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DEER TAG SALES/DRAWING FOULED UP AGAIN matthews-ONS 21may09
D17 deer tags sell out before drawing again
By JIM MATTHEWS Outdoor News Service
The popular D17 desert deer hunting zone saw its 500-tag quota filled May 15 with first-come, first-serve tag sales, but the Department of Fish and Game regulation booklet said these tags would be part of the premium deer tag drawing for 2009, assuring all first-choice applicants would have an equal shot at these tags. But only those who rushed to get their tag applications into the DFG will have these tags for this hunting season.
After promising deer hunters that first-come, first-serve zones would be placed in the tag drawing if their tag quotas filled before the annual drawings, the Fish and Game Commission failed to adopt the regulation that would have facilitated this change. But by then, the application booklet had already been published, and many hunters who didn't hear about the change are going to be upset they were denied an opportunity to get a D17 tag.
The Department of Fish and Game announced the regulation change had not taken place in a May 14 press release, and the D17 zone filled the next day when the last of its quota was sold out. This is the third year in a row that D17 sold out before the June 2 application deadline for drawing tags.
Both D12 and the C zone tag quotas were also expected to fill before the drawing by hunters requesting first-come, first-serve tags. Both of these zones' tags were also supposed to be issued in the premium tag drawing this year.
As of Thursday, there were just 234 tags still available out of the 950-tag quota for D12, and 4,904 tags were still available out of the 8,575-tag quota for the C zones. Last year, D12 sold out before the drawing, and the few C-zone tags remaining after first-come, first-serve sales were issued in the drawing.
Hunters who want tags for either of these two zones should get a tag application and return it immediately. The D12 tags have been selling at a clip of about 60 per day, and this zone will likely fill with tag applications that arrive in Monday's mail at the DFG. The C zone tags may not sell out before the drawing, but it is unlikely that hunters who put the C zone as a second choice will get a tag in the drawing, which was once common.
The deadline to apply for premium deer, elk, pronghorn, or bighorn sheep tags is June 2 this year. Hunters must have their applications at the DFG License and Revenue Branch in Sacramento by 5 p.m. that day. Drawing results will be available by phone and online on June 24. Hunters can check the availability of first-come, first-serve or left-over deer tags at California Department of Fish & Game Hunting Deer Tags Available.
While mucking up the tag process for D17, D12, and the C zones, the FGC did adopt a change that reclassified several deer hunts whose tag quotas never sell out. These zones are now classified as "unrestricted," meaning all tags can be purchased immediately with a first or second deer tag application. The reclassification applies to 13 different D zones, including all Southern California zones except those in the desert, and six archery-only deer hunts. In the past, second deer tag applications would not be filled until the first Monday in August.
Applications to apply for pronghorn, elk, and bighorn sheep are $7.50 each this year. Deer tag applications for California residents are $27.55 for the first tag, and $34.40 for the second tag.
D17 deer tags sell out before drawing again
By JIM MATTHEWS Outdoor News Service
The popular D17 desert deer hunting zone saw its 500-tag quota filled May 15 with first-come, first-serve tag sales, but the Department of Fish and Game regulation booklet said these tags would be part of the premium deer tag drawing for 2009, assuring all first-choice applicants would have an equal shot at these tags. But only those who rushed to get their tag applications into the DFG will have these tags for this hunting season.
After promising deer hunters that first-come, first-serve zones would be placed in the tag drawing if their tag quotas filled before the annual drawings, the Fish and Game Commission failed to adopt the regulation that would have facilitated this change. But by then, the application booklet had already been published, and many hunters who didn't hear about the change are going to be upset they were denied an opportunity to get a D17 tag.
The Department of Fish and Game announced the regulation change had not taken place in a May 14 press release, and the D17 zone filled the next day when the last of its quota was sold out. This is the third year in a row that D17 sold out before the June 2 application deadline for drawing tags.
Both D12 and the C zone tag quotas were also expected to fill before the drawing by hunters requesting first-come, first-serve tags. Both of these zones' tags were also supposed to be issued in the premium tag drawing this year.
As of Thursday, there were just 234 tags still available out of the 950-tag quota for D12, and 4,904 tags were still available out of the 8,575-tag quota for the C zones. Last year, D12 sold out before the drawing, and the few C-zone tags remaining after first-come, first-serve sales were issued in the drawing.
Hunters who want tags for either of these two zones should get a tag application and return it immediately. The D12 tags have been selling at a clip of about 60 per day, and this zone will likely fill with tag applications that arrive in Monday's mail at the DFG. The C zone tags may not sell out before the drawing, but it is unlikely that hunters who put the C zone as a second choice will get a tag in the drawing, which was once common.
The deadline to apply for premium deer, elk, pronghorn, or bighorn sheep tags is June 2 this year. Hunters must have their applications at the DFG License and Revenue Branch in Sacramento by 5 p.m. that day. Drawing results will be available by phone and online on June 24. Hunters can check the availability of first-come, first-serve or left-over deer tags at California Department of Fish & Game Hunting Deer Tags Available.
While mucking up the tag process for D17, D12, and the C zones, the FGC did adopt a change that reclassified several deer hunts whose tag quotas never sell out. These zones are now classified as "unrestricted," meaning all tags can be purchased immediately with a first or second deer tag application. The reclassification applies to 13 different D zones, including all Southern California zones except those in the desert, and six archery-only deer hunts. In the past, second deer tag applications would not be filled until the first Monday in August.
Applications to apply for pronghorn, elk, and bighorn sheep are $7.50 each this year. Deer tag applications for California residents are $27.55 for the first tag, and $34.40 for the second tag.
