Buzz, great points. When I stated that about WY's perspective, that is merely my opinion as a NR who is attempting to hunt in WY as much as possible. It used to be every year, now it is every 3. Should the drawing deadline move that far back, it may leave me no choice but to choose another state. I talked to someone else today and they felt the same. Would that impact overall NR numbers in WY? I think it would but could easily be wrong. I don't think the current process is bad. If 1 or 2 hunters are inconvenienced because of a change, that is better than hundreds or thousands due to a date change in my book. Not sure what you mean by unnecessary work...seems it all has to get done no matter when the draw is, but I will shut up and listen!
Great discussion, and I see your point completely. I agree that knowing if you draw earlier is always a nice bonus for the hunter. Judging by the popularity of big-game hunting in Wyoming...and how fast almost all available leftover elk tags were/are snapped up from the leftover draw and first come, first serve...there is not much to worry about in regard to Wyoming selling out their elk tags. All big-game is managed very well here, and unlike other states, Wyoming isn't a "wait and see if we draw something better" state. That's pretty evident in the rapid and continual increase in applicants Wyoming has seen.
But, here are the list of impacts to the department and the average hunter:
1. In the case of quota changes between the NR and R draw, either R or NR hunters are shorted tags in LQ units. In some cases, if new seasons are proposed between the draws, which has happened in the past, NR hunters don't get a chance at any of those tags.
2. In the case of accessing some private land, where land owners only offer a certain number of trespass hunts, Residents are not getting a chance to acquire permission as all the available access is taken by NR hunters.
3. From the department standpoint, they have to try to "guess" what they are anticipating doing with quotas, seasons, etc. before they have a lot of the data they need. It means that they have to hold meetings to try to predict what the elk populations are going to do, what the winter impacts may be, what the bull to cow ratio's will be, etc. etc., before its possible to know. The problem is that if things change, like a bad winter, there are already a bunch of tags issued that are tough, if not impossible, to pull back. The result is to slash Resident opportunity, or just let the season play out and hope for the best. Like has been posted, there are issues with the season structures changing between the time people apply and when they draw. Its ridiculous that some have said the hunters should check to make sure things don't change after they apply. However the cause, is because the biologists wait as long as possible to gather all the data they can and to wait to see how weather may or may not impact the herds.
4. Additional funding is needed to conduct 2 draws rather than just 1.
It just makes sense to get the horse in front of the cart. Finalize the quotas in April/Early May, get the commission approval, everyone will know how many tags are available, etc. and then hold the draw so that everyone is on a level playing field. All the best data will be acquired and correct decisions applied to do what's best for the hunting public and wildlife.
I totally get the convenience part and people wanting to know as early as possible for planning. Every year, I have a bunch of applications out all at the same time not knowing if I'll draw any, or too many tags. I roll the dice and take my chances, I suspect it would be no different with Wyoming if there was one draw date.
Its not something I'm going to fall on a sword over, but I think there is more valid reasons to have one draw, one time, for everyone than to continue with the early NR elk draw.
Just things to consider and think about.
