I received the below e-mail from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. I thought I'd share it so that those of you interested may provide input. Note that the first item asked about has to do with possibly altering the bighorn sheep draw rules (see "From actual survey..." at bottom of this post).
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Dear Wildlife Enthusiast,

Recently, the Department of Fish and Wildlife completed an Internet survey to identify major "issues" for the three-year hunting season setting process. The Department is now collecting public opinions regarding preferred "options" for the most frequently identified and feasible topics from the issues survey. We are sending you this letter as an invitation to visit the WDFW website below and provide the agency with your opinion on any or all of the issues included in the survey.

2006-08 Hunting Season Statewide Issues and Options Survey:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/scoping.htm

This survey is the next step in the season setting process and by providing your opinions, you will help the Department develop the most significant statewide alternatives that will be presented at public meetings and on our web site in January in preparation for the April Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting where regulations will be adopted. The survey will remain posted to the WDFW Internet site through November 28th. Your participation is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely

Dave Ware
Manager,
Game Division
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From the actual survey...

1. Consider ways to improve the odds of drawing for goat, sheep, or moose permits:

Considerations: currently, it takes too long to get drawn; depending on the option chosen, it might reduce revenue if fewer hunters put in; it costs the department to refund up front license fees; higher license or application costs would continue to allow everyone to apply; changing the rules may not be considered fair to those who have applied historically;

Options:
1. Increase cost of the permit application and use the funds to create a dedicated endowment fund for management of the species
2. Increase the cost of mountain goat, bighorn sheep, and moose licenses
3. Apply for one hunt choice rather than four hunt choices per application
4. If you apply for a deer or elk permit, you may not apply for a goat, sheep, or moose permit
5. An applicant might only be allowed to apply for either a goat, or a sheep, or a moose permit, but not for two or for all three
6. No change: No restriction on species applications for a $5.00 application fee. Fees for a goat, sheep or moose licenses are $109.50 each for residents.

Option 1 is the plan submitted by the WA FNAWS Chapter. If anyone would like me to e-mail the graphs I put together to show the potential growth of the endowment let me know. I have graphs that address the growth of sheep, goat, & moose.

The long-term funding source the endowment will provide makes it an easy choice in my mind. For example, in 2005 with about 10,000 sheep applications if an additional $15 was added on and put in the endowment, the result is $150,000 the first year alone. With no additional applicants, in 10 years the balance could be $1.5 million, 20 years $3 million, etc. Imagine if WDFW would have put this plan in 10 years ago. Our sheep program would be generating as much as $50,000 annually just off the interest.

Vote for the future; vote plan 1!

Glen A. Landrus
WAFNAWS President

Below is the breakdown of the responses rec'd on the issue related to the sheep drawings...

From: http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/seasonsetting/nov_2005_issu...esults_-_summary.pdf

QUESTION 1: Consider ways to improve the odds of drawing for goat, sheep, or moose permits:

Responses - % - Option

317 - 11.3% - Increase cost of the permit application and use the funds to create a dedicated endowment fund for management of the species

172 - 6.1% - Increase the cost of mountain goat, bighorn sheep, and moose licenses

440 - 15.6% - Apply for one hunt choice rather than four hunt choices per application

118 - 4.2% - If you apply for a deer or elk permit, you may not apply for a goat, sheep, or moose permit

349 - 12.4% - An applicant might only be allowed to apply for either a goat, or a sheep, or a moose permit, but not for two or for all three

1416 - 50.4% - No change: No restriction on species applications for a $5.00 application fee. Fees for a goat, sheep or moose licenses are $109.50 each for residents.


2812 Total Responses

I was told by WDFW that three options would be discussed at public meetings held across the state in January-February. The three options are: no change, choose only one of the three Once-in-a-lifetime species, and the WAFNAWS endowment proposal.

The state game commission is expected to act at their April meeting. Please send your comments/suggestions to the WDFW Commission by:


Mail: 600 Capitol Way North
Olympia, WA 98501-1091

Phone: 360-902-2267

FAX: 360-902-2448

E-mail: commission@dfw.wa.gov

Glen