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

[snowpack]

Because the DFW transported these animals in and they do not have the Money to transport them out. Without tribe money.

There is a huge area just across south Skagit Hwy for them. Cumberland ,Finny creek area.

But the elk need a river bottom. And will not stay in the highlands.

The whole thing was a screw up from the beginning .

This is an ignorant statement.  Have you done DNA studies and cross referenced to see what elk are from the core herd?  How successful was the augmentation? How successful was the hunting moratorium? Was it a screw up or success? Was there land management changes at the county assessors office that allowed for more fragmentation of said river valley? 
 To those upset with the meat donated to the tribes- since the jail quit taking meat and most food banks are unable to take it, what do you suggest is done with the meat?  If we are unable to take it you are given a couple options.  Would you like to pay a dead stock company to haul it off?  Would you like the state to pay for proper disposal?

Why isn't there an option where someone that bought a tag and put in for special permits to meet up with these guys and trade their elk tag for the meat?
Who's paying for this operation?  Where does WDFW get most of its non-fish related money from?

[ghosthunter]

Because the DFW transported these animals in and they do not have the Money to transport them out. Without tribe money.

There is a huge area just across south Skagit Hwy for them. Cumberland ,Finny creek area.

But the elk need a river bottom. And will not stay in the highlands.

The whole thing was a screw up from the beginning .

This is an ignorant statement.  Have you done DNA studies and cross referenced to see what elk are from the core herd?  How successful was the augmentation? How successful was the hunting moratorium? Was it a screw up or success? Was there land management changes at the county assessors office that allowed for more fragmentation of said river valley? 
 To those upset with the meat donated to the tribes- since the jail quit taking meat and most food banks are unable to take it, what do you suggest is done with the meat?  If we are unable to take it you are given a couple options.  Would you like to pay a dead stock company to haul it off?  Would you like the state to pay for proper disposal?

I grew up hunting this herd. It was all but gone and should have been left to die out because no longer had a range when the tribe and the state started transplanting animals. It can only grow. There is no regular hunting possible. All the lands to the north of Hwy  20 are private and locked. The river valley is private. Except for land owner tags and master hunter tags it is a useless herd for the tax payer.

Why do the tribes get all the meat. Heck there are thousands of un filled elk tags in the pockets of people who's money was used for this boondoggle in the first place.
Where,s their piece of the pie?
I will tell you, they wanted this kept quiet so they went with the tribe.
I hiked in a mile or more to hunt deer this past weekend behind a locked gate on SP land. Only to have to two truck loads of Indians drive by me.
The average hunter in this state is taking it in the shorts.k

[Ccortez]

Because the DFW transported these animals in and they do not have the Money to transport them out. Without tribe money.

There is a huge area just across south Skagit Hwy for them. Cumberland ,Finny creek area.

But the elk need a river bottom. And will not stay in the highlands.

The whole thing was a screw up from the beginning .

This is an ignorant statement.  Have you done DNA studies and cross referenced to see what elk are from the core herd?  How successful was the augmentation? How successful was the hunting moratorium? Was it a screw up or success? Was there land management changes at the county assessors office that allowed for more fragmentation of said river valley? 
 To those upset with the meat donated to the tribes- since the jail quit taking meat and most food banks are unable to take it, what do you suggest is done with the meat?  If we are unable to take it you are given a couple options.  Would you like to pay a dead stock company to haul it off?  Would you like the state to pay for proper disposal?

I grew up hunting this herd. It was all but gone and should have been left to die out because no longer had a range when the tribe and the state started transplanting animals. It can only grow. There is no regular hunting possible. All the lands to the north of Hwy  20 are private and locked. The river valley is private. Except for land owner tags and master hunter tags it is a useless herd for the tax payer.

Why do the tribes get all the meat. Heck there are thousands of un filled elk tags in the pockets of people who's money was used for this boondoggle in the first place.
Where,s their piece of the pie?
I will tell you, they wanted this kept quiet so they went with the tribe.
I hiked in a mile or more to hunt deer this past weekend behind a locked gate on SP land. Only to have to two truck loads of Indians drive by me.
The average hunter in this state is taking it in the shorts.k

Food banks got some meat as well..
Not just the tribes

[Tbar]

Because the DFW transported these animals in and they do not have the Money to transport them out. Without tribe money.

There is a huge area just across south Skagit Hwy for them. Cumberland ,Finny creek area.

But the elk need a river bottom. And will not stay in the highlands.

The whole thing was a screw up from the beginning .

This is an ignorant statement.  Have you done DNA studies and cross referenced to see what elk are from the core herd?  How successful was the augmentation? How successful was the hunting moratorium? Was it a screw up or success? Was there land management changes at the county assessors office that allowed for more fragmentation of said river valley? 
 To those upset with the meat donated to the tribes- since the jail quit taking meat and most food banks are unable to take it, what do you suggest is done with the meat?  If we are unable to take it you are given a couple options.  Would you like to pay a dead stock company to haul it off?  Would you like the state to pay for proper disposal?

I grew up hunting this herd. It was all but gone and should have been left to die out because no longer had a range when the tribe and the state started transplanting animals. It can only grow. There is no regular hunting possible. All the lands to the north of Hwy  20 are private and locked. The river valley is private. Except for land owner tags and master hunter tags it is a useless herd for the tax payer.

Why do the tribes get all the meat. Heck there are thousands of un filled elk tags in the pockets of people who's money was used for this boondoggle in the first place.
Where,s their piece of the pie?
I will tell you, they wanted this kept quiet so they went with the tribe.
I hiked in a mile or more to hunt deer this past weekend behind a locked gate on SP land. Only to have to two truck loads of Indians drive by me.
The average hunter in this state is taking it in the shorts.k

I walked in more than 5 miles behind the saxon gate and had 3 trucks with white men in orange vests drive by me (not crying either). Lots of people have keys. I completely disagree about letting the herd go by and disappear. Maybe you can get your senator to make the wdfw publicly apologize for not getting Hw's approval. They issue many tags in many areas that are not "public" so to speak.
 Your statement is disturbing. No herd should die off because of a large tree farm and private landowners.

[returnofsid]

This operation has to cost money, which leaves a trail. Would be nice to hear how the various agencies concluded that this was the best option, how they bid out the process and such...

I'd also like to know why this seems to be so shrouded in secrecy, done at night and all. I'd imagine some state laws regarding discharging a firearm at night may have been violated.

[ghosthunter]

Because the DFW transported these animals in and they do not have the Money to transport them out. Without tribe money.

There is a huge area just across south Skagit Hwy for them. Cumberland ,Finny creek area.

But the elk need a river bottom. And will not stay in the highlands.

The whole thing was a screw up from the beginning .

This is an ignorant statement.  Have you done DNA studies and cross referenced to see what elk are from the core herd?  How successful was the augmentation? How successful was the hunting moratorium? Was it a screw up or success? Was there land management changes at the county assessors office that allowed for more fragmentation of said river valley? 
 To those upset with the meat donated to the tribes- since the jail quit taking meat and most food banks are unable to take it, what do you suggest is done with the meat?  If we are unable to take it you are given a couple options.  Would you like to pay a dead stock company to haul it off?  Would you like the state to pay for proper disposal?

I grew up hunting this herd. It was all but gone and should have been left to die out because no longer had a range when the tribe and the state started transplanting animals. It can only grow. There is no regular hunting possible. All the lands to the north of Hwy  20 are private and locked. The river valley is private. Except for land owner tags and master hunter tags it is a useless herd for the tax payer.

Why do the tribes get all the meat. Heck there are thousands of un filled elk tags in the pockets of people who's money was used for this boondoggle in the first place.
Where,s their piece of the pie?
I will tell you, they wanted this kept quiet so they went with the tribe.
I hiked in a mile or more to hunt deer this past weekend behind a locked gate on SP land. Only to have to two truck loads of Indians drive by me.
The average hunter in this state is taking it in the shorts.k

I walked in more than 5 miles behind the saxon gate and had 3 trucks with white men in orange vests drive by me (not crying either). Lots of people have keys. I completely disagree about letting the herd go by and disappear. Maybe you can get your senator to make the wdfw publicly apologize for not getting Hw's approval. They issue many tags in many areas that are not "public" so to speak.

I got no problem with locked gates. But if it says no motorized use that's the way it should be. I assume people have keys because their work requires it. No problem.
But all should have to adhere to the same hunting rules.
No problem with special tags, I have gotten a couple, as long as everyone gets a fair chance.

The majority of regular hunters will never benefit from the Nooksack herd. Because the majority of its range is all private holdings.

[Stalker]

Capture a bunch of them and relocate them out to the various islands. The bull here on Whidbey Island is doing just fine so far but he is probably getting somewhat lonely having been here for a year by himself. Besides the state can later use the elk they put on the islands to repopulate areas that are devastated by their debacle of a wolf plan.................   

[Tbar]

Very poor justification. There are many herds throughout this state and others that reside on private especially when we are talking tree farms. I don't  think 300 animals constitutes all but gone.

[go4itlab]

As a response to an earlier post. Blaming the USDA as hired guns for this. This is not the work of the USDA, Have a friend that works for USDA as a critter control officer ( Shooter, trapper, etc...) and I asked him about this today although this is not his coverage area his response is, "we have NO ONE involved in this and this is the first he has heard of it". This is not second hand info!!!!!!!

[ghosthunter]

All the others herds in this state have a regular season and migrate into areas were they can be hunted. The Nooksack herd has no regular season and never will because they mostly reside on private land with no access. Regardless how big the herd gets they will never be available to the average guy.

We are spending a lot of resources on a herd of 25 Master Hunter Tags and unknown land owner and tribal tags.

The money would be better spent some where else.

[ghosthunter]

As a response to an earlier post. Blaming the USDA as hired guns for this. This is not the work of the USDA, Have a friend that works for USDA as a critter control officer ( Shooter, trapper, etc...) and I asked him about this today although this is not his coverage area his response is, "we have NO ONE involved in this and this is the first he has heard of it". This is not second hand info!!!!!!!

I was told by a game agent that it was USDA.
I received another PM tonight from a member of this forum that talked directly to a property owner in the kill area. The property owner confirmed they used USDA shooters because of the close proximity of homes.

The truth will come out sooner or later.

 

[elk247]

Curious?  How would you propose a general season elk hunt or permit hunt in a rural area with many small farms where hunters have already warn out their welcome?  Are these elk available to hunters during the day or are they camped out on private property where hunters can not get at them?

I would hold a disabled hunt out of ground blinds out back away from the hiway. If it needs to be archery or muzzleload only then so be it. Those elk need to be removed. They are a distraction, a safety concern for motorist and a constant nuisance for farmers and a reoccurring cost for the state through damage reimbursement. The elk herd that thrives in the river valley only continues to make matters worse because the calves never see the woods. They are raised in those private fields and will die in those same fields. They do cross the river but never go very far. Many disabled hunters and wounded warriors deserve a hunt like this as a way fill there elk tags. Some hunters may have worn out there welcome but we all can agree that the actions of a few 4 years ago is not an accurate reflection of all hunters. The only real alternative to this would be relocation. But that would cost far more money and miss a opportunity to meet a need within the disabled hunting community. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

I just talked with the wardens ...it is all true ...he ask me how I heard about it ...I told him I hear everything  One thing I will clarify ...it is 15 elk total ...not all bulls ....I am lost for words when I can not put one in my freezer 

[sled]

  This Is Not A Good Thing!

[Bob33]

"I just talked with the wardens ...it is all true ...he ask me how I heard about it"

To me that's one of the most troubling aspects of this: why WDFW believes keeping it a secret is wise. In this world of spying, satellite imagery, blogs, and so forth - nothing is secret. By trying to hide it, they are sending a message that transparency is not a virture in their operations.

One more black eye for WDFW.