point accumulation history for you the hunter.

Um, I think someone told you wrong.  I believe that points are awarded per 'Species', not east/west like it used to be. Computer issue or not.. There still could be an issue as WDFW does not have direct access to any of the systems and services that are contracted out. Sure, they can fix some things.. (But, my son has two Wild ID's. One is disabled and will be there for ever. They can't remove it.)

In reality, the board that decides these things makes the best decision they can in the best ineterests of the whole states wildlife. Allowing people to switch hunt units/east/west just provides extra opportunity to harvest in thier eyes. To be fair to 'Everyone' these rules are in place.

Now, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't complain to them about what you feel is a glitch in the system. WDFW is a public and wildlife serving entity and I have to believe there is a mechanism for you to petition that the glitch gets resolved. Unfortunately it's probably not going to help you this season.

I do encourage you to press that, what you percieve a glitch in the system, gets resolved.

My god, would you rather live in a state that has ample animals but the tags are all gobbled up by guide outfits? No or very little over the counter sales of harvest tags?

Lighten up a little. They're doing the best they can with the resourses they have.
 
-Steve

[Little Fish]

Dang. I personally can't think of many other states that have as much to offer as WA. My biggest problem is pinning down the exact date to switch gears from killing salmon to killing mammals.

[stringflinger4elk]

Ok so I remember this argument or rather discussion with other friends about this and I realize I was forgetting that point of contention. about the guys not getting a tag and then switching.

How many people would really now .... really want to uproot thier plans and go for something like that.
Most of us growning up have deep rooted connections to deer camp, the place, the people, family, tradition etc.
alot of people will talk a big game but rarely deliver. if it's overcrowding as an issue think of all the people that wait till the last minute to buy a tag already that couldn't care less about permits but are waiting on the weather to decide for them or rather the road closures for fire danger. any year there is low fire danger and roads aren't locked is going to be a crowded season on the west side for sure.

If you only put in for points it should not ever be held against you, you already decided not to play that year and let others get a tag and made your donation to the coffers. you pay extra money with out any chance of reward that year because you are already thinking long term  like I know I can't get the permit season off this year so I am ghosting it. But hey sometimes plans can change in a hurry and maybe you really could benifit from hunting a little closer to home this or that year due to some unforseen circumstance and it happens long after you made your decision to put in that points only option.  So now what you no longer get to hunt you are screwed.

I hope it happens to you someday or your kids then we'll talk.

And I mean the points only option part of this, don't get confused or anything. the rest of it is a real mess so to speak but if they could fix that one thing that would be a positive note in my book

[Wenatcheejay]

There is no mystery. This is a "Well jay, you are a dumbsh$t" post. But, I mean it. I can't stand it anymore.

I know the arguments, we have to negotiate with the Natives, and we have to spend 100$$$ of dollars to drive to the wolf meetings to tell people who don't give a rats ass about how I feel. (All the while) Giving up on doing the very thing I am griping about not wanting to pay to do anymore.

What I am saying is, "I give up." I think it is time for me to hang it up.  

[BIGBULLBALLS]

Choose your side, it's very simple.  I suck it up and apply for east side tags and if I don't draw a tag (which hasn't happened in 10 years) I either hunt cow/spike with the bow in Eastern Washington or go to Oregon.  Read the regs front to back and you usually won't be surprised by the state.

[Ray]

I don't have much of a problem on comitting to east vs west on elk. I'm ok with taking my lumps and going west side archery. I will not hunt elk with a gun of any sort in this state any time in the foreseeable future.

The problem I had which is somewhat similar is wanting to change weapon type for deer (not elk) before the season starts and after I have not drawn a tag.

[matlockmike]

Guy at my work is trying the same thing right now.  Fire closures early archery he wants to change his tag now.  
Play the cards your dealt I tell him, we are all in the same boat.  Then again if he switched that would be one less person in the woods when I'm there.

[WDFW-SUX]

There is nothing worse than not having a branched bull tag in this state.... I have a really hard time getting excited about the spike thing.. just can't do it

Im thinking about just sticking to the westside tags for the duration and then idaho or someplace else to round out the season.