Recent Colockum Elk Study!!!

[groundhog]

I just received the recently released Colockum elk study by the WDFW that took place in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. I have tried to post it but I guess the file is to big. The file is a pdf file that is 11MB. It appears to be a well thought out study that took a lot of man hours to put together. The study is primarily about tracking the movements of the collared elk and establishing the over condition of the Colockum elk.

I have always felt that the Colockum elk herd was healthy and that the WDFW should be giving more branched bull tags to us sportsman. I felt that they were not counting a large portion of the mature bulls and that their bull to cow ratios were not correct.

 I think the recent study indicates that the bull to cow ratio is much better than WDFW previously thought. While checking the overall condition they also pregnancy tested all of the cows that they darted. The WDFW sampled 101 cows ages three to sixteen and the pregnancy rate was 93.5 percent!! The total sampling was 118 cows including ages one through twenty one and the pregnancy rate was 89.1 percent!!!

 This tells me that we do not have a bull to cow ratio problem in the Colockum. We have more than enough bulls if 9 out of 10 cows are getting pregnant. I am not a Biologist so maybe I'm missing something... If someone has a different point of view on this I would like to hear it.

The study did not mention cow to calf ratios but I would expect them to be much lower due to natural mortality factors like old  and malnourished cows aborting calves, weather, predators, etc.etc

I think there is a problem with our big bulls getting harvested by a small group of Indians but I think it is time that the WDFW allocate more bull tags for the hunters that have sacrificed for the last 17 years. I am interested in your opinion.

 If you know how to post this 11MB report PM me and we will get it up so everyone can see it.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Maybe the WDFW is making sure there is enough elk for the wolfs to eat?

[Cougeyes]

Is it available on their website?  Did they e-mail it to you?

[Woodchuck]

Well this should draw the Apache driver out soon, will be interesting to hear his take.

[winshooter88]

Where did you get this from? Went to the WDFW website and couldn't find it. Please post a link if possible.

[Karl Blanchard]

Well this should draw the Apache driver out soon, will be interesting to hear his take.

Nope he is in Colorado doing high altitude training. 

[runamuk]

Well this should draw the Apache driver out soon, will be interesting to hear his take.

Nope he is in Colorado doing high altitude training.

well I will patiently await his return I am very interested in his opinion

[steeleywhopper]

Boot that frigging "true spike" rule and up some bull tags for the sporties!

[gaddy]

wouldn't doubt that he isn't flying over right now doing a recon to varify.

[groundhog]

Yes, I received it in an email. I was very surprised to see such a high pregnancy rate. Again I am not a bio but I doubt there is a higher pregnancy rate in any other wild herd of elk in the whole country!
 As someone that has been in the cattle business I can tell you that in our domestic cow herd we cull out the old cows and bring in replacement heifers. We preg test the cows and cull out the ones that do not get pregnant.
In a wild herd none of these variables are addressed so 93.5 percent on cows age 3 to 16 is incredible!
If you want to see the entire report PM me with your email and I will forward it to you.

[PlateauNDN]

This should be good.  So it has been confirmed, there are elk in the cplockum!lol  tagging for later to read the breakdown and forensic analysis report by colock on thos report.   if this reports true then why not change thr true spike rule soon and offer more branch tags?

[woodywsu]

PM sent groundhog.

On the cow to calve note, I looked over 400 head last week and was surpised by the number of calves for the group.

[Special T]

tag

[doyourtime89]

tag

[WenHunter]

your it!!, tag