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

[Bob33]

"The second issue is that if their emphasis from now on, because of their piss-poor handling of the 2009 event, is going to be a perfect image for the public to see, they should discontinue all hunting in the state immediately and use only government snipers to control wildlife populations from now on."

or...wisely use a combination of both.

WDFW did not use licensed hunters to remove the six problem wolves from NE WA. Do you believe they should they have, given the intense scrutiny that any killing of wolves generates?

Absolutely. Instead of the near-$1million helicopter fun rides, you bet. The Pro-wolf people couldn't have howled any louder than they did and are still. The DFW threw away money that could've been saved.

How would you select who was allowed to participate?

[LOVEMYLABXS]

Now I know I’ll be flamed for this comment but if you move out into the country and plant crops ( apples wheat or what not) you can expect wildlife to come in and take advantage of this. If you don’t want them in your fields BUILD A FENCE!!  Don’t figure that someone ought to come in and pay you for damages. On this side of the state cattlemen are being forced to build fences to keep their cattle from polluting the water supply. Hey cows need water just like elk and deer need food and they’ll get it anywhere they can. Many of these folks have been in the business for years and it is their lively hood not just a hobby farm. You move into country that has elk deer or moose guess what they find FEED!! No longer should anyone have to give you money to protect and or just keep out wildlife trying to survive. The native  americans claim it’s their right to hunt when and where but do they have to buy tags for every animal they shoot? I don’t think so . Maybe a treaty many of years ago gave them rights but now a days I’m sure most don’t need the meat to survive  any more than us white men. My daddy and even his parents were born in the US and I even have some Native American in my history ( not much but some) but I’m not considered like many others as being Native American?? He worked 3 jobs, put in 20 + years in the service and even spent 44 months as a guest of the Japanese. He raised 5 kids on a lot of wild meat but he never expected someone to give him a handout.  Give me a break I am trying to live on a fixed income retirement where I have to watch gas ,food ( oh and the price of MY TAGS go way up ) and other things go up just not my income who’s problem is it? Mostly mine I’m sure but I don’t expect others to support me cause the deer and elk come in. I hunt cause I like to hunt, I eat many a tag but then I’m back out again but like I said I like to hunt.   If I don’t want them on my property I should build a fence. Do folks that hit these elk with their car get reimbursed by WDFL? No I don’t think so it’s mostly up to your insurance to take care of it (and maybe drivers should slow down and pay attention in these areas) . Who should take care of this problem of animal damage I believe it’s up to the property owner build a fence to keep them out, allow hunters in or suck it up. Elk, deer ,moose, and yes even wolves were here first even before the Native Americans. . I still find it hard to believe that relocating these elk is that weird even if they were relocated here in the first place, but unfortunately have done better than anyone figured. Just seems to me if they are this much of a problem and nighttime snipers need to be called it, that it could be any more costly to dart them, then move them to other areas in the state. I’m not saying ship them out to other states but then again many states are willing to pay or trade to get elk brought back and or even just help the gene  pool in their areas. I’m not sure what the cost is for damages but I remember back when elk use to swim the river at the West Bar and got onto the golf courses, I heard but don’t know for sure, that it was several hundred dollars per elk per day so relocation can’t be that bad.

 This is longer then I started out intending but it’s how I feel. JMO

Mike 

[Boss .300 winmag]

ok i should have to drive thru 30 miles of elk crossing at a slow speed? 

[LOVEMYLABXS]

No but put down the phone and pay attention to the road 

[LOVEMYLABXS]

Oh and maybe give yourself a bit more time so you don't have to fly down the road......

[pianoman9701]

Now I know I’ll be flamed for this comment but if you move out into the country and plant crops ( apples wheat or what not) you can expect wildlife to come in and take advantage of this. If you don’t want them in your fields BUILD A FENCE!!  Don’t figure that someone ought to come in and pay you for damages. On this side of the state cattlemen are being forced to build fences to keep their cattle from polluting the water supply. Hey cows need water just like elk and deer need food and they’ll get it anywhere they can. Many of these folks have been in the business for years and it is their lively hood not just a hobby farm. You move into country that has elk deer or moose guess what they find FEED!! No longer should anyone have to give you money to protect and or just keep out wildlife trying to survive. The native  americans claim it’s their right to hunt when and where but do they have to buy tags for every animal they shoot? I don’t think so . Maybe a treaty many of years ago gave them rights but now a days I’m sure most don’t need the meat to survive  any more than us white men. My daddy and even his parents were born in the US and I even have some Native American in my history ( not much but some) but I’m not considered like many others as being Native American?? He worked 3 jobs, put in 20 + years in the service and even spent 44 months as a guest of the Japanese. He raised 5 kids on a lot of wild meat but he never expected someone to give him a handout.  Give me a break I am trying to live on a fixed income retirement where I have to watch gas ,food ( oh and the price of MY TAGS go way up ) and other things go up just not my income who’s problem is it? Mostly mine I’m sure but I don’t expect others to support me cause the deer and elk come in. I hunt cause I like to hunt, I eat many a tag but then I’m back out again but like I said I like to hunt.   If I don’t want them on my property I should build a fence. Do folks that hit these elk with their car get reimbursed by WDFL? No I don’t think so it’s mostly up to your insurance to take care of it (and maybe drivers should slow down and pay attention in these areas) . Who should take care of this problem of animal damage I believe it’s up to the property owner build a fence to keep them out, allow hunters in or suck it up. Elk, deer ,moose, and yes even wolves were here first even before the Native Americans. . I still find it hard to believe that relocating these elk is that weird even if they were relocated here in the first place, but unfortunately have done better than anyone figured. Just seems to me if they are this much of a problem and nighttime snipers need to be called it, that it could be any more costly to dart them, then move them to other areas in the state. I’m not saying ship them out to other states but then again many states are willing to pay or trade to get elk brought back and or even just help the gene  pool in their areas. I’m not sure what the cost is for damages but I remember back when elk use to swim the river at the West Bar and got onto the golf courses, I heard but don’t know for sure, that it was several hundred dollars per elk per day so relocation can’t be that bad.

 This is longer then I started out intending but it’s how I feel. JMO

Mike

Said like a true flatlander. First of all, a good many of the farmers and their parents before them where here before the elk. Secondly, we need farmers to provide affordable food for us and we should support them in doing that. Requiring someone to build fences to raise wheat isn't going to help keep my bread at $1.50/loaf. Next, the government doesn't allow farmers to randomly kill animals which eat their crops - there are regulations and permits are issued. City boys need to find out a little more about farming before they make sweeping statements about what farmers should or shouldn't do.

[Boss .300 winmag]

most are hit during the hours of darkness during workers comute to work! phone, speed are not the issues here! mismanaged elk herd is the problem!

[pianoman9701]

"The second issue is that if their emphasis from now on, because of their piss-poor handling of the 2009 event, is going to be a perfect image for the public to see, they should discontinue all hunting in the state immediately and use only government snipers to control wildlife populations from now on."

or...wisely use a combination of both.

WDFW did not use licensed hunters to remove the six problem wolves from NE WA. Do you believe they should they have, given the intense scrutiny that any killing of wolves generates?

Absolutely. Instead of the near-$1million helicopter fun rides, you bet. The Pro-wolf people couldn't have howled any louder than they did and are still. The DFW threw away money that could've been saved.

How would you select who was allowed to participate?

Completely off the topic, Bob. Wolves are protected. It feels like you're just trying to be argumentative. Weird right after your point that hunters hurt themselves by being argumentative.  This topic here is about game animals. I would select hunters to cull game animals.

[Bob33]

"The second issue is that if their emphasis from now on, because of their piss-poor handling of the 2009 event, is going to be a perfect image for the public to see, they should discontinue all hunting in the state immediately and use only government snipers to control wildlife populations from now on."

or...wisely use a combination of both.

WDFW did not use licensed hunters to remove the six problem wolves from NE WA. Do you believe they should they have, given the intense scrutiny that any killing of wolves generates?

Absolutely. Instead of the near-$1million helicopter fun rides, you bet. The Pro-wolf people couldn't have howled any louder than they did and are still. The DFW threw away money that could've been saved.

How would you select who was allowed to participate?

Completely off the topic, Bob. Wolves are protected. It feels like you're just trying to be argumentative. Weird right after your point that hunters hurt themselves by being argumentative.  This topic here is about game animals. I would select hunters to cull game animals.

The issue of how WDFW addresses adverse publicity and selects individuals to be involved in a damage control situation is what this entire thread is about.

As for being argumentative, I would suggest looking in a mirror.

[pianoman9701]

"The second issue is that if their emphasis from now on, because of their piss-poor handling of the 2009 event, is going to be a perfect image for the public to see, they should discontinue all hunting in the state immediately and use only government snipers to control wildlife populations from now on."

or...wisely use a combination of both.

WDFW did not use licensed hunters to remove the six problem wolves from NE WA. Do you believe they should they have, given the intense scrutiny that any killing of wolves generates?

Absolutely. Instead of the near-$1million helicopter fun rides, you bet. The Pro-wolf people couldn't have howled any louder than they did and are still. The DFW threw away money that could've been saved.

How would you select who was allowed to participate?

Completely off the topic, Bob. Wolves are protected. It feels like you're just trying to be argumentative. Weird right after your point that hunters hurt themselves by being argumentative.  This topic here is about game animals. I would select hunters to cull game animals.

The issue of how WDFW addresses adverse publicity and selects individuals to be involved in a damage control situation is what this entire thread is about.

As for being argumentative, I would suggest looking in a mirror.

Wow, OK Bob, I'm done. Have a nice day.

[Tbar]

The sad irony to this issue is "hunters" and  "sportsman"  are the root of many of the issues. When there was a general muzzy hunt in 4941 you had it pretty good (don't think you were cursing tribes when you were the only group harvesting). The sheriff got tired of the man hours he had to dedicate to control the actions of the hunters, so after deliberation they moved it to archery. The actions of the "sportsman" in the field that day were disgusting(although I've heard story after story of surrounding fields and slaughters I.e. hearns, acme,etc). When it was a hunt master picking and choosing (along with landowners) who entered the fields it was somewhat successful but far from effective. Then bring in master hunters and a less than perfect track record (i can give you 3 incidents that king5 would have been all over).
The wdfw took a huge pr hit in 09 and was forced into making decisions that may take opportunity from the general sportsman. So some may want to look in the mirror and shoulder some of the blame when it comes to the cluster _ we have now. It may have been the actions of a few be has had adverse decisions affecting many.
The timing of the cull is suspect at best (terrible when you have an impossible draw and lose any opportunity). The cull itself is an incredibly popular decision by both the majority and the local government.(that was evident at the meeting)
 I see many more difficult and unpopular decisions that will be made.

[Tbar]

Pianoman still waiting on the dna study to justify where you are so quick to criticize. Since you obviously know so much about the science of elk, a question, have you been published? I know many bios that are searching long and hard for answers that you seem to have all figured out.
 Your hoof rot comment touched a nerve too. To wish that suffering on any animal (especially the one I love the most) disgusts me to no end.

[pianoman9701]

Pianoman still waiting on the dna study to justify where you are so quick to criticize. Since you obviously know so much about the science of elk, a question, have you been published? I know many bios that are searching long and hard for answers that you seem to have all figured out.
 Your hoof rot comment touched a nerve too. To wish that suffering on any animal (especially the one I love the most) disgusts me to no end.

Sorry, but your comments are making no sense. I can't reply. I didn't wish hoof rot on any animal and I don't have any DNA tests for you.

[Tbar]

Pianoman still waiting on the dna study to justify where you are so quick to criticize. Since you obviously know so much about the science of elk, a question, have you been published? I know many bios that are searching long and hard for answers that you seem to have all figured out.
 Your hoof rot comment touched a nerve too. To wish that suffering on any animal (especially the one I love the most) disgusts me to no end.

You keep commenting and blaming the relocation/augmentation. You are the only one with all the answers. Many people are and have dedicated thousands of hours to this problem (you play armchair quarterback and act like a biologist, which you may be). I have watched a specific herd grow from 26 to 140 with no st helens elk.
Have you been published comes from your vast animal science knowledge that you so willingly profess.

[Tbar]

Well Boss, if you're really lucky, the elk that were transported will be shown to have also transported the hoof rot and you can benefit from that, too. Moving animals is rarely a good idea in many, many ways.

This is the hoof rot comment that bothered me.