Under no circumstances should the 900 archery tag units go to General. Here is why.
In the past, these went from limited entry with no cap to limited entry with a cap. In both instances we knew demand, both resident and non-resident demand, based on the number of applicants. That usually could give a good indicator in trends of crowding.
If these go to general tag, we will have zero data as to how many people are actually hunting those units during those seasons. That is what some want, so if we again see a huge crowding problem (which we will), there will not be any data to support such claims.
There won't be crowding on private, so they have no incentive to have a tag structure that allows for a tracking mechanism such as a limited entry, even with no cap. But on public, where the crowding will again be extreme, at the least, hunters should want to know the level of demand for a certain hunt type in a certain unit. A general tag situation is being pushed as the solution so we lose all tracking and ability to demonstrate the crowding and demand.
If we do get this rammed down our throats, and those in the political side tell me that is what is going to happen, these tags should be like it was before, your first and only choice. And, it should require you to hunt only that unit for that season type as your elk tag. It will cause people to really think about applying there, hopefully giving more predictability as to the level of pressure that will be expressed over time. It will also give better data as to where hunting is taking place by forcing those successful applicants to hunt where they are applying and for the season type they are applying for.
Reality is, we will likely get this forced upon us. If so, we need FWP to own every part of it, right down to how they structure the season types between General and Limited Entry, restrictions, tracking of applicant demand, etc.
We need to oppose every bad idea in those packages, no matter what the political powers tell us is coming. The Department said they wanted suggestions, even though they tossed out their own terrible suggestions that the Commission scrapped in favor of another bad proposal. The current proposal was not suggested in any hunter comments I heard, yet here we are. Thus, this is another FWP proposal that they need to own to show that they are not taking public comment seriously.
Tons of good comments were provided by many people and groups. FWP, to this point, is ignoring those comments in spite of their claim that they "Want good ideas, not just opposition."
OK FWP, you got a ton of ideas, why are we being spoon fed another of your bad proposals that was cooked up among a few well-connected groups the night of your working session and dropped on us the next morning without consideration of any of the many comments you were provided before this new proposal? People put a lot of time and thought into providing you comments as requested, yet you go it alone with a proposal that is counter to what your biologists have previously stated and against the interest of those you asked to provide better ideas.
As frustrating as it may seem, those vested in the outcome to give unlimited bull tags to the folks who have largely created this problem, are hoping we give up and we don't comment. Do not let that happen. Comment and pressure your friends to comment. Commenting and showing up is paramount in the longer-term effort we have in front of us.
