Elk going to waste in TRUE spike areas

[Curly]

I don't think I'd go so far as to say WDFW would frame you, but yeah you would get written up.  Just like road kill is not legal to pick up. 

[Rooster1981]

Does a guy who self reports himself really get to keep the meat?  I've heard that, but I wonder how true that is?

If that was the case, wouldn't there be guys willing to just shoot a 1x2, self report and pay an extra $80. 

No you do not get to keep any part of the animal, the elk if recoverable close to a road is taken to Yakima and processed to feed the homeless. 

[Red Ryder]

I was in the Colockum last weekend. I was on a small herd that turned out to be a 6X6 Bull with 6 cows. It had taken me a while to get within range and I was losing light. I was hoping a spike might step out from somewhere. I was glassing the elk and it finally got to the point where I really couldn't distinguish antlers. At that point, had a true spike stepped out there, I couldn't really be sure whether it was a legal elk or not. I called off the hunt at that point and headed back up the canyon before I lost too much more light. About a minute after I turned back, someone started taking long distance shots at the elk. There were 3 shots with a long echo, a pause, followed by 3 more shots. I think they were too far away to hit anything. It was really a surprise that someone would lob shots far away in low light like that. I could see where elk get wasted out there.

[Bob33]

If you find an elk or deer that has been shot dead and is not a legal animal can you at least take the meat, or will WDFW frame you for poaching if they catch you?

Legally, you cannot keep any dead animal you did not kill.

[JLS]

If you find an elk or deer that has been shot dead and is not a legal animal can you at least take the meat, or will WDFW frame you for poaching if they catch you?

Legally, you cannot keep any dead animal you did not kill.

And thus they would not be framing you, because you would actually be committing a violation.

[howlow]

I know the true spike makes it hard for the hunters   but the herd numbers have increased drasticly since the rule    thats why we got cow tags in those areas!!! and I think they increased the bull tags also

[Humptulips]

Same argument for 3pt or better with deer. I personally have seen over 8 dead 2 points. Dumb!!

The problem is the policy. If you make a mistake you should be able to report it, pay a fine and keep the animal with a 3 strikes, and you're out rule. Washington is a stupid state! We f-up more than we fix.

 

[Rooster1981]

I know the true spike makes it hard for the hunters   but the herd numbers have increased drasticly since the rule    thats why we got cow tags in those areas!!! and I think they increased the bull tags also

The only reason there is a cow hunt on the colockum is to raise the bull to cow ratio. Less cows = More bulls to cows + better ratio on paper.

Spike only started in 1994 by 1996 we were seeing 15-20 bulls per 100 cows and this was very exiting.  By 2000-2001 we were seeing a large decline of the number of satellite bulls and there were just a bunch of old heard bulls running around with spikes. By 07-08 there were very few big bulls left at all  most of the old bulls were long dead from old age and the number of spike's were on the decline as well.

Then in 2009 two things happened, the Yakima Indian nation received hunting rights for these two units and true spike was born. A coincidence not likely.

So starting on 2007 two years prior of the true spike rule change here are the hunting harvest numbers for modern firearm seasons. there is no muzzy season for these units and a very limited number of archery hunters. watch as the success rates drop by over 50% in only four years.
                 
                                 Bulls         Antlerless       Success Ratio    #of hunters
2007- unit 328        126               25                      7.8%            1931                      Old spike only
          unit-329        120              47                     13.2%          1265          Compare to 2011

2008- unit-328        145               29                        n/a               n/a           compare to 2010
          unit-329          95                18                         n/a               n/a

2009- unit-328        107               22                        6.5%           1997                   first year of true spike
          unit-329          75               19                        8.8%           1068   

2010-unit-328          57                21                        4.7%           1580
         unit-329          74                13                        8.8%               990

2011- unit-328         89                13                        6.4%           1591
          unit-329         46                  7                        5.7%           928

As a end result the bull to cow ratio is at 4.5 bulls to 100 cows with a spike bull mortality rate of 82%. Something needs to change soon.

[Blacktail Sniper]

If you find an elk or deer that has been shot dead and is not a legal animal can you at least take the meat, or will WDFW frame you for poaching if they catch you?

Legally, you cannot keep any dead animal you did not kill.

And thus they would not be framing you, because you would actually be committing a violation.

Not correct if you decide to take possession of it and get caught, you have committed an illegal act.  In order to "Frame you" it would have to be their idea/suggestion that you commit an illegal act.   

Taking the meat/carcass from an animal you found but did not harvest yourself would be at the minimum Illegal possesion of game meat/animal.

[C-Money]

I let 3 1x2s go opening day in the true spike area. I noticed way fewer camps. Still seemed to be a good number of hunters. I saw 4 true spikes that were harvested. I sure enjoy elk hunting up there, and would hate to see permit only.

[big wood]

Basically the state is getting what they want. revenue and hardly any elk being killed. besides we have to build the heards up for the wolves to wipe em' out.

[CedarPants]

Basically the state is getting what they want. revenue and hardly any elk being killed. besides we have to build the heards up for the wolves to wipe em' out.

Comments in this thread would seem to suggest that "hardly any elk being killed" isn't what is taking place

[big wood]

A lot more branched antlered bulls are seen than true spikes being shot. time to add more quality elk permits or change to brow tine bull or better like Montana. They dont seem to have any problems

[stuckalot]

The biggest problem with true spike, compared to say a 3 point restriction is it is much easier to count 3 points and verify something you see, than be absolutely certain of something you don't see!

Stupid rule, does however decrease overall harvest I believe.

[big wood]

exactly,well said