Getting bummed about my Quality Bull hunt

[bigmv]

So I got a call from the game department last week and was told they will be putting radio collars the 20 to 25 bulls in units 328 & 329 on Sept. 16 17 & 18. The drug they use to knock the bulls out with makes the meat non-consumable for the next 30 days. My hunt start on Sept. 30th and it in the neighboring unit (251). They told me there was a small chance that the bulls could wonder in to the unit and that if "I shot one with a collar that I could take the trophy if I want it and leave the meat for them to pick up or I can call them tell them I don't want it and continue on hunting". I much as it is about getting a big bull trophy it is also about getting meat for my family and friends. I have been putting for a branch antler bull hunt for 10 years. I don't have a lot money to go buy big bull hunts and this is my on chance to have one. Just starting to get pretty bummed that I'm getting the bad end of the stick. 

[elkhuntingcouple]

Cheer up , I bet you don't even see a collared bull. You have a great oppertunity don't let them ruin it for you.
With all the animals around you never know what is coming your way.  30 bulls out of hundreds is nothing, Just don't shoot a collared animal.
Good Luck have the best hunt of your life!! Its more about the hunt than anything right!!

Sharon

[Austrian Hunter]

  

[MtnMuley]

Sounds like WDFW has a good plan............Right during the middle of the rut, 20-25 bulls, non-edible for 30 days........in an area where a certain group of culls continue to knock down every bull around.........hmm, great idea.

...............I certainly wouldn't let that bother me if I had the 251 tag.

[woodywsu]

Sounds like WDFW has a good plan............Right during the middle of the rut, 20-25 bulls, non-edible for 30 days........in an area where a certain group of culls continue to knock down every bull around.........hmm, great idea.

...............I certainly wouldn't let that bother me if I had the 251 tag.

Except for those culls don't shoot them for the meat.

[huntnphool]

Sounds like WDFW has a good plan............Right during the middle of the rut, 20-25 bulls, non-edible for 30 days........in an area where a certain group of culls continue to knock down every bull around.........hmm, great idea.

...............I certainly wouldn't let that bother me if I had the 251 tag.

No kidding, kind of like the prescribed burns a couple years ago started throughout the Methow Valley during the 9 day general deer season. What are the odds of that being accidental or coincidental?

[boneaddict]

Just posted the same process in the fire thread.  Makes ya wonder doesn't it.

[huntnphool]

Makes ya wonder doesn't it.

No need to wonder, its as designed.

[boneaddict]

another example....running of cats and collaring them in our LAST hound season.   Its the game to compete with other hunters finding and running a cat.   Sure makes it more interesting when the government is doing the same dang thing wight where you are hunting and are interfering with the hunt...

[snowpack]

Sounds like WDFW has a good plan............Right during the middle of the rut, 20-25 bulls, non-edible for 30 days........in an area where a certain group of culls continue to knock down every bull around.........hmm, great idea.

...............I certainly wouldn't let that bother me if I had the 251 tag.

No kidding, kind of like the prescribed burns a couple years ago started throughout the Methow Valley during the 9 day general deer season. What are the odds of that being accidental or coincidental?

Or aerial elk surveys during the end of archery and during the special permit hunts.

[huntnphool]

another example....running of cats and collaring them in our LAST hound season.   Its the game to compete with other hunters finding and running a cat.   Sure makes it more interesting when the government is doing the same dang thing wight where you are hunting and are interfering with the hunt...

Oh thats right, I remember that thread, I think that was mulehunter that was told he couldn't go after those cats.

[muzbuster]

Typical WDFW!! My question to add to this is..If this drug stays in their system for 30 days and makes the meat non-consumable, how does it effect any potential calves that bull fathers? I'm sure WDFW says it has NO effect to a fetus.

[bobcat]

Sounds like WDFW has a good plan............Right during the middle of the rut, 20-25 bulls, non-edible for 30 days........in an area where a certain group of culls continue to knock down every bull around.........hmm, great idea.

...............I certainly wouldn't let that bother me if I had the 251 tag.

No kidding, kind of like the prescribed burns a couple years ago started throughout the Methow Valley during the 9 day general deer season. What are the odds of that being accidental or coincidental?

Prescribed burns are done in the fall as that is when the weather makes it safe to do so. It's definitely not done to interfere with hunting season.

[MtnMuley]

They are easily done in the spring as well.  Did them for years.

[Alchase]

Sounds like WDFW has a good plan............Right during the middle of the rut, 20-25 bulls, non-edible for 30 days........in an area where a certain group of culls continue to knock down every bull around.........hmm, great idea.

...............I certainly wouldn't let that bother me if I had the 251 tag.

No kidding, kind of like the prescribed burns a couple years ago started throughout the Methow Valley during the 9 day general deer season. What are the odds of that being accidental or coincidental?

I see that every year! Last year up Loop Loop, I came across 20 - 30 small fires still smoldering, while the campfire burn ban was on 

[woodywsu]

Prescribed burns can be performed in the spring.

[PlateauNDN]

Not necessarily bobcat, our company was contracted earlier this spring to conduct prescribed burns from early spring all the way to fall time.  As soon as the fire season dies down we're going tocontinue burn operations in this particular area.

[rtspring]

How bout they put this crap out before we draw permits!!  They are selling a product but then some product is not available!!

Big load of crap !!!!

They simply amaze me on how they run things!!!


Rtspring

[huntnphool]

Sounds like WDFW has a good plan............Right during the middle of the rut, 20-25 bulls, non-edible for 30 days........in an area where a certain group of culls continue to knock down every bull around.........hmm, great idea.

...............I certainly wouldn't let that bother me if I had the 251 tag.

No kidding, kind of like the prescribed burns a couple years ago started throughout the Methow Valley during the 9 day general deer season. What are the odds of that being accidental or coincidental?

Prescribed burns are done in the fall as that is when the weather makes it safe to do so. It's definitely not done to interfere with hunting season.

Thanks for your insightful yet obvious comment Bob, I think we all understand the burns should not be done in the summer.

That being said, would the burns be any less effective once the hunters were done? Is it really necessary to target the burns during the already short window that the overwhelming majority of hunters must target too? I seriously doubt it!!!

[PlateauNDN]

   I give an A for effort.   timing could be better but we don't set the time just the how. 

[bobcat]

You're welcome phool.   

The timing of prescribed burns is critical. If they don't do them at the prime time, they might as well not do it at all. Then we can just count on Mother Nature burning it all up on her schedule, rather than ours.

If you don't understand the science behind prescribed burns, maybe it would be best to keep the speculation to yourself.   

[boneaddict]

I especially like burn bans during the time they are doing their prescribed burns as Alchase pointed out.   

  No no no on your woodstoves or campfires, we are lighting the forest on fire this month.

[woodywsu]

If you don't understand the science behind prescribed burns, maybe it would be best to keep the speculation to yourself.   

Who are you addressing this to?

[PlateauNDN]

You're welcome phool.   

The timing of prescribed burns is critical. If they don't do them at the prime time, they might as well not do it at all. Then we can just count on Mother Nature burning it all up on her schedule, rather than ours.

If you don't understand the science behind prescribed burns, maybe it would be best to keep the speculation to yourself.   

Oh I agree bobcat and I'm not arguing your "science" but, when the powers that be put out a contract and they set the dates, times and locations who am I to argue about doing the job and making the money?  We utilize all of our training amd experience to keep it contained and as safely as possible while getting the job done.

[coachcw]

Sounds like WDFW has a good plan............Right during the middle of the rut, 20-25 bulls, non-edible for 30 days........in an area where a certain group of culls continue to knock down every bull around.........hmm, great idea.

...............I certainly wouldn't let that bother me if I had the 251 tag.

No kidding, kind of like the prescribed burns a couple years ago started throughout the Methow Valley during the 9 day general deer season. What are the odds of that being accidental or coincidental?

Prescribed burns are done in the fall as that is when the weather makes it safe to do so. It's definitely not done to interfere with hunting season.

Thanks for your insightful yet obvious comment Bob, I think we all understand the burns should not be done in the summer.

That being said, would the burns be any less effective once the hunters were done? Is it really necessary to target the burns during the already short window that the overwhelming majority of hunters must target too? I seriously doubt it!!!

I understand youi comments on the burn topics boys . but what doe's that have to do with the topic at hand ? Collaring bulls . honistlly I wouldn't worry about the bulls in 251 enjoy your hunt , now the rut tag holder and the muzzy guys have a legit bitch here.

[bobcat]

If you don't understand the science behind prescribed burns, maybe it would be best to keep the speculation to yourself.   

Who are you addressing this to?

My good buddy huntnphool. 

And yes, of course prescribed burns can be done in the spring. But they can also be done in the fall. Or anytime really, as long as conditions are right.

[snowpack]

Typical WDFW!! My question to add to this is..If this drug stays in their system for 30 days and makes the meat non-consumable, how does it effect any potential calves that bull fathers? I'm sure WDFW says it has NO effect to a fetus.

I wonder what that inedible meat will do to wolves?

[winshooter88]

Think about it this way, when is it easiest to find branch antlered bulls, during the rut. The same is true for the WDFW, it is easiest for them to find them during the rut. One of the reasons that they are doing the study on branch antlered bulls in the Colockum is because of a very vocal group of local sportsmen who say that there are a lot more branch antlered bulls than get counted in the annual counts that the WDFW does. So this study they are starting is partly to try to find out if that is true. If there are a large amount of bulls that are not being counted then maybe more bull tags could be issued. As far as worrying about taking a collared bull in GMU 251, I doubt that will be a problem, but the solution is easy, just don't shoot a bull with a collar.

[headshot5]

Don't be bummed.  You could have no quality bull tag instead.

[dreamingbig]

This is BS!

[huntnphool]

If you don't understand the science behind prescribed burns,, maybe it would be best to keep the speculation to yourself.   

Who are you addressing this to?

My good buddy huntnphool. 

And yes, of course prescribed burns can be done in the spring. But they can also be done in the fall. Or anytime really, as long as conditions are right.

  How much science does it take to come up with "anytime really, as long as conditions are right"?

My good buddy huntnphool.

You have to admit Bob, thats pretty funny.

[bigmv]

Think about it this way, when is it easiest to find branch antlered bulls, during the rut. The same is true for the WDFW, it is easiest for them to find them during the rut. One of the reasons that they are doing the study on branch antlered bulls in the Colockum is because of a very vocal group of local sportsmen who say that there are a lot more branch antlered bulls than get counted in the annual counts that the WDFW does. So this study they are starting is partly to try to find out if that is true. If there are a large amount of bulls that are not being counted then maybe more bull tags could be issued. As far as worrying about taking a collared bull in GMU 251, I doubt that will be a problem, but the solution is easy, just don't shoot a bull with a collar.

I thought of that too, I asked what color the collars are, answer " Tan". Same color as their coat.

[boneaddict]

Just stick the collar on the front of their vehicle.   They'll spend all winter chasing it.

[PlateauNDN]

   hahahaha.......I'd like to harvest some animal with a collar but not if its tainted meat just to tey amd pull some type of prank.

[snowpack]

  hahahaha.......I'd like to harvest some animal with a collar but not if its tainted meat just to tey amd pull some type of prank.

I heard a while back about the guys in Idaho shooting wolves with collars and they'd toss the collars on the grain barges heading down the Snake/Columbia.  Supposedly the bios were looking for wolves down near Portland.

[winshooter88]

The collars are tan, but they are pretty visible, if you can see to make a reasonable shot, you should be able to see the collar.

[Elkrunner]

Prescribed burns can be performed in the spring.

I would think it would be harder to schedule..they cannot predict when the melt off would be done as well as what each road is going to look like for access.   

[dreamingbig]

What I want to know is why do they feel the need to collar them?  Have they said the reason?

[winshooter88]

It's for a study that the WDFW is doing on bulls to go along with the study they are just finishing up  on cows in the Colockum/Nanuem.

[dreamingbig]

Can't we save them money and cut to the chase?  Too many roads which leads to an over harvest by native Americans. 

[PlateauNDN]

   I can deal with less roads.

[stewcamp]

I agree less roads would help a lot.

[chukarchaser]

This is the quality bull tag for this area for muzzle loaders and I think this is total BS. There is as high a risk for the elk to move into 251 as going anywhere else.  I cannot believe that this is the best plan that WDFW can come up with. 

[JLS]

Typical WDFW!! My question to add to this is..If this drug stays in their system for 30 days and makes the meat non-consumable, how does it effect any potential calves that bull fathers? I'm sure WDFW says it has NO effect to a fetus.

Well, if the meat is safe for consumption after 30 days, wouldn't you think that by the time the bull's sperm got to an ovulated egg, fertilized it, and the calf was born that the drug would have gone through quite a few half lives?