WAG Thread

[Action]

The last time we had a 1 mallard hen limit was 1986/87 to 1995 seasons. The first two years there was 5 duck limit with 4 mallards and 1 hen. For 1989 to 1995 there was 4 duck daily limits with a 3 mallard (1 hen) restriction. It would seem a hen reduction limit would potentially include a total mallard limit reduction. On a lighter note, reducing the overall mallard limit to 3 or 4 birds, might help with the perceived corn complex issue!

Curt

Those days there was also a decrease in hunters in the field. On a positive note a 1 hen limit with a reduced bag may have hunters focusing more on all green since they can pass up on birds due to the lower bag limit. Corn field hunting might cause a problem with collateral damage.

 

[Action]

I do also think that the recruitment of new hunters should be a priority for WDFW. I actually think we should get rid of the veterans and youth day at the end of the year and make it a "New Hunter" day where if you have had a lic less than 3 years or something you would qualify. The barrier to entry is high for new hunters.

It had taken me 30 years and two surgeries I paid for out of my pocket to file as a disabled veteran on a service connected disability. I have hosted veterans youth on the extended season so I don’t feel taking that way from either group. Maybe add new hunters to the day would be a possible but how do they prove that in the field?

 

[JBG]

Does the WAG have any idea if WA is going to go to an online type of licensing system and reporting like Oregon? There system seems pretty slick esp for snow goose cards, crab cards, salmon/hali etc. BTW in Oregon you can get the paper type sent if you arent into the whole technology thing

 

[D3Smartie]

Yes.. it's a slow process but WA is moving that direction

 

[Action]

Does the WAG have any idea if WA is going to go to an online type of licensing system and reporting like Oregon? There system seems pretty slick esp for snow goose cards, crab cards, salmon/hali etc. BTW in Oregon you can get the paper type sent if you arent into the whole technology thing

I hunt and fish in Oregon and it is a slick system that’s for sure. I do still like paper since I save my license’s from all the years I have hunted.

 

[Guzman]

Dropping limits would be the best thing you could do for public hunters.

 

[JBG]

Dropping limits would be the best thing you could do for public hunters.

Interesting . . . how do you figure? Gets people out of the field faster?

 

[Billy hill]

I think if limits were dropped it would hurt the guide situation. I wont pay for 7 birds a day. I would pay even less for 5 birds a day. Public hunters usually dont have the big per hunter fees.

 

[JBG]

I think if limits were dropped it would hurt the guide situation. I wont pay for 7 birds a day. I would pay even less for 5 birds a day. Public hunters usually dont have the big per hunter fees.

It seems like dropping bird limits to make public land hunting "better" would be like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

 

[Billy hill]

Wrong analogy, it would be like cutting off a couple birds a day so we could still hunt most if not all of our alloted days... its better to have any day option than be held to only hunting selected days not knowing what the weather may be. If to slow down on the mallard take in pacific (washington) flyway some cutting will be done. The (to make better)is a comparison between 2 future situations