A
View of the Past
George Tsukamoto, Staff Biologist
A
quote from the Second Biennial Report of the Washington
State Game Commission 1934-1935 introduced the big game
metal seal.
“Big
Game Seal Revenue Pays Bounties - A sweeping change
in the financing of predatory bounties whereby big game
tags were supplied for payment for predatory control was
enacted at the 1935 session of the state legislature. The
Department of Game now has a fund expressly set aside for
the payment of bounties, which is not contingent with, or
dependent upon, the game fund supported from regular hunting
and fishing license sales. Hunters bent on big game expeditions
purchased their first metal tags in the fall of 1935.”
A review
of historical records shows that deer and elk seals were
sold for 50¢ from 1935 through 1952. From 1953 through
1955 the seal cost $1 for deer and $5.50 for elk. In 1957
the big game seal was increased to $2 for deer and $7.50
for elk. In 1958, the metal seal was eliminated and replaced
by a paper punch tag, which has been used ever since.
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