California Elk Applications...NOT !!!

[Saddletender]

Super Hot...........today the 11th of June 2003.

Nine days after deadline, my applications for California's hunting season arrive.

I and a number (thousands ?) of other people who waited on DFG to mail us our applications missed our State's deadline for applying for this season's big game drawing.

I knew it was getting late so I went online June 2 to see when the deadline was. Lo and behold...........deadline at 5:00pm.

Talk about pissed. I had no time to run down and pick up deer tag / license and enter info into online application's. No Elk application either.

I couldn't believe it............No shop in town for the last two months had any books or info on California's Big Game Drawing.

I called Sacramento today, the 11th when my booklet arrived in the Mail. Receptionist says whole towns or cities left off list or missing booklets and applications. Nothing can be done about the drawing she says!!!!!!!!

Anybody else run into this problem?

Before you tell me I was neglient let me add that I put in for Utah, Idaho, Oregon and have been communicating with South Africa for hunting this year. I also have been busy on E-Bay and Auction Arms. With everything going on California wasn't even on my Radar screen as a problem.

Whose running the Hunting Programs this year? Non-Hunters.

Need to cool off now.

Saddletender.

 

[Hogskin]

I don't mean to pour salt in your wounds, but why would you ever rely on a governmental agency in such an important manner, especially when the drawings are always held at the beginning of June? While there are probably plenty of non-hunters at DFG, the blame for this one has to fall on you. There were some guys on the board who filed incomplete applications and DFG actually called them to straighten them out before processing their apps. Doesn't sound anti-hunter to me. It's a tough lesson learned, good luck on the draws in the other states.

The rest of us who got our apps in might have a better chance.

 

[Maverick]

I feel your pain iIreally do. But I also hope this helps my Elk Draw.. Sorry

 

[Saddletender]

Do you not see the bigger picture here?

The hunters totally pay for all Dept. of Fish and Game costs. We totally fund these programs. When you don't include all of the available revenue sources, then the fee's for the existing hunters will naturally go up. If you fail to include all of the Non-Residents who must pay exorbitant fee's to hunt here, then you compound the costs that will be passed onto you next year.

A Deer tag for a non-resident is approx. $265.00 plus approx. $115.00 for license. If the Dept. of Fish and Game doesn't receive these increased costs from outsiders, then you should expect to shoulder the costs next year.

I was not, I repeat , NOT the only one who didn't receive my application packets in time. I was told by the receptionist that entire towns and cities didn't get theirs in the mail. HOW much money do you think was not generated by this fluke or malfeasance.

The average cost borne by California hunters , average mind you , is $33.00 per person. Non-hunters contribute approx. .18 cents.

If you can't collect upfront, you pay in arrears.

There is a good chance next year, all of California hunters will be paying a whopping increase if this foolishness continues.

Just my thoughts.

Saddletender.

As a side note. With all my application fee's being tied up in neighboring States including Nevada. I have about $7000.00 in outstanding fee's already.

If I can get drawn for any of these States it will be by chance and most of my monies will be returned for tags I don't receive.

How would you like 700,000 people sending you money to hold for 30 days. You could generate a lot of capital off that kind of money. I wonder how much this problem is going to cost us in the future.

I also wonder who lost the mail.

 

[COHunter]

Does California get NonResident Deer hunters ?
All the CA folks that come here always complain how crappy the deer hunting is in CA
I already know that Elk & Antelope are off limits to out-of-staters.

 

[DKScott]

Saddletender,

Take a breath. Just because the DFG doesn't personally deliver my application along with my breakfast in bed, doesn't mean I don't go looking for it (and I have). The arrival of these packets was noted on these forums, WON, the DFG website and a bazillion other places. You clearly have the experience to know how the game is played and what the rules are. How much personal initiative did you employ for your out-of-state applications?

Besides, if you have $7,000 out in out-of-state applications, you are playing the game pretty hard and the loss of a low-probability chance for a CA Elk draw isn't the end of the world. It's probably cheaper to go get a cow tag somewhere anyway - you can have everything an elk hunt has to offer except the rack.

I seriously doubt the financial impact of this little mailing snafu will make a measurable dent in DFG revenues. Not that they are to be excused for screwing up - they should take responsibility for their mistakes and you should take responsibility for yours.


For the record, I missed the draw myself and believe me, I feel your pain. Why? Because like you, I fiddle-farted around until the last minute and found myself out of state and unable to get it in the mail in time. Am I mad? You bet I am - at myself.

 

[Maverick]

I was also one of the peopel that didn't recieve a packet in the mail. I'm in so ca, I went to the sporting goods store a couple weeks before June 2 bought a new license and deer tag app. Also a big game booklet. I knew that the draw was coming up with out DFG sending out my packet. What was upsetting not seeing if I recieved points or not. I still sent off my tags. And if I lived out of state there is no way in hell I would buy a deer or Elk tag in CA..

 

[Saddletender]

In the town I live in.........Lake Tahoe, I couldn't even find any Big Game Booklets. The few stores who should have stocked them didn't receive any. K-Mart which usually sells license's for both fishing and hunting had none of the above. Raley's Supermarkets had none displayed.

I didn't asked to be served breadfast in Bed!

I stated, so all could understand, what a cluster F**k our DFG has become.

If you want to defend them (DFG) that is your prerogotive.

What about all the others, who have a life, who didn't receive the items that they were expecting to receive in the mail. They may shrug their shoulders and figure they will apply next year. But shouldn't they also have the right to timely mail from OUR Dept. of Fish and Game. We do pay all of their fee's, don't we.

Irregardless, all who are reading this and have a smug smile, should remember that the cost of hunting is borne by the people who hunt. When you reduce the number of people who pay, then the people who are left pay a higher price next year.

You may be laughing now and have a high regard for being smarter then we who missed the deadline, but you will pay in the long run.

I can see political ramifications when the anti-hunters claim that all hunting should be abolished since there has been a 50% drop in hunters applying for tags in 2003. It doesn't matter who screwed up on the applications, it does give the anti's fuel for a ballot initiative to ban hunting based on the Department not being able to be self-suffieient in a time of economic downturn.

Why should those who received late applications be penalized and not be able to receive preference points for a situation not caused by them. Their reliance on a State Chartered Department being to blame for the screw-up?

And how many California hunters actually go to this website for all their information?

Something for small minds to ponder.

 

[DKScott]

Personally, I blame Davis (and not just because it's easy). Since Day 1 of Davis' term, the DFG has been a bastard child in his administration. He has been more sympathetic to the AR idiots and the big money preservationists than any traditional constituency of the DFG. They have endured budget cuts and raids, inane political appointments used by Davis as political payoffs and having to deal with the blatant politicization wildlife and habitat management (that part has been going on for awhile)

Any government agency is hampered to some degree because they serve too many masters which causes them to be a haven for deadwood and place a higher priorty on procedures than results or efficiency. My experience with the DFG over a lot of years has been pretty positive.

 

[BDB]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Why should those who received late applications be penalized and not be able to receive preference points for a situation not caused by them. Their reliance on a State Chartered Department being to blame for the screw-up?

And how many California hunters actually go to this website for all their information?

Something for small minds to ponder.[/b]

I guess I muss be one-o-dem small minded ones.

I don't disagree with your rationale on the fees going up if revenue from hunters is down, and the anti's having more leverage as hunters go down.

What I want to point out, and some of my small minder brethren already have pointed out, is that the DFG did not penalize you. You penalized yourself, sorry but that's the way I see it. I missed the draw last year for putting it off to long. I didn't get a booklet this year, but I did make it to DFG in time to buy my license, and get all of my apps to mail off a week and a half before the draw deadline.

Why is it in todays society people like to point fingers at everything, but seldom at them selves, even when deserved? Take responsibility for missing the deadline, complain about DFG being a screw up if need be (no argument here) but at least take some of the blame for the "situation"

 

[fpscabs]

Sorry to hear about your situation. It took two weeks to get my book after the first person on JHP posted getting his. On 4 or 5 board here, we had this issued addressed. In fact, one person contacted F&G and they sent out one to them special. I even offered to send them one using regular postage.
During the two week period, I downloaded most of the info.
I would imagine that you could have done the same. I know for the trout opener at Ernies in June lake, they had the bundle and I had to point out what it was.

Next time, just remember that by Mother's day, you should have recieved the booklet. In fact, next year, you will need to find one because you might not be on the mailing list. YOu might just take a trip to Sacramento and get one earlier or get on the boards and see what is up.

Hope your other draws work out for you. Wish you could have applied.

 

[MikenSoCo]

Snivel-me-timbers saddlesore, nobodies fault but your own. All of the people I know who didn't get an app made the deadline on their own(and they DID apply last year) Now this is your last chance to stand up and say "ya, I screwed up, won't make the same mistake next year".... Come on, let's hear it, small minds and ears are waiting

 

[spectr17]

It would make it a lot easier if DFG had an online app process.

That said, they do have the Big Game booklet online where you can download and print off the elk and antelope apps and send in USPS

Every county I've been in has public libraries with Internet access for free.

If I wanted to go hunting real bad, I would find a way to get an app in.

We've also tried to post reminders on as many state deadlines as we know of. The deadlines were on the Calendar too.

I almost got burned cuz my partner is goofing off in Texas and forgot to get his deer tag before he left. I had to Express mail 2 lettters ($28.00) to make the deadline where an online app would have been free.

Since the budget crisis is to blame for no funds for DFG let's start with :recall davis sign:

 

[Hntrjohn]

My brother was sleeping this year and forgot about the deadline. But he drove the hour and 45 minutes to deliver the application in person.

 

[ranchwife]

I'll sympathesize with you a bit. DFG didn't send out big game apps to all the residents of Modoc county either! My father-in-law just received his apps today (6-12). We frequent this site daily (mostly more), so when ours didn't show up, my husband contacted DFG and had one specially sent to him. Last year DFG lost my father's antelope letter that let him know he was drawn. It just happened to be that someone on this site posted DFG's website that allowed you to check to see if and what you were drawn for. It was a good thing that JHP provided that site because if it weren't for the link, my father would have had to wait for 10 more years to apply again (making a total of 43 years). So, if you want to be abreast of all hunting/fishing issues, events, upcoming dates, etc. it pays to check this site - often!!

Sorry about what happened to you!

 

[pschultheis]

I see both side here. But I know that when it comes to my self I start looking for my Big Game Booklet on and around January 1. If I don't see it by the 15th of Jan I start calling the DFG every day. Sure they have a restraining order against me but I get my booklet every year.

Good luck on the draw to those who applied.

Paul

 

[huntducks]

I'm 55 and have been buying deer and BG tags since I was 12 (damn that's a long time) but also remember when like 10 years a ago they DID NOT send you a booklet or little address labels in a nice package, and I for one wish they would stop, that way more guys would have to remember to do this huge chore all by there self whitout the reminder, and when they forget my chances get better.

I'm sorry but some time a lesson learned is best learned the hard way.

There are just some dates in life you don't forget 4-15, 4-10, 12-10, and 8-26 anniversary.

 

[Saddletender]

For those of you have posted now.........go back and reread my prior posts. Do you not see that I am defending all hunters in California and that you should be pissed as I am that we will have to pay for the incompentence of OUR DFG in the future for higher fee's.

You think this is just about me?

Come on.

Grow up.

This missive is about the costs that we pay to have our Dept. of Fish and Game being equal to all. Isn't that what Government is supposed to be about? All individuals being counted as one.

Do you know what disenfranchised means? When possibly hundreds or thousands of people are discounted by the very agency who rely on all hunters money screw up, all of you pay.

It's not about ,,,,,,,,,,you should have been smarter,,,,,more willing to put out more effort......you were sleeping-stupid. It's not about the fact that maybe you have a better chance of drawing because DFG shorted many people who would have been included in the draw.

I would like to draw you a better picture but if you have no imagination then pictures will not do you any good.

You all should be alarmed that DFG is so incompetent. That all costs concerning Hunting and Fishing may/will become more expensive. Think how you would feel if you weren't on top of the draw. Again, not all spend their time online.

I accept the fact that I won't draw in California for this year. At least the Premium Tags.

I only live 15 minutes from the best hunting for Muley's in California. I will get a D3,4,5 tag over the counter. I will shoot another big buck this year as I have in the past several years. I will hunt 30 or more days this season in different states for different species. I have contacts to hunt in Africa the "Dinkum Way". Permits for animals in RSA are inexpensive if you know private ranch owners.

It's not about my loss. It's about the arrival of applications 10 days after the draw.

You all should put more thought into what the DFG should do, so this doesn't happen again.

It should inspire all of you, to contact DFG, to find out why this happened.

Again ...........just my thoughts.

Saddletender

 

[COHunter]

Sounds like this touched a nerve with someone

 

[BOHNTR]

Seems to me your displeasure should be directed more towards the US Postal Service rather than the DFG. I have personally experienced anti-hunting regional postal offices that "mis-direct" some of my hunting magazines. Even had one dismissed from duty over it. Just a thought.

BOHNTR )))---------------->