Naches area bighorns to be euthanized due to pneumonia

[Austrian Hunter]

Bad deal for the sheep herd....

   I honestly thought it was already done two years ago?? I guess not.  Would love to hear from Bone on this issue!!! 

[Austrian Hunter]

And this is a different herd, not the one at the feeding station across from Oaks Creek, please someone correct me if i'm wrong! 

[Austrian Hunter]

And this is a different herd, not the one at the feeding station across from Oaks Creek, please someone correct me if i'm wrong!

This is the herd up highway 12 from Oak Creek up past Rimrock retreat.  They do use the oak creek area and do cross over the unit into the clemans unit too, that's why they want to eliminate them to prevent them from infecting the Cleman's sheep.

Thank you!!!!

[Ridgerunner]

Major bummer

[winshooter88]

The sheep they took out in 2010 were in the Yakima canyon area, I think this is a different herd.

[jackelope]

Does anyone know how many animals they are taking or took out?

sounds like quite a few

There is only 50 head remaining and all of them are sick.  It is either the *censored* who lets his goats roam up in tieton or the range sheep.

Sheep.

[pendoreilleadventures]

It sad but it needs to me done.

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[Scottystyle]

Idea has probably been hashed out before but why can't a handful of tags be issued to take out some of the rams rather than simply destroying them???

The problem with that is that 1) it would provide hunters opportunity and 2) it wouldnt cost too much to do it.

[boneaddict]

The canyon, they were selective, and only killed those that appeared symptomatic.   APPARANTLY this whole herd is symptomatic.  On a personal note, this really sucks becasue this is where I "wanted" to put in for this year as I have seen a real dandy.  He was really low this last weekend   or two ago when I went over the hill for soccer in Olympia. DANG!  Maybe they will relocate some of the clemens animals to that unit this year instead of hauling them over for wolf food on the Colville.    I have noticed that the number of animals has been way decreased compared to the last couple years.     

[boneaddict]

Front page of the herald today...

http://www.yakimaherald.com/home/999739-8/disease-may-force-slaughter-of-tieton-bighorn-sheep

[180-GRAIN]

Sounds stupid I guess but they ought to do a draw. Give people 2-3 days to apply for a tag and let hunters lend a hand in euthonizing a few. Win win for hunters and the game department. It's sad we have lost so many sheep the last few years here in Washington due to this disease. I think there is only one final thing the game department can do and that is out an end to grassing domestic sheep in any areas within a certain radio us of where sheep call home. Heck just ban free razzing of domestic sheep all together. Make people feed them at home. I know it seems like I'm dogging farmers that run sheep but if this is the only thing believed to spread the disease to the bighorns then there needs to be a plan put into effect to keep the 2 separated.

[WAcoyotehunter]

Yep- domestic sheep on range are a very real problem.  Sad deal for sure.

[boneaddict]

Wouldn't be surprised of the clemans herd starts dropping like flies.   The sheep are known to go from place to place quite often.

I know, they cross back and forth on the Naches River all the time.   Even spookier than the Umpt herd and Selah Butte.

Someone posed the question about opening it up for the general public for tags.  I would bet this would rate as at least one good reason why not.   

[adamR]

I understand the reasons why but the way they are doing this is bs!  As said make a short draw time ( make money from apps), people get drawn charge us for tags(not the full amount since most likely you wouldn't kill a nice ram), and everyone wins.  Game dept makes more money which is ultimately their goal on anything, hunters score becuz they have a chance at a sheep, and the sheep die!

[coachcw]

so they will get them all , I wouldn't be surprised if they missed a few , some of that area isn't hunter friendly . I wouldn't doubt it if Clemans was next . last year I saw some ewes up in Benton creek who knows where they came from . Get Rid of the domestics for sure , they just don't makes sense financially . Too bad bone I know there's a dandy up there .