Regardless of what your thoughts are on hunting @ Whitney; it remains a popular place to hunt. I'm posting this for those that hunt and not really to get opinions on what you think of the hunting in general. For those of you who hunt out there year after year; read up. This past year; they instituted the Harvest survey rule. They've always had it as a condition, but this year; you had to input your info. by a certain date. In the past; you just needed to enter in your info. before you applied again. According to them; they really didn't enforce the rule. I've been dilligent in putting in my info year after year, but this year; I made a grave mistake. I didn't read the change (new date) and this has now caused me to be banned for one year. It's my fault w/out a doubt, but it's pretty upsetting to realize I lost a great place to hunt b/c of something so simple. Having hunted out there for 6 years and promoting it as a good place to hunt; It's pretty disappointing. IMO; it seems harsh to treat 1st time offenders of such a simple rule. Keep in mind; if you're out there violating rules such as parking, orange vests,etc. you can pay your fine and begin hunting again. I don't even have that option. You will know if you are banned if you enter your permit # from last year. It will tell you "you are blocked". If you get that message; you are blocked. I spoke to the head Park Ranger and Lake Mgr., but neither are able to grant an exception. Both listened to me speak my case, but as they mention; they can't make an exception to me w/out doing it for everyone. Point taken! I'm sure I won't be the only one this year. Good luck to those who did manage to do their survey.

Can you try registering as a "new" hunter??

HUH

don't really know. I'm thinking that I'd be violating another regulation which would then cause me to be face more issues,fines, etc. I'm beginning to think by them enforcing this policy now they are going to have issues w/ people hunting anyways or trying to circumvent the rules by trying to outsmart the system. I was told that over 3000 people applied out there last year. I'm trying to figure out why they are opting to be so hard core about this one rule this year. If 30-40% of the hunters forgot to enter in the survery; 900-1000 of us lost a great place to hunt. Heck, even in N.M when I went Mule deer hunting; I got an e mail or a notifier that my survey was due. They even allowed you to pay $5 if you forgot when you applied for the next year.

That sux man..

I'm under the impression that the majority of COE lakes are slowly switching over to this method and rule.

Do they mail you the survey? I had a permit for last year, but I don't remember if I went out there or not, and I don't remember if I got a survey in the mail. I guess I'll try my permit number and see what happens.

No; you have to do it online. Basically, if you applied and got a permit last year; you would have had to fill out the survey via the online system. Even if you didn't hunt; you still have to fill it out. Your permit # will tell you if it's blocked.

There are some states that have the same requirement on a state-wide basis. New Mexico requires you complete a HUNT SURVEY if you are issued a tag. And, although I had sent mine in after last year's hunt, apparently it was lost or not entered into their system. Consequently, I had to pay a $8.00 "late fee" so that I could register for another tag this year!

J; don't you think that Whitney should do something similar? I'd pay the $8 or $10 to be able to hunt again if I forgot to do my survey. Like I mentioned before; they aren't even giving anyone a chance.

I am not sure what is the point of this post? I am sure this is being done to cut down on the number of people coming into the COE hunting lands so it isn't overcrowded. Every peice of public land has some kind of rules and if not followed to a T, you get banned or fined.

Did you happen to see some of my comments about violating other rules and still being able to hunt? BTW; I called them and asked about the overcrowding issue and they said that isn't the case. They welcome them all. So you agree that a ban is justified for this violation but not for others that are far greater in the scope of things (safety issues,etc.?)

I also thought that it was good information for people who are thinking about hunting out there this year. I thought they should know what might happen if they forgot. A lot of people plan their year based off of getting to hunt. If this is your only place or primary option; you may be in for a surprise. Maybe that should be the "point of this post".

Ok if it is informative fine, but just sounds like a bunch of belly aching. Rules are rules and that is the most simple way to put it. If you speed you can get away with it for a while but sooner or later you get caught and it is no ones else's fault but your own. This was in place for a while, people that didn't follow the rules didn't get caught, now they did. I agree it sucks but that is the way it is. It also sucks when I get a speeding ticket!

I have been told by a corps permit lake on more than one occasion when picking up a permit that the survey rule would be enforced in the future and that it would have to be turned in at the end of season, and not to be turned in the next season when picking up a permit. Another corps lake that was not a permit lake last year has gone to the same online survey system with the same rule. If one hunts any corps lake that requires a survey, I highly advise that rule be followed at the end of this season. I did not hunt Whitney last year, but I did do the survey for the reasons above and because I saw it in last years rules. I do hate to see so many get blocked from a permit. The corps really should have given one more year of warnings or mailed out some notices at the end of season if they really wanted that info for their game managment. On the other hand I doubt they had the funding and resources to be able to do that. To be so abrupt with no exceptions it almost makes me wonder if someone may have got in trouble from farther up the chain of command for not enforcing it.

You're right. I am mad (at myself mostly), but you can see in another post in the deer hunting section that 70% of the 2-3 k hunters aren't returning this year b/c of it. To me; that says something wasn't communicated correctly and it was enforced too harshly (IMO). I can tell you that if I was on the other end of the stick here and did do my survey; I wouldn't be telling my fellow hunters Tough S*&*^; you didn't follow the rules. It be different if you told me you got banned for carrying a pistol and poaching deer. I'd then say "tough S*&%**; you should be banned"! You're right; rules should be followed, but until you or anyone shows me that this particular rule is as bad as some of the other violations that take place on the corps but yet still allow you to come back within the year; I'll keep "belly aching".

It doesn't matter if it is as bad or not. The rule was broken and it had a penalty. I never said tough *!?$. I said you broke a rule and now want to pass this post off as information when really it is for crying. Thats all.

I know from talking to other project managers, they get very frustrated with the low percentage of surveys they get returned. They may be doing this to make a point. I would give it some time. Then talk to the project manager in person and respectfully plea your case if it is important to you to hunt there. Maybe they will back off once that point has been made.

Last year when I got my permit they told me that you had to turn in your survey within 30 days of the end of each season, meaning 30 days after deer, 30 days after dove, and so on. They also told me last year that if it was not turned in that you couldnt hunt next year. I also seen it on the website last year when I was reading all the rules and regs. I know it sucks, some of my friends and family cant hunt this year because of it. But its like they told my uncle, you dont read the rules - you dont need to hunt there. "I dont mean this in any bad way towards anyone" But thats the way it is. The rules were on the website and you had to follow them, all of them. Thats just like some guys got mad last year when the park rangers confiscated their stands that had been left in the trees for over a month. Website says take your stand out with you at the end of each hunt, and they didnt. But they still got mad about it.

Dang me too, and i was heading down there wednesday. My own fault i cant believe i did that!!!

Just checked mine, I'm out too!

Me too. Man, and I really like having someplace this close to go from time-to-time too. What really sucks is that I'm doing and elk hunt this year and don't have a deer lease.

But just think about it. I'm betting there will be at least half as many hunters out there this year. Next year could be a really, really good year.

This year should be a really good year. Only a few hundred permits given out so far.

I just read the rules for hunting on corps land and I have to say the corps appears to be making it as difficult as they can. Almost like they are trying to discourage folks from hunting it.

They have no choice to make it as selective as possible. 3000 permits was almost twice the number as the previous year. It sucks for you but more backstraps for me...