CURRENTLY WDFW FEDERAL AGENTS SHOOTING 15 bulls in Skagit River Unit!!!!

[BOWHUNTER45]

Got it ...I am there ..let you know how she goes 

[pianoman9701]

I have a buddy that tooka a cow through the MH program in this area. I think this is likely the best route to take/expand to solve the issue. It gives controlled harvest with straight forward guidelines. I wish you didn't have to be a MH to do it, but it may be the right tool for this problem...

MHs are a tool of the state DF&W. They could call in anyone they want to accomplish the goals they need to accomplish. In addition, they could send out a bulletin asking hunters to register for emergency free tags and have an orientation required before they can receive one. There's no shortage of free resources to accomplish what they need to accomplish. The problem is that the Department of Watchable Wildlife has to actually think of our state's 175,000 hunters as part of the solution. They don't, ever. In any situation where animals need to be culled, they reach for the purse strings instead of asking, "how can we make this a win-win for the state using hunters instead of throwing money at it?". The entire culture of the DFW needs to change and it needs to start at the top. If everyone isn't pounding their fists on their representatives' desks about this and about how the department is run in general, they should start immediately. We're only every going to lose if we don't seek to change the entire administration of this section of our government.

[floatinghat]

Special T why MH?  Why not General or Permit?  Would spread hunters out more, as others have stated could push the elk back in the hills. 

[floatinghat]

There's no shortage of free resources to accomplish what they need to accomplish. The problem is that the Department of Watchable Wildlife has to actually think of our state's 175,000 hunters as part of the solution. ...... We're only every going to lose if we don't seek to change the entire administration of this section of our government.

 

[Goldeneye]

Special T why MH?  Why not General or Permit?  Would spread hunters out more, as others have stated could push the elk back in the hills.

  Part of the issue hear is safe shooting alleys.  There are houses, livestock, roads, etc. in and around where these animals are.  There needs to be a method of control to reduce the chance of collateral damage when the shot is taken.     

[pianoman9701]

Special T why MH?  Why not General or Permit?  Would spread hunters out more, as others have stated could push the elk back in the hills.

Because of the high profile situation being that this is close to houses and farms, and right in the community. It could be done with general tag holders too, but they'd have to attend a briefing to go over specific rules, do's and don'ts, weapon choice, and ensure that everyone was keyed in on working with the landowners in a safe and ethical way. When there's a large MH effort, they have such a briefing done by the hunt coordinator to try and ensure that nothing goes wrong which would give hunting or conservation a black eye.

[Special T]

Pman your spot on. The WDFW culture does not see us sportmen as an asset, just a $$$.
FH I like a general season. I wish they had a general for archery and/or muzzy like they did before. I just mention the MH program because its a program that is currently in place doing some of this work. It wouldn't be hard to expand it only the fly to take care of issues like this one.   WDFW hates general bad press so i think that is why we no longer have a archery or Muzzy general in that area. there have been a couple of incidents that have created bad press. Unfortunately many people fail to realize that this area is less of a hunt, but more a of harvest situation. Killing large amounts of animals in general view of the public isn't PC. I think that is why the feds were doing it at night. 

[Boss .300 winmag]

just bring in the WOLVES, they are completly PC!

[pianoman9701]

Pman your spot on. The WDFW culture does not see us sportmen as an asset, just a $$$.
FH I like a general season. I wish they had a general for archery and/or muzzy like they did before. I just mention the MH program because its a program that is currently in place doing some of this work. It wouldn't be hard to expand it only the fly to take care of issues like this one.   WDFW hates general bad press so i think that is why we no longer have a archery or Muzzy general in that area. there have been a couple of incidents that have created bad press. Unfortunately many people fail to realize that this area is less of a hunt, but more a of harvest situation. Killing large amounts of animals in general view of the public isn't PC. I think that is why the feds were doing it at night. 

The restricted seasons are in place there because their target for that herd is 1900 animals and they're only at about 1400 now. This is a really good example of why you don't relocate critters except under very specific circumstances. In this case, the unforeseen consequence of restricting seasons AND moving animals has put the what are now excess animals into farmers' fields instead of having the intended result of filling the woods with elk. There's a reason that only so many animals lived there and we're now seeing what happens when you mess with nature's balance. But never fear, once the wolves show up, ALL of the elk will come down out of the hills and invade the valley. Another fine mess you've gotten us into, Ollie!

[floatinghat]

"but they'd have to attend a briefing to go over specific rules, do's and don'ts, weapon choice, and ensure that everyone was keyed..... and ethical way."

This is taught in HE and should be a refresher requirement too many people with short term memories.  To much gets lost between the ears.  Either way anything is better than what sounds like Anderson pushed forward. 


Wonder if he will suggest Wolves....., when is he out?

[Goldeneye]

Just got an update from the meeting.  About 50-60 people in attendance.  Dave Ware (WDFW) now talking about the Skagit herd.

[skeeter 20i]

Tagged:  Very interested in the "wisdom" behind this decision.

[Bob33]

Some interesting historical reading on the Northern Cascade herd from 2002:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00772/

"The North Cascade elk herd is the smallest of ten herds residing in the state. It is a small herd and the northern most herd in western Washington. Nevertheless, it is an important resource that provides significant recreational, aesthetic, and economic benefit to Washington citizens and a valued cultural, subsistence, and ceremonial resource to the Native American people of the area.

This is a reintroduced herd resulting from successful augmentations in 1946 and 1948 of eastern and western Washington elk. The estimated peak population of 1,700 elk occurred in 1984. Since then, the population has sharply declined to a current estimate of about 300 elk."

[BOWHUNTER45]

I have a buddy that tooka a cow through the MH program in this area. I think this is likely the best route to take/expand to solve the issue. It gives controlled harvest with straight forward guidelines. I wish you didn't have to be a MH to do it, but it may be the right tool for this problem...

MHs are a tool of the state DF&W. They could call in anyone they want to accomplish the goals they need to accomplish. In addition, they could send out a bulletin asking hunters to register for emergency free tags and have an orientation required before they can receive one. There's no shortage of free resources to accomplish what they need to accomplish. The problem is that the Department of Watchable Wildlife has to actually think of our state's 175,000 hunters as part of the solution. They don't, ever. In any situation where animals need to be culled, they reach for the purse strings instead of asking, "how can we make this a win-win for the state using hunters instead of throwing money at it?". The entire culture of the DFW needs to change and it needs to start at the top. If everyone isn't pounding their fists on their representatives' desks about this and about how the department is run in general, they should start immediately. We're only every going to lose if we don't seek to change the entire administration of this section of our government.

Piano ...your right its a tool ....and T  I Disagree ! Everyone who buys a tag  should have the same chances as the other ... I went to the meeting and it will be my last ...its the same old BS .. Indians done this Indians done that  What the hell have we done  What did our money do ? Who shot the sheeeet out of these elk back in the 8Os ...Ware kept saying how the Indians have helped Sooo much ...DAH !! tHEY SHOULD HELP BRING THEM BACK AND MANAGE THEM ...They are part of the problem why they were wiped out ...Now they have another 80 head that they have no idea where they came from !!! I thought they knew everything ....birrrrrr Dirrrrrrr !!! And now the elk are nocturnal  we have to have federal agents hunting with spotlights ...Give me a dang tag and I will gladly show you how nocturnal they are ...with a 100 gr wasp  all ...and another thing ...we have a serious problem with the elk but lets increase the herd  Here is another problem they have ...they give out so many tags but without permission from the landowner you are not going to fill them ....they want to kill a certain amount but for the amount of tags they are giving out does not come close to what they want to kill  So here is what I suggest ...CLOSE DOWN HWY 20 AND GIVE THE ELK BACK THERE LAND ,,,SAME WITH THE IDIANS .....OR KILL THEM ALL AND NO ONE WILL NEED TO BE PEEESED WHO GETS TO EAT THEM BECAUSE THEY ALL WILL BE GONE  THERE YA GO !  I will write my legislators ...they actually sounded like they cared about what happens or should be done !! Hopefully they will listen to some hunters ...because hunting is the only problem solver here !!! I stayed calm ...did not I ....

[BOWHUNTER45]

Not counting the fact they are in an area I chose to live So as a hunter I should be putting one in my freezer ..we will see what kinds crap they come up with for the next draft !