WDFW wildlife management in GMU 564

[Pigfuz]

Well I'm new here and am not sure what your guys opinions are about the WDFW but my experiences have not been great when it comes to their Wildlife management in my area. I sent them this email  yesterday and am waiting on a response.

To Whom it may concern,
 
I have been setting up trail cameras and talking to landowners in GMU 564 (Battle Ground Unit) for the past year because I noticed that all of the elk in our unit have disappeared west of the NE 120th avenue line.  After having trail cameras set up in the only area that I knew still had a few elk in it I discovered that there are only three elk (pictured in the attachments) left in the area that I am describing.  I am a hunter in the Battle Ground unit and I know that my license fees go to funding for the WDFW.  What I do not understand is that we "hire" the WDFW to manage wildlife, not to allow their eradication.  On your own website it says that your two goals are "Protect and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats.  Provide sustainable, fish- and wildlife-related recreational and commercial opportunities."   Well in the battleground unit by allowing either sex hunting for elk you have allowed them to be dwindled down to nothing.  The rest of the unit is on the same course along with the deer in our unit.  WDFW is not upholding either of their goals.  If someone could give me any ex[planation for why GMU 564 is being managed the way that it is I would love to hear about it.  Otherwise I want to know what it will take to get them to regulate hunting in this unit to some degree such as 3pt. minimum for elk and buck only for deer. Also if this message should be going to someone else I would like to get those email addresses.

Thanks,

Craig Murray

[ELKBURGER]

I too live in 564. It seems that WDFG are trying to minimize property damage for private land owners. They have had it either sex for the 20+ years I've been hunting it. There are still alot of deer in the unit, including some great bucks, but you need to find the private pockets that hold them and get permission to access. There are some great 'Public access areas' called Legacy Lands. There are many along the east fork of the lewis river, however, they regulate it as parks.....no archery, no shooting, no hunting. That is a shame.

[Pigfuz]

I realize that there are still lots of great deer in 564.  I have trail camera pictures of bucks that would make the record books however my main point was about the elk.  I realize that they can cause property damage and should be controlled to a point however I don't believe that justifies killing off entire herds of elk.  I hunted this herd when it had anywhere from 40-70 elk in it.  Now it only has 3.  I think that passes the point of management.

[Pigfuz]

Also if we can just eliminate elk because they damage trees than why can't we shoot the crap out of the beavers that kill trees even faster plus plug culverts and wash out roads which in turn causes millions of dollars of damage.

[elk247]

KA-POW! Nice letter. Will you please follow up with the reply they send answering your questions? Thanks

[Pigfuz]

I sent it to our regional office here in Vancouver on Monday and still have not received a reply.  Any other suggestions of where to send it? 

[bobcat]

I would send it to Dave Ware. He is the big game manager. He probably won't answer it himself, but he may forward it to someone who will.

david.ware@dfw.wa.gov


You could also send it to the Fish & Wildlife Commissioners

commission@dfw.wa.gov

[Bob33]

Call the regional office and ask to speak with the biologist for that area.

[Pigfuz]

Will do thanks

[bobcat]

You might take a look at this if you haven't already:   http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00771/

[Pigfuz]

If they had managed the elk the way that they said they were going to back in 2006 then it sounds like it would have worked great however they said they wanted to increase number and quality and in 564 numbers continue to fall and so does quality. 

[bobcat]

I really think they don't want elk in 564, due to all the potential conflicts with private landowners. It's kind of like the Lincoln unit up here by Centralia, where they apparently also don't want any elk. It's been open for either sex elk hunting during archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm seasons for as long as I can remember.

[Pigfuz]

I completely agree that "They" don't want elk in 564 but unless they are going to explain to the public why, then I don't think they should make decisions to eradicate a species out of an area.  I realize that it is quite obvious that they don't want them here but I think that those of us that enjoy hunting elk in our local area deserve a right to know why WDFW is allowing people to hunt them completely out of the unit.  Just my opinion 

[bobcat]

Actually, I doubt that hunting is going to entirely eradicate elk from any particular area in western Washington. They have enough cover and places to hide, and no wolves, yet! If the habitat is there, the elk will be there. If elk numbers are dwindling it's likely due more to a lack of quality habitat than any other factor.

It would be a good idea to talk to the regional biologist for tha area and get his take on it.

[Pigfuz]

Well lets just say when six guys go out into a clear cut in and count down from three and then they all shoot cows it doesn't take long.  There are some people in our area that have literally done this to the herd and I have trail camera pictures to show that there are only three elk left in the area.  I will definitely talk to the biologist though. Thanks for the tip.