CURRENTLY WDFW FEDERAL AGENTS SHOOTING 15 bulls in Skagit River Unit!!!!

[Netminder01]

There are answers....landowners, allow people to hunt on your land.   

      

[Netminder01]

There is a meeting tomorrow in Mount Vernon that is very pertinent to this issue.  If you can please attend and support our hunting opportunities.

Senate Natural Resources and Parks Committee Special Meeting in Mt Vernon

http://kirkpearson.src.wastateleg.org/senate-natural-resources-and-parks-committee-to-hold-special-meeting-in-mount-vernon/


On Tuesday, Oct. 29, a special meeting of the Senate Natural Resources and Parks Committee will be held at the Skagit County Commission hearing room in Mount Vernon. Topics of discussion will include hunter-education programs, road closures on state natural-resource lands and an update on the management of the North Cascades elk herd. Each topic will include testimony from relevant state-agency personnel; the latter portion of the meeting will feature an opportunity for public comment.

Sen. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, chairs the committee and encourages anyone interested to attend the meeting and provide public testimony on the topics being addressed in the meeting, or any issue relating to the state’s natural resources.

“Residents of the Skagit Valley are passionate about natural-resource issues with good cause – this is one of the most beautiful and diverse areas of the state.” Pearson said. “This meeting is a unique opportunity for residents of our area to take part in forming public policy by speaking directly with legislators and state officials without traveling to Olympia. I hope those interested will join us and share their thoughts.”
Details about the meeting can be found below. Recognizing that some will not be able to attend in person, Pearson also encouraged interested parties to share their thoughts on the topics with him via email at Kirk.Pearson@leg.wa.gov or by phone in Olympia at (360) 786-7676.

Tomorrow at 1:30 in the afternoon makes this tough to attend - go figure.  I don't think I can get out of my meetings, but this thread is infuriating.  I've read every post and all 8 pages (up to this point) and can't believe... yet believe all at the same time this occurred.  Coming from a guy who has not hunted this unit but as a hunter and conservationist, this pisses me off.

If I'm unable to break away tomorrow, I'd love to get any update from those Hunt-WA members who ARE able to attend this meeting tomorrow.  I expect there to be a bunch of tap dancing and skirting the how tax paying hunters could've helped solve this issue.

Net

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Dear North Cascades Elk Management Work Group,


The following is an update on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) recent activity regarding responding to elk damage the Day Creek area.

Over the last several months, elk have been congregating on the agricultural lands in the Day Creek area, trampling and eating crops and damaging farming infrastructure. WDFW staff have been working with the landowners to help keep elk off their farmland by using prevention measures such as herding and hazing, issuing damage hunting permits and directing licensed master hunters and other licensed hunters to the area. While this has resulted in several elk being lethally removed, additional removal of elk is necessary to bring elk numbers to a level that would help reduce damage to crops and property. To move forward in a safe and efficient manner, federal wildlife officials have been assisting in a pilot project to remove elk where damage to the landowners’ crops has been substantial. This collaborative effort has to-date resulted in the removal of 3 elk. WDFW has a contract with Wildlife Services for the removal of up to 15 elk. Removing these animals will not have an adverse effect on the greater Skagit elk population, which totals nearly 1,200 to 1,400 animals and continues to grow each year.

Elk meat has been and will continue to be donated to local tribes and local food banks.

As you know, to help resolve elk-related issues in the Skagit area, WDFW has formed a North Cascades Elk Management Group.  This group will help guide the process to update the area’s elk management plan; which includes ways to minimize property damage and public safety risks associated with the animals. Thanks for your continuing involvement in this process.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,


Russ

Russell Link
Wildlife Program Manager
Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
16018 Mill Creek Blvd.
Mill Creek, WA 98012
Office: 425-775-1311 ext. 110

[Stretch_8]

I would be interested to know how many of these farmers allow hunting on their land.  If they choose not to allow hunting, then cry about the elk damage to their crop, why should DFW act?  Part of our hunting is the ability to get onto land and harvest these animals using the money we spent for tags, etc.  If these farmers want to keep us out, then don't cry to the state when the animals we want are damaging your land.  Let us hunt.

[pianoman9701]

I would be interested to know how many of these farmers allow hunting on their land.  If they choose not to allow hunting, then cry about the elk damage to their crop, why should DFW act?  Part of our hunting is the ability to get onto land and harvest these animals using the money we spent for tags, etc.  If these farmers want to keep us out, then don't cry to the state when the animals we want are damaging your land.  Let us hunt.

I seriously doubt the farmers are discounting any measures which would reduce the elk on their lands. This is money out of their pockets.

[idahohuntr]

Do the landowners being impacted by the elk damage allow hunters on their property?  Is it a "some do" "some don't" answer? 

What am I missing about why license buying hunters aren't being utilized by WDFW?  Is it because of the fiasco a few years ago with the bowhunt?  I can understand not wanting to have a general season, any john doe can show up, guns blazing kind of hunt...but it seems like it would be easy to get volunteers (MH's??) and brief them on what needs done and how to minimize visibility to the non-hunting public if that is a high priority.  If the landowners are concerned about safety, give them tags for their friends and family???  Or, as a lady in the article link suggested, let the state buy some of those farms and make it a wma with a bunch of special bull and cow permit hunts.

[jdw12885]

“Brandon Griffith with the WDFW (elk conflict specialist) is secretly bringing in Federal Agents.”

“Nothing to do with WDFW.”

“Shooters from the USDA are doing it.”

“This is not the work of the USDA.”

And one wonders why there is skepticism over internet posts like this.

Its kinda funny that Brandon's truck was parked at the farmers barn during all of this.....

[daradke]

Wow. 15 Elk tags to hunters sounds great. Let hunters on your land if you want the Elk off there.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Ok do any of you really think 15 elk/ bulls in one area is going to solve the elk vs farmers, land, owners, and public driving safety in the area? No it's not these elk have little to no fear of us, they feed off the crops, and harvested crops, humans don't  bother them.

It's going to take none stop pressure from humans to make them go back to being wild elk again. How does this get done?

Nonstop hunting pressure from Sept- oh let's say January from hunters.

If land owners were able to submit list of hunters they approve to the WDFW to obtain tags/ permits to hunt on their lands. Why this? Most farmers and  land owners now the locals, and have family who they trust can call them on a moments notice to get the elk when they are on site to take care of the problem.

Oh and there is no bull vs cow, all must be hunted in he valley on private property (minus commercial timber co.)

Each hunter would only get one tag, weapon of land owners choice Sept- Jan.

WDFW should also put tracking collars on a cross section of the herd ( calves, cows, and bulls) to be ale to monitor reactions to the herd, to see how far they retreat and monitor them. The 437, and 418 units have plenty of elk habitat in the forest lands, so keeping them off private property is not going to hurt the herds here! 

Now I know I will get flamed for my idea, but I don't care, as I own a small farm, and have a wife plus two teenagers that have to dodge these nuisance elk on daily commutes. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

was just talking to my hunting buddies about this ...like we all said the same thing ...if they want these elk dead then why are they worried about poachers and all the other crap  People in the valley fed there families for as long as there has been elk here ...this should be a privilege  for those who live here ....not saying that we should be the only ones hunting them put out some dang tags or make a season in general for each user group ...The south side is not an easy hunt and once those elk got pushed back up the hill it will not be an easy hunt to kill them ....This is what peeresses me off ...its all heavily timbered and should be huntable land 

[BOWHUNTER45]

I also believe this will cause more problems than they want to deal with ....people are peeesed !

[PlateauNDN]

Isn't there already hunting pressure for extended seasons already?

[SKAGITVALLEYHUNTER]

 the usda,dept of agriculture,wdfw were all involved in one way or another...

Another thing that you may not know is that much like the "bounties" that the "management teams" get for shooting coyotes, they got PAID to shoot elk in the dark...

you can request information including involvement, measurements, possible names "of people not to vote for" and maybe even photos. all info is below

WDFW Public Records Disclosure

Filing a Request

To file a public records disclosure request with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife provide a detailed description of the requested records or information (subject, dates, location, etc.) to:


Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Public Disclosure Officer
Mail: WDFW Public Disclosure Officer, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
E-mail: PublicDisclosureRequest@dfw.wa.gov
 FAX: 360-902-2171
Telephone: 360-902-2623

The Public Records Request Form may be used but it is not required. If you choose to use the form, please download it in either PDF or Microsoft Word format to your computer, fill in the requested information and send it as described above.


Public Records Request Form: PDF | MS Word

Note: Adobe Reader does not save data entered in a PDF form.

The department cannot release lists of individuals for commercial purposes [See RCW 42.56.070 (9)]. If requesting a list of individuals, please use the WDFW Records Request Form. Read and sign the statement verifying that the list will not be used for commercial purposes.

Copy fees may be charged.
•Copying - $.10 per page
•Electronic data (i.e. audiotapes, videotapes, compact discs) - Actual cost of producing the record.

Records may be reviewed at WDFW offices at no cost.

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Once a public records request is received WDFW staff will review the request and respond within five business days to let you know:
•If additional time is required to fulfill your request.
•If the records are available.
•If any of the records will be withheld for legal reasons.
•If copy charges will apply and, if so, the estimated amount.

For questions related to public records, contact the WDFW Public Disclosure Officer by telephone at 360-902-2623 or by e-mail at PublicDisclosureRequest@dfw.wa.gov

[Boss .300 winmag]

Isn't there already hunting pressure for extended seasons already?

No, only 38 permits issued in the large area of 418, and 4941 elk area. Little to no pressure on theses elk, most don't even see hunters in their life.

[PlateauNDN]

Sorry I just read my post, I meant to say from a different user group aside from the State lic. Hunters.