Hoof Rot still a problem in SW units

[skywalker253]

Perhaps our state government should get off their butt and supply the WSDFW will the proper amount of funding to help fund the mass amount of programs they have. They will, but not until our elk herds are devasted and hoof rott becomes the top story of our local news.

[bbarnes]

 I'm glad you bring up funding because, i see fleets of brand new vehicles in Olympia and region 5 in Vancouver.Also there trying to buy more lands, when they  clearly cant manage what they have.We are on the brink of loosing our elk herds in SW Washington and no sportsman want to get involved.The funny thing about this is they have known about this for 18 years and done nothing about it.They have done the same tree plantings and habitat projects to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars, in the toutle river valley each year only to have a net loos in habitat from it washing down the river.The list goes on and on and on of wasted moneys start doing some research and get informed of all the failed project and rehiring of retired employees that are collecting retirement and taking a counter job away from some one who really needs a job.Don't tell me about not having enough money,my theory is hire professionals outside on a bid process when theres no incentive when theres no accountability.

[Mudman]

Perhaps our state government should get off their butt and supply the WSDFW will the proper amount of funding to help fund the mass amount of programs they have. They will, but not until our elk herds are devasted and hoof rott becomes the top story of our local news.

They are so dumb they refuse money and help when offered!  Here is an explanation to me from RMEF.                                                                                                                                          http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,118488.0.html

[skywalker253]

I'm glad you bring up funding because, i see fleets of brand new vehicles in Olympia and region 5 in Vancouver.Also there trying to buy more lands, when they  clearly cant manage what they have.We are on the brink of loosing our elk herds in SW Washington and no sportsman want to get involved.The funny thing about this is they have known about this for 18 years and done nothing about it.They have done the same tree plantings and habitat projects to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars, in the toutle river valley each year only to have a net loos in habitat from it washing down the river.The list goes on and on and on of wasted moneys start doing some research and get informed of all the failed project and rehiring of retired employees that are collecting retirement and taking a counter job away from some one who really needs a job.Don't tell me about not having enough money,my theory is hire professionals outside on a bid process when theres no incentive when theres no accountability.

Your examples are all valid. I don't keep track of who is driving new vehicles, retired folks, etc. Just saying; the game departments response to something not getting done is "lack of funding".

I don't think it is fair to say that "no sportsman want to get involved." I beleive MudMan is a good example of a sportman getting involved. He has been in contact with the game department and posted an emailed response in another "Hoof Rott" topic a week or two ago. There are plenty of sportsman on HuntWa, who have expressed their concerns and frustrations with the game departments management of Hoof Rott. I have also contacted the game department expressing my concerns.

What is it that you expect sportsman to do?
All they can do is express frustration, report hoof rott sittings, and report harvested elk with hoof rott. It is not like sportsman can start tranquilizing elk and administering a vacine.

Maybe you should do some research- Go into the other "Hoof Rott" topics and read the emailed response that MudMan posted. Correct me if I am wrong, but I beleive the game department is hiring "Hoof Rott" experts outside of the game department to study the disease. They have also been in contact with other agencies, who have experience dealing with the disease in their own states. I could be wrong, but that was ruffly what I remember....

MudMan can you offer some info?

[Mudman]

No, not anything not on here already.  I know WDFW is finally funding research/study of animals and have asked for help outside of WDFW.  WSU and a few others I believe.  They have not accepted help from RMEF as far as I know but have listened to RMEF lobby.  Still no planned study on live animals but it sounds like their new approach will FINALLY yield some results.  I am happy something is being done.  Better late than never right?  I hope for best but wonder if it will change anything this late in the game.  Personally I think it is a natural and realistically untreatable disease.  One thing of interest is a question of mine, why dont the deer suffer from this?  I hope to hear from RMEF soon.  Support the RMEF.

[skywalker253]

No, not anything not on here already.  I know WDFW is finally funding research/study of animals and have asked for help outside of WDFW.  WSU and a few others I believe.  They have not accepted help from RMEF as far as I know but have listened to RMEF lobby.  Still no planned study on live animals but it sounds like their new approach will FINALLY yield some results.  I am happy something is being done.  Better late than never right?  I hope for best but wonder if it will change anything this late in the game.  Personally I think it is a natural and realistically untreatable disease.  One thing of interest is a question of mine, why dont the deer suffer from this?  I hope to hear from RMEF soon.  Support the RMEF.

The deer I shot this year in the Blues, potentially had hoof rott. One of its hoof nails (toes) was appx. 9" in length and curved all funny. Could have just been a deformality? I wish I would have taken a photo of it, so I could post it. Nothing rotted, but based off the pictures I saw on the WDFW website; it could easily be the early stages of hoof rott.