Drew The Wrong Tag?

[TLH]

Brian,

 

That was very good of you to explain that part of the draw to us all. I think most cases we as humans make mistakes and that puts all of us in that category. The son in law pulled a cow tag lat year for archery but only applied for bull archery tags--the department told him that his number was not one that would have allowed him to be drawn for the bull tags so they offered him to send the tag back or keep it. He kept it.

 

The only concern i have is for the person who may have drawn the tag that my son in law got--that means someone out there sat at home because this mistake was made--that is the only part that makes the mistake bad.

 

 

Thanks for responding!

 

Terry

 

[tjhunt2]

Thanks Brian for the explanation.I get tired of hearing so much negative talk about g&f when a mistake has been made on their applications. It's great to have people like yourself in g&f to come on here to take the time and explain what can be done to correct the situation. There are some people who portray the department in a negative way but with people like yourself coming forward with a possible solution to a problem is going to change the way people portray g&f. I continue to hear more and more positive attitudes towards the department and that makes me happy. Thanks Brian for being one of those who really is making a difference for our g&f department.

 

TJ

[Tines]

Getting what you perceive to be the wrong tag can certainly be frustrating, but don't panic. First, verify that you truly have the right information (I mean you are referencing the right year's regulations), and then if you still believe the tag you were issued is in error, give us a call at the Phoenix office.

 

Call 602-942-3000 and ask to speak with someone in the Draw Section. They can pull your application up and determine if the tag in your hand was issued in error. If it was, it will take them a little while to research your random number and determine if you would have been drawn for your correct choice. If you would not have been drawn, you will probably be offered the choice of keeping the tag you were issued, or, if you would rather return it, having your bonus points restored. If your random number indicates that you would have been drawn for another hunt, then we need to determine if the issuance of another tag in the correct unit would cause any biological concern (and in most deer hunts this isn't much of an issue, although in a sheep hunt this may be a big issue). If it is no problem, then we may be able to issue that tag by following a simple administrative process. The folks in the Draw Section can walk you through the steps when you contact them.

 

Keep in mind, we generally have somewhere in the neighborhood of just over 100,000 applications that must be key entered, and mistakes are made. We will do everything within our power to make things right.

 

When the draw results came out last year, I was reviewing my kids draw results and was certain the Department had goofed by giving them deer tags in a unit I hadn't put them in for. After lamenting for about 20 minutes about the error, a coworker sat down at my desk and listened to me tell the story yet again. He then reached across my desk, flipped over the copy of the regs I was looking at, and said something like "You knuckle-headed moron, you are looking at last year's regulations. Good thing you don't work in Game Management."

 

I was sufficiently humiliated.

 

Give us a call if you think we made a mistake.

 

Brian Wakeling

Game Branch Chief

 

Brian,

 

Thanks for the info. I also believe that the far majority of mistakes on apps are our own. Regardless of what everyone's personal opinions are on this subject, I do have a question for you (I don't want to start an "on-line vs paper apps" war). Wouldn't an on-line system fix this problem? Like many other states currently have, why can't a simple "confirmation" style on-line process be implemented to ensure that someone knows exactly what they're applying for? With this paper application process, are we (hunters and the Dept) relying on individuals mistakes to create "more opportunity"? This isn't a new question and I'm not sure what answer I'm expecting/you can give, but it's a legitimate one nonetheless. Like someone mentioned earlier, it's not just the one who draws the tag who this affects, it's also those sitting at home who really wanted that tag...

 

Thanks again,

 

Jake

 

[bwakeling]

Jake:

 

I intentionally dodged the online application issue in my earlier post, but you bring up an important point. You are absolutely correct, if it is up and working, errors are reduced by about 75%. And the errors that remain, by and large, are those that are the applicant's fault. When we had it in place before, you could review your application before you hit submit.

 

The online application isn't simple. We've tried to start this up twice, with less than desireable results. We are in the process of getting back up and running again, but it will take us a while to get there. By reducing error rates, we should further reduce the incidence of issuing the wrong tag to someone, which will exclude someone else from getting the tag they applied for.

 

Until then, write clearly on your application, and have someone else review it before you submit it. And get your application in before the correction period is over. That saved my bacon this year.

 

Thanks for everyone's positive comments.

 

Brian Wakeling

Game Branch Chief

[trophyhnter]

Awesome thread! Great to see G&F involved! Since we have opened the online application can of worms....i had a negative experience! Not to get into specifics as it would be counterproductive, it raises an interesting question in terms of managing our expectations. As consumers of products and services, some will expect perfection and when mistakes are made they will seek products and services somewhere else. Most, like myself, expect excellence but will be satisfied with excellent customer service when mistakes are made. Side note: G&F corrected their mistake with the online issue quickly and it appeared to me that they cared about costumer service! We don’t have another entity to go for the same services so when mistake are made, regardless of the process, not everyone will be happy! My suggestions are to continually make improvements in whatever process G&F chooses, utilize transparence in the process, and continue to emphasize costumer service.

 

Thanks,

Eddie

 

[fatfootdoc]

Over in the Great State of NM run by famous Gov. Bill(I have an ugly wife)Richardson, 3 hunting buddies and I put in for bull elk on the same application and only 3 of us were drawn, the 3rd applicant was unsuccessful. Explain that one, the NMDGF cant. They said it must have been an issue with his credit card but it was successfully hit.

[hunt4horns]

For whatever it's worth, my son was rejected saying we left one of the choice boxes blank. I really questioned it and had my doubts but after listening to what Brian had to say I phoned the AZG&F yesterday and talked with someone in the draw section. She brought up the App. on computer and reviewed it for me and and she told me it was the first box that was empty. End result, the mistake was my dumb A$$ but really appreciated the suggestion Brian gave and the effort the woman took to look for me. I would have never thought that they would have a copy readily available with the number of applicants. Thanks Brian and this thread. I still won't tell my son that was the reason for rejection!

[Outdoor Writer]

For whatever it's worth, my son was rejected saying we left one of the choice boxes blank.

 

Someone in the Obama administration might call this a teachable moment.

 

This type of goof is easily corrected IF the app is sent in during the "correction" period and not a day or two before the deadline. Whoever was listed in the A box would have received a phone call to correct the situation.

 

And to Brian, thanks for stopping by.

[trophyhnter]

So..................Any updates as to what G&F is going to do......................Hope you get the tag you want!

[Coach]

"You knuckle-headed moron, you are looking at last year's regulations. Good thing you don't work in Game Management."

 

I did the exact same thing this year when my kids got drawn - started wondering how in the heck they drew for a unit I wouldn't have intentionally applied for, wondering if I had written the wrong number down...funny how checking the correct year's regs makes all the difference!