Wdfw still don't care or what?

[Mudman]

Politics and huggers rule the state.  So there ya go.  Depressing.  Cats, bears, hair loss, hoof rot, wolves, Sheep sickness, Disc. pass, weyco closures.  All in the past decade or so.  I cant imagine the future ten years but  .

[johnsc6]

Lewis county needs two things, first is start logging again and second is open up a hound season on cats. I've personally seen a bobcat try to take down a yearling in November, and I can always cut lion tracks in fresh snow. I hunt there because there's big buck genetics around but honestly the hunting sucks!

[bearpaw]

Some simple math based on government statistics.

3000 to 4000 Statewide Cougar Population
Cougar eat 25 to 50 deer per year according to studies

This means cougar are eating somewhere between 75,000 and 200,000 deer per year in Washington. I remember a few decades ago when the WDFW estimated the cougar population at 2000 which means they have allowed the cougar population to expand by 50% to 100% which means cougar are eating 50% to 100% more deer in Washington than they used to eat.

To add insult to injury, WDFW is setting seasons based on the studies of a professor who does not support hunting. Any guesses the direction that cougar and deer numbers will continue? 

[nocklehead]

I would bet in a lot of those areas they have a poaching problem.

  I used to live around there and know for sure there are alot of backyard hunters who get a little too greedy.
....and these are the same guys who dont bearhunt , because they dont see the point with all those backstraps in the freezer. In fact most hunters I know dont actively predator hunt, they dont see themselves as stewards of the land anymore, they figure thats wdfw job.

[huntnphool]

Some simple math based on government statistics.

3000 to 4000 Statewide Cougar Population
Cougar eat 25 to 50 deer per year according to studies

This means cougar are eating somewhere between 75,000 and 200,000 deer per year in Washington. I remember a few decades ago when the WDFW estimated the cougar population at 2000 which means they have allowed the cougar population to expand by 50% to 100% which means cougar are eating 50% to 100% more deer in Washington than they used to eat.

To add insult to injury, WDFW is setting seasons based on the studies of a professor who does not support hunting. Any guesses the direction that cougar and deer numbers will continue? 

Exactly right Dale, according to his study, and WDFW's new cougar plan, we have actually been "over harvesting" them.

[Rooster1981]

Some simple math based on government statistics.

3000 to 4000 Statewide Cougar Population
Cougar eat 25 to 50 deer per year according to studies

This means cougar are eating somewhere between 75,000 and 200,000 deer per year in Washington. I remember a few decades ago when the WDFW estimated the cougar population at 2000 which means they have allowed the cougar population to expand by 50% to 100% which means cougar are eating 50% to 100% more deer in Washington than they used to eat.

To add insult to injury, WDFW is setting seasons based on the studies of a professor who does not support hunting. Any guesses the direction that cougar and deer numbers will continue? 

Exactly right Dale, according to his study, and WDFW's new cougar plan, we have actually been "over harvesting" them.

I know right, my deer area is closed to cougar hunting period. Apparently its been over harvested and now the deer herds in my spot are at its lowest numbers in the last ten years  Oh but theres lots of cougar scat with deer hair in it everywhere you look.

[Humptulips]

Reading through this I see a lot of guys think the answer is reducing hunter oppurtunity. Well, Thank you very much. I'm sure all the anti-hunters are just giggling with joy.
How point restrictions and more drawings is going to increase the size of the deer herd is beyond me.
What has really changed since the "good old days". No point restrictions, more hunters and less drawings back then. What has changed is less logging, and end to hound hunting wich has caused cougar numbers to go through the roof and a ban on foot traps ( we used to trap thousands of coyotes in this state).

So what can WDFW do? Land management is out of their hands. Hound hunting and trapping are not going to change without Legislative action. WDFW might do what they could on that but Legislative changes must come form the people.

Here's a couple things I think they could do.
They should eliminate doe tags in a lot of areas. Doe tags are usually used to reduce a maxed out population. Not a common problem in WA.
Increase the cougar harvest by allowing multiple tags per person, eliminate their new quota system, lengthening the season and here's a new one for you. Allow you to legally trap cougar. Yes they could do it. I've researched it.

As an added benefit to growing the deer population maybe WEYCO would be a little more hunter friendly if the deer were chewing on their trees.   

[Curly]

Here's a couple things I think they could do.
They should eliminate doe tags in a lot of areas. Doe tags are usually used to reduce a maxed out population. Not a common problem in WA.
Increase the cougar harvest by allowing multiple tags per person, eliminate their new quota system, lengthening the season and here's a new one for you. Allow you to legally trap cougar. Yes they could do it. I've researched it.

As an added benefit to growing the deer population maybe WEYCO would be a little more hunter friendly if the deer were chewing on their trees.