Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    There is also a big horn sheep permit in Washington State.  The
    rules for applying for a permit are interesting.  
    
    The state F&W had a public meeting this year to determine if they
    should have an auction.  I was against it.  Needless to say, I'd
    never get a permit.  The motion failed.
    
    So you enter the "big horn sheep lottery".  In Washington, like
    many Pacific Northwest states, there is a drawing for *everything*.
    
    The thing I found interesting is that if you draw a permit, you
    are inelligible to enter the drawing again for the rest of your
    life.  They don't give out many, so your chances never get better.
    
    A guy down the street got one several years ago and bagged his.
    He said he had to check with the warden before he actually went
    to hunt.  The warden told him where to hunt (which mountains)
    and met him there.  He gave him a few pointers and told him he would
    stop by at dusk if he had a chance to.  Gary went climbed for about
    4 hours, came to a ravine and lookked across to see a whole heard
    of sheep.  There were plenty of huge rams in it.  He spent the rest
    of the day dragging down the biggest one.
    
    So far, I'm out $15.  Probably $30 after next season.  :-)
    
    Brett.

    re -1
    
    just curious...are nonresidents eligable for the drawing?
    
    
    Guy 

    No!  Absolutely not!  You wouldn't want to hunt sheep!  It's boring
    at best.
    
    Just kidding.
    
    I'll check and let you know.  You have to buy a hunting license
    first and then you can apply.  If this is the case for a non-resident,
    it can be expensive.  Like Maine, they aren't giving non-resident
    licenses away for free.  
    
    Unlike Maine, once you buy a hunting license, you still have to
    buy a tag for everything you want to hunt. 
    
    So I'll try to figure out exactly what it would cost a non-resident
    to apply for sheep in Washington.  But if anybody applies and wins,
    you have to let me come along :-)
    
    Brett.

    Just to let you know I did follow up on the Washington sheep thing.
    I pulled out the 1988 hunting regs and they describe grouse, deer,
    elk, bobcat, cougar, pheasant, duck, etc.  Every animal you can
    hunt in the stat of washington is in this book.
    
    "Your are wrong big horn sheep breath."
    
    It didn't list the procedure for sheep in the book.  I suspect that's
    because they never know what they are going to do till the last
    minute.  Here's what I did learn though.  A non-resident hunting
    license costs $125.00.  Also, a non-resident sheep license costs
    $300.00.  
    
    I called F&W and they told me that the procedure is that you would
    buy a non-resident hunting license for $125.  You would send in
    the $300 for the permit.  If you are drawn, you get the permit.
    If you are not drawn, you own your non-resident hunting license,
    but you get your $300 back.
    
    The interesting thing about Washington is that when you get your
    rejection letter for a drawing back when you are not drawn, they
    tell you how many people applied and how many were drawn.  For
    instance, this year I applied for a special Elk hunt in the Cedar
    River Shed area.  (my partner says there are Elk in there that
    can't even walk in the woods cause their racks are too big :-).......
    the minimum bull you can take is a 5X5 and they only give out 15
    permits)  So, when I wasn't drawn I got a note that said something
    like:
    
    		Cedar River Water Shed
    
    		Applicants 457
    
    		Permits     15
    
    with a "better luck next year" message.
    
    To get any permit applications, send mail or call Olympia, WA.
    Area code (206)
    
    Hope this helps,
    
    Brett.