Confusion abounds concerning hunts

There were public comment periods, where hunters could submit written remarks about changes in hunting rules. There were meetings open to the public where hunters could comment in person in front of the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission.

After the final comments were tallied and considered, the commission adopted the new hunting rules and reduced some of the special permit costs. Still confusion abounds.

There was confusion about the tag needed for the Aug. 1 through Oct. 24 master hunter season in Elk Area 3911.

Master hunters worked diligently to make sure it was clear about using either a general elk tag or the 3911 second elk tag for this season. The hunting pamphlet indicated only the second tag could be used.

The issue was addressed in a frequently-asked-question section on the Fish and Wildlife website by stating: Which master hunter hunts require a master hunter second tag? Answer: A second tag is not required for the early 3911 Master Hunter General Season, Aug. 1-Oct. 24.

A master hunter may purchase a second tag for this hunt or they may use their general season tag. However, if a general season tag is used successfully during this season, a second tag cannot be purchased for the general season.

Second tags are required for master hunter special permit hunts. However, master hunter second tags are not required for: Elk Area 3912 / GMU 371 during Aug. 1 - Jan. 20, 2015; Elk Area 3911 during Nov. 8 - Dec. 14 or GMUs 127 and 130 during the Dec. 9 through 31 hunt.

This means a master hunter who wants to only purchase a general season elk tag can use this tag during the Aug. 1 through Oct. 24 early 3911 season. However, if this tag is notched, this hunter could not use a second tag for the general season.

What's more, there is now a difference between a 3911 second tag and a master hunter special permit hunt second tag. The 3911 second elk tag can only be used during the early 3911 hunt. A special permit hunt second tag needs to be purchased and used only in the specific special permit hunt.

I have a regular season tag and will purchase the 3911 tag to participate in this early hunt. I also was drawn for the Master Hunter Region 2 permit hunt, so will need to purchase a second elk tag for this hunt, maybe. The purchase of this tag will only take place if the hunt is initiated.

The 3911 elk tag has a price of $66.50 and the permit elk tag costs $22.50. The first tag price was supposed to be dropped to $22.50, but somehow it was left at the higher price.

After months of meetings and comment periods, the approved drop in price was overlooked. Come on you people. I know you are in need of money, but slipping this one in is suspicious.

Will someone be held accountable? This may be true if the oversight took money away from Fish and Wildlife. Making the department money may result in a promotion. Remember one of the goals is to retain hunters, not chase them away.

In my case, three elk tags may find their way to my wallet; the general elk tag, the 3911 elk tag and a permit second elk tag. However, the regulations say no more than two elk may be harvested per license year.

Here is a scenario of how my elk hunting may shape up this year: I hunt the 3911 area and notch the 3911 tag with a full grown cow. I hunt during the general modern firearm season and shoot a spike bull. At this point I'm finished, because two elk have been tagged.

Another scenario: I shoot a cow during the 3911 season. I'm called in January because an orchard is being damaged by 30 elk. A permit second tag needs to be purchased. A hunt coordinator administers the hunt and I am asked to shoot a cow standing in the orchard. At this point my two elk have been tagged.

The master hunter permit hunts sounds good, but it doesn't necessarily work out this way. There were 50 permits available, but typically less than this number apply. Last year only 37 hunters put in for the hunt and the number this year was 32. This means everyone was drawn.

Now for the bad news: Very seldom will a hunter be called to participate in this hunt. The cost of the permit application, $7.10, is simply a donation to Fish and Wildlife.

Reading the hunting pamphlet and trying to understand the complexity of the various hunts is difficult enough for any hunter. Fish and Wildlife needs to take extra care in making sure the information between the front cover and the back page is accurate.