Planning a hunt with a nonresident

[PGJPJ]

My hunting partner moved up to Washington a couple years ago, and I’d like to plan a hunt with him in the 2008 or 2009 time frame (in Oregon). I’m a little unclear about the regs (imagine that) however.

It says:
“… and maximum 5% of tags for controlled deer… issued to nonresidents.”
Goes on to say…
“Less than this maximum percentage may be issued, as nonresident applications receive no preference, other than existing preference points, in the drawings.”

So how do you have no preference if you can somehow have existing preference points?

I didn’t see anything in the Preference Points section about nonresidents.

So my questions are:

• Can nonresidents gain preference points?
• Can my point(s) be averaged with a nonresident using a party app?
• Is there more advantage to me hunting in WA as apposed to him hunting in OR?

Thanks in advance!!!
Paul

[loper]

Originally Posted by PGJPJ

• Can nonresidents gain preference points?
• Can my point(s) be averaged with a nonresident using a party app?
• Is there more advantage to me hunting in WA as apposed to him hunting in OR?

1. Absolutely
2. Yes
3. Depends what you're trying to accomplish; you can acquire points for sheep, goat and moose in Washington (likely to never happen in Oregon); you can hunt for mule deer and whitetail in Washington without drawing a special tag. On the other hand, there is lots more public land to hunt in Oregon than in Washington; and you have no shot to hunt antelope in Washington.

This line: "as nonresident applications receive no preference" is trying to get across that there is no minimum number of controlled deer, elk or antelope tags set aside for nonresidents in the state of Oregon; whereas for sheep specific tags are set aside for nonresidents. The 5% is a maximum (for deer and elk); 3% for antelope. So the tag numbers are capped for nonresidents, but none are set aside specifically for nonresidents.

Hope that is helpful.

[Washington Hunter]

loper pretty much answered all your questions, but I would suggest that what you ought to do is hunt Oregon for elk and mule deer when you have enough points to draw a good permit, and hunt Washington all the other times when you can't, since tags are over-the-counter. Applying as a party with a non-resident, you may have to wait a year or two longer than if you applied by yourself or with another resident, because of the 5% limit (which is actually more like 2 1/2% in the good units, because half of the NR tags go to the outfitters.)

[Beamerfish]

Originally Posted by Washington Hunter

Applying as a party with a non-resident, you may have to wait a year or two longer than if you applied by yourself or with another resident, because of the 5% limit (which is actually more like 2 1/2% in the good units, because half of the NR tags go to the outfitters.)

We've noticed this on several hunts (brother is non res) - including him on the party application drags us down so we often can't draw hunts we otherwise might if we were all residents. (I make sure to remind him of this.) The tag statistics bear this out - you can look up the stats on the ODFW web page and see which hunts typically require more points for nonres than res. One thing I will say about OR nonres applications is the tag apps for nonres only cost the $4.50 application fee after you buy your license ($76.50).

If I'm understanding the WA system for non residents correctly, it looks like to apply for a special deer or elk permit, you have to spring for the $400 - $600 deer and/or elk tag - that's pretty spendy if you're not planning on hunting in the WA general season if you don't draw a special tag. Of course, that keeps down the nonres rif-raf and increases the chances for a resident draw. [Somebody please correct me if that's wrong.]

No judgement or criticism implied on the different state systems - they are what they are and we just work with them as we can.

[bigamefisher2]

As I understood it from ODFW, if you have a non-res, in your party, everyone in the party is put into non-res status. This has happened with a couple of hunts that I tried for a couple of years ago. My cousin, who lives in WA, wanted to put in with me and my resident party, and we never drew, even though we should have with no problems. There is something to concider before you start applying. I would buy the points for a few years, and then try for a hunt after you have some points saved up..

[PGJPJ]

Thanks for clearing things up guys. Sounds like there may be a few challenges.