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

[CP]

A group of them more or less chased a herd into a fenced pasture and started raining down arrows and making elk get tangled in fences and a huge mess---worst of all was there were lots of people watching (greeny types).

Weren't those Master Hunters on a damage control hunt?

No. Master Hunters were not brought in until the following year.

Actually the MH started that year, at least a draw was held and permits issued.  But the MH hunt was “forgotten” by the WDFW then cancelled along with all the other hunts after the bad publicity.

That is correct, and the 2010 Master Hunter hunts occurred with no problems.

Agreed, the MH program has been successfully helping control the elk problem in the valley since 2010.  It could be doing more but is constrained by the number of permits issued.  After the permits were exhausted, MHs have been used to haze elk off.  Hazing doesn’t help much however; the elk just keep coming back. 

[Blacktail Sniper]

Maybe there should be several requests for documentation on the decision making that went into the planning, budgeting and implementation of this project.  Being governmental agencies, they have to respond within a specific time frame to Public Information Requests or risk penalties.

This is something that involves public money and resources, so is not shielded from disclosure if requested.

I would submit a request and encourage others to do so as well.


WDFW Freedom of Information request:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/public_disclosure/pdr_form.pdf

USDA Freedom of Information request:

https://efoia-pal.usda.gov/palMain.aspx

[BOWHUNTER45]

This is so disturbing ... there is a simple solution ...guess they do not have the brains to figure it out ...its called hunting ...if they would let us hunt that side of the river the elk would be no problem in a matter of days ...soon as the hunting pressure was on they would be back in the hills where they belong ...No reason what so ever to not have a season on the south side of the river ...lots of timber and thick reprod ....no one would careless because you are in the timber where a hunter should be .....this is going to flip this county upside down real shortly !!  they need to just kill them all and then no one will need to worry about them anymore ...they are here for all of us to enjoy !!! Guess it is o.k for them to spotlight elk at night and spotlighting is spotlighting ...I do not care if they are feds or not .....dang poachers 

[cougarbart]

Lol! ya allow hunting its such a smart way to do it! Ask any houndmen in Washington the same thing, why pay government hunters to kill cougars and bears that hunters could control! its the start of the new age of wildlife management and hunters are being phased out!

[Knocker of rocks]

“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.

Be careful Bob, you'll butt hurt people with posts like that

[snowpack]

Lol! ya allow hunting its such a smart way to do it! Ask any houndmen in Washington the same thing, why pay government hunters to kill cougars and bears that hunters could control! its the start of the new age of wildlife management and hunters are being phased out!

I think that's one of the strong points--the money.  Hunters will pay to have these opportunities--it's a net gain for cash strapped/budget worried agencies and states.  Instead they go with an option to use government resources which keeps costing everyone.  Not like the government is nearly $17 trillion in debt or anything.
WDFW could get creative, it doesn't have to be a one week free for all that will lead to another incident like a few years ago.  They could have a six month or year long season by permits in that area to keep the pressure on those elk all year to keep them in the woods.  They could probably make double the money of what is being spent on this.

[BOWHUNTER45]

A group of them more or less chased a herd into a fenced pasture and started raining down arrows and making elk get tangled in fences and a huge mess---worst of all was there were lots of people watching (greeny types).

Weren't those Master Hunters on a damage control hunt?

No. Master Hunters were not brought in until the following year.

Actually the MH started that year, at least a draw was held and permits issued.  But the MH hunt was “forgotten” by the WDFW then cancelled along with all the other hunts after the bad publicity.

That is correct, and the 2010 Master Hunter hunts occurred with no problems.

Agreed, the MH program has been successfully helping control the elk problem in the valley since 2010.  It could be doing more but is constrained by the number of permits issued.  After the permits were exhausted, MHs have been used to haze elk off.  Hazing doesn’t help much however; the elk just keep coming back.

look at that bull .....600 TO 700 HUNDRED OR BIGGER ON THE HOOF ....He would look a lot better in my freezer 

[CP]

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.

[ghosthunter]

I will be there.

[ghosthunter]

For quality of meat these are some of the best in the state. In 2011 I killed a lead cow on a Master Hunter Tag. She went 400 lbs with legs , hide and everything off.
Butcher said it was one of the biggest he had seen that year.

These are top notch eating elk  coming out of this herd.

[hrd2fnd]

Wish I could be there, but 1:30 meeting conflicts with my work hours.

[furiouzgeorge]

Can't be there, I'll e-mail though!!!

[returnofsid]

Wish I could be there, but 1:30 meeting conflicts with my work hours.

I have no doubt that's what they were counting on when they scheduled this meeting. They purposely scheduled it at a time when the least amount of public can attend.

[hrd2fnd]

Emails sent

[BOWHUNTER45]

For quality of meat these are some of the best in the state. In 2011 I killed a lead cow on a Master Hunter Tag. She went 400 lbs with legs , hide and everything off.
Butcher said it was one of the biggest he had seen that year.

These are top notch eating elk  coming out of this herd.

Hey now ...just calm down ....they do not taste that great