WDFW loves their new cougar management plan.

[bearpaw]

Unfortunately there is already HUNDREDS of cats being left to rot in the woods.  They are just being killed by other cougars. 

Around 750 new kittens survive their first year in WA.  Since populations are at, or over, carrying capacity population are staying pretty stable in undeveloped areas.  That means that for every new cat that enters the population one dies.  750+ cats being killed and hunters are taking around 150 of them.  If hunters were allowed to harvest up to 10% of the population it would not have any impact on total population or age structures.  WDFW know all this but is pandering to the predator lovers. 

Totally backwards thinking and a complete waste of a resource.  Like letting trees burn in forest fires instead of logging them.  It is also a financial drain on a cash strapped state.  Not only are they losing revenue, from cougar hunters and reduced ungulate opportunities, they are having to pay for more human/cougar conflict issues as cougars try to expand into developed areas.

Excellent points that we need to drive home in commission meetings. 

[buckfvr]

What would be the price tag for a 13 year study, all inclusive  ?  And who pays ?
Granted, they do their studies in order to promote their agenda with an outcome that supports it, but at what cost and to whom ?

Seems as though they take our money and put it to work against us.   

[cougarbart]

safari club funded the last study that started as enscapement study and after 3 years since what they wanted to happen didn't! it turned into a population study but the problem with that is cats travel so much they really don't know what the ceiling is and how much they travel! they honestly still don't know much about Washington cougars