PAST ISSUES
2003
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At the completion of your hunt file a report. Photo: Kevin Vaughn

A significant role of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is developing a partnership between agency professionals and the user public. Annually, agency biologists collect and analyze data using the best available information and applying scientific principles to manage the fish and game resource. A key element in this annual cycle is hunter reporting of big game harvest and hunter effort information in a timely fashion. Dave Ware, Game Division Manager said, “This link between the agency and hunter is critical for the proper management of all hunted species. The department goes through great lengths and expense using hunting license fees to collect hunting activity information every year. When “Mandatory Reporting” was initiated for the 2001 hunting season, we were encouraged by the quality and quantity of data received compared to previous years when a more cumbersome and expensive hunter survey was conducted months after the hunting seasons had ended and often too late for use in developing and adjusting hunting seasons in April.”

Mandatory reporting rates for deer, elk and turkey hunting activity have been decreasing every year since the requirement was initiated. “In order to maximize the functionality of the mandatory reporting system, a 90% reporting rate by the January 31 deadline is needed,” Ware said. Reporting rates were 70% in 2001, 66% in 2002, and 65% in 2003. These low reporting rates result in reduced accuracy of harvest estimates at the game management unit level and difficulty in determining the impact of hunting season changes. Currently, hunters who fail to report their activity are guilty of a misdemeanor violation. However because this was a new requirement, no tickets have been issued. Instead, the department has encouraged hunters to comply and has even provided 4 elk and 5 deer incentive permit drawings for those reporting on time. “Unfortunately, the results of our efforts in providing incentives to motivate hunter reporting have not been successful,” Ware said.

Rather than the current misdemeanor violation, WDFW is considering not allowing hunters who fail to report by the deadline date to purchase hunting licenses for the subsequent year. This proposal continues to require hunters, whether they hunted or not or were successful in harvesting an animal or not, to report. However, having failed to report, we are proposing that a hunter may pay an administrative fee to get back into the system and regain the privilege of purchasing a hunting license. The intent is twofold, increase compliance in reporting and essentially de-criminalize failure to comply.