2024 Special Hunt Permit Draw Updates

WDFW is not re-doing the special hunt permit draw. The original draw on June 12 developed a correctly ranked list of hunt applicants to assign available hunt choices based on tag availability. However, because the allocation of permits was incorrect due to a software error, WDFW is re-allocating special hunt choices to correct the mistake.

Different hunters may be impacted in different ways:

• The majority of 2024 special hunt permit applications’ draw results did not change after correcting this error. 
• Some applicants may have been assigned one hunt choice at the time of the initial draw and have now been assigned a different hunt choice after we corrected this mistake. In some of these cases, the applicant is awarded a more preferred hunt choice based on what they indicated in their application, and others might have received a less preferred, but correct hunt choice based on the allocation of available permits.
• There were 723 hunt applicants not initially selected in the June 12 draw that should have been selected. These hunt applicants were issued the special hunt permit that they should have originally been drawn for.
• There were 738 hunt applicants that were incorrectly selected and told by WDFW that they received a special permit after the June 12 draw. WDFW worked hard to secure hunting opportunities for these individuals by increasing the number of permits, where biologically feasible, to allow those hunt applicants incorrectly awarded a permit with the ability to continue to hunt. However, in these circumstances the hunt choice may have changed.

Hunters should check their licensing profile for updates to their special hunt permit draw results. Please also look out for additional communications from WDFW about this issue. WDFW and the software vendor are issuing emails, phone calls, and postcards to special hunt permit applicants to inform them about this situation.

How is my special hunt application being affected by this situation?

• 2024 Special Permit applicants (27 categories, 22 impacted)
  • 5 categories:
    • Special hunt applicants were not impacted.
      • Applicants were not selected and remain not selected.
      • Applicants were selected and their hunt choice remains the same.
  • 22 categories:
    • Some special hunt applicants were not impacted.
      • Applicants were not selected and remain not selected.
      • Applicants were selected and their hunt choice remains the same.
    • Some hunt applicants may not have been assigned a permit when they should have been drawn.
      • These hunt applicants were issued the special hunt permit that they should have originally been drawn for.
    • Some hunt applicants may have been assigned a lesser hunt choice (second preference, third preference, etc.) when they should have been assigned a more preferred hunt choice (ex. “first choice” hunt).
      • These hunt applicants will have the correct hunt choice assigned to them.
    • Some hunt applicants may have been assigned a more preferred hunt choice (ex. “first choice” hunt), when they should have been assigned a lesser hunt choice (second preference, third preference, etc.). 
      • These hunt applicants will have the correct hunt choice assigned to them.
    • Some hunt applicants were assigned a permit when they should not have been awarded one.
      • There were 738 hunt applicants that were incorrectly selected and told by WDFW that they received a special permit after the June 12 draw.
        • WDFW worked hard to secure hunting opportunities for these individuals by increasing the number of permits where biologically feasible to allow those hunt applicants incorrectly awarded a permit with the ability to continue to hunt. However, in these circumstances the hunt choice may have changed.
          • WDFW manually awarded 715 of the 738 hunt applicants the special hunt permit that they were initially assigned on June 12.
          • WDFW had to identify a feasible alternative hunt for 14 of 738 hunt applicants who were incorrectly assigned a special hunt permit on June 12. Ultimately, these 14 applicants were assigned one of their preferred hunt choices, although the hunt choice may have changed compared to the initial draw result.
          • WDFW had to find an alternative hunt location within their special hunt category for nine of 738 hunt applicants because there was no viable alternate option available within the applicants’ original hunt preference selections.
• All hunters need to access their licensing profile for information about potential changes to their special hunt permit draw results.

How do I check my special hunt status in the WDFW licensing system?

• Applicants will check the "Special Hunt Wins" section of their licensing profile. Please review this how-to document (PDF) for specific instructions.

Which special hunts categories were impacted by this software error?

• 22 special hunt categories were impacted by this error:
  • Antlerless deer
  • Antlerless elk
  • Antlerless moose
  • Any antlered bull moose
  • Buck deer
  • Bull elk
  • Deer - 65 and over
  • Deer – Disabled
  • Deer – Master Hunter
  • Deer – Youth
  • Elk – 65 and over
  • Elk – Disabled
  • Elk – Master Hunter
  • Elk – Youth
  • Goat
  • Quality deer
  • Quality elk
  • Second deer
  • Sheep – Any ram
  • Sheep – Ewe
  • Moose – 65 and over
  • Moose – Disabled

Which special hunt categories were NOT impacted?

• The following hunt categories were NOT impacted by this error:
  • Fall Turkey
  • Moose Youth
  • Disabled Hunter Bighorn Sheep Ewe
  • Disabled Hunter Juvenile Ram
  • Sheep Youth
• Multi-season deer and elk applications were not part of the draw that occurred on June 12 and therefore were not impacted by this software error.

How will I be notified about impacts to my special hunt application?

• All hunt applicants that applied for a special hunt permit will be contacted by WDFW by email and postcard encouraging them to check their licensing system profile to confirm the correct status of the draw results. Some applicants will also receive a telephone call from a contracted call center.

If I am issued a special hunt tag after not being selected during the initial draw, how is my points balance impacted?

• Your points will be deducted, the same as if you had been drawn under typical circumstances.
• Hunters have until two weeks before their special hunt season is scheduled to open to return their special hunt permit to WDFW and have their points restored. Hunters may contact the WDFW Wildlife Program at 360-902-2515 to make this request.

If I am manually awarded the special hunt permit that I was assigned in error as part of the June 12 draw, do I still lose my points?

• Yes. Points are “spent” when a permit is issued, so if you have received a permit, you have used your points.
• Hunters have until two weeks before their special hunt season is scheduled to open to return their special hunt permit to WDFW and have their points restored. Hunters may contact the WDFW Wildlife Program at 360-902-2515 to make this request. 

If I am unable to take advantage of a special hunt tag issued after the initial draw (due to lack of time to plan, inability to take time off work, etc.) what happens to my points balance?

• Hunters have the option to return their special hunt permit back to WDFW if they are unable to participate in the hunt.
• Hunters have until two weeks before their special hunt season is scheduled to open to return their special hunt permit to WDFW and have their points restored. Hunters may contact the WDFW Wildlife Program at 360-902-2515 to make this request.

If I am issued a new or updated special hunt permit after this error is corrected, how will I receive that permit?

• You will receive your permit in the mail the same way you would receive a permit from WDFW under normal circumstances.

Is WDFW issuing monetary refunds for special hunt applications due to this mistake?

• No. By purchasing a special hunt application, hunters are purchasing a point in the draw system. WDFW is awarding permits to all hunt applicants who should have been selected during the initial June 12 draw, and who were incorrectly selected during that initial draw.

If I purchased a special hunt permit application but did not make a hunt choice selection (AKA, I only put in for points), did I still earn my point?

• Yes.

Is WDFW re-doing the 2024 special hunt permit draw?

• No. The original draw on June 12 developed a correctly ranked list of hunt applicants to assign available hunt choices based on tag availability. However, because the allocation of permits was incorrect due to a software error, WDFW is re-allocating special hunt choices to correct the mistake. 

How did WDFW learn of this issue?

• WDFW was contacted by a customer asking why the weren’t awarded their first-choice hunt when there were still tags available for their first hunt choice after the draw was completed. This prompted WDFW to investigate the results from that draw, which revealed the nature of the software error. Upon further investigation, WDFW discovered the software error had impacted 22 of 27 special hunt categories.

These maps indicate the locations where WDFW manually awarded permits for special hunt permit applicants who were incorrectly awarded a permit after the June 12 draw. Please note that dot location is placed at random within each hunt unit on each map. Refer to the emergency rule (PDF) for the table of manually awarded permits. 

If you have questions not answered on this webpage, via the email communications you received as a customer, or on your licensing profile, please contact:

WDFW Licensing Division
360-902-2464
licensing@dfw.wa.gov