Contact Your State Senators and Reps - Skagit River Elk Culling

[Blacktail Sniper]

Just sent the following:

 
The following message was sent to Senator Randi Becker (R), Representative Gary Alexander (R) and Representative J.T. Wilcox (R) of the 2nd district.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TO:    Senator Randi Becker 
   
CC:    Representative Gary Alexander
Representative J.T. Wilcox 
   
FROM:    Mr. Dennis ****** 
   
STREET ADDRESS:    ********
   Yelm, WA 98597-8615 
   
EMAIL:    *********
   
PHONE:    (360) *********
   
SUBJECT:    Skagit River area elk culling 
   
MESSAGE:    Good Morning,

As you may or may not know, Elk season is upon us for modern firearm hunters, and early seasons for muzzle-loader and archery hunters have come & gone. Hunters across the state are hoping to fill elk tags to feed their families.

I write to you today about the apparent culling of several elk in the Skagit River area of our state. This was apparently done under the cover of night, by either state and/or federal USDA shooters to ease the elk depredation problems being experienced by farmers in that area.

This apparently is not a new problem:

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Skagit-farmers-ask-for-help-from-marauding-elk-220586981.html

These elk should have been killed, tagged and utilized by Washington State hunters - the people who pay the bills for the WDFW and have purchased their licenses and tags for elk, deer and other hunting & fishing opportunities. Instead, this action was or is apparently being done in secret, hence the lack of apparent publicity, notification. or opportunity for some of the many licensed hunters in the state to put their hat into the ring and help solve this problem.

The WDFW's actions and decisions on handling this issue seem to indicate a clear message that they're not interested in supporting the sportsmen who support them.

I hope that our state's wildlife is as important to you as it is to me and other hunters, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts. Please support us and our efforts and get to the bottom of this incident in particular, and this apparent attitude on the part of the WDFW administration, in general.

I urge you to look into this immediately for the good of all user groups and our wildlife.

Thank you for your consideration of my comments and concerns.

Dennis ******
 
   
RESPONSE:    Mr. ******* has requested a response to this message. 

[Dhoey07]

The lady said that she would sell the farm to the state.  Why not buy it and set up a feeding station there?

[BOWHUNTER45]

Good job ...If it was today I could be there in 10 minutes but I have to work tomorrow since I play hooky today ...But the word is out and hopefully we get some attention .......the hunt needs to begin 

[pianoman9701]

 

[bbarnes]

If you don't like 15 elk getting killed wait until the kill all the hoof rot elk that's next.

[pianoman9701]

If you don't like 15 elk getting killed wait until the kill all the hoof rot elk that's next.

I don't mind elk being killed. I mind when they're healthy and hunters don't get to do it. It seems very counter-intuitive to have federal agents culling healthy elk during elk hunting season, when there are plenty of hunters who would be thrilled to contact a farmer and kill his elk for him.

Hoof rot is another problem altogether and one I'd like to be involved with, if you can help with that. Thanks,
John

[Boss .300 winmag]

The lady said that she would sell the farm to the state.  Why not buy it and set up a feeding station there?

That would just cause more problems. More elk down low, and car vs elk. These elk need hunted hard!

[snowpack]

If you don't like 15 elk getting killed wait until the kill all the hoof rot elk that's next.

I don't mind elk being killed. I mind when they're healthy and hunters don't get to do it. It seems very counter-intuitive to have federal agents culling healthy elk during elk hunting season, when there are plenty of hunters who would be thrilled to contact a farmer and kill his elk for him.

Hoof rot is another problem altogether and one I'd like to be involved with, if you can help with that. Thanks,
John

But WDFW says hoof rot elk are healthy enough to be consumed by hunters and aren't a risk to domestics or other species, so I'd rather they use hunters to at least to do the intial cull of hoof rot animals.  If they weren't fit for consumption or posed some danger to other animals, then I'd not have a problem with the outside agencies.

[KFhunter]

How come ranchers are expected to install special fences, flaggery and get range riders to keep wolves off their product for market......but wheat farmers just have the problem animals gunned down in the middle of the night.

[pianoman9701]

How come ranchers are expected to install special fences, flaggery and get range riders to keep wolves off their product for market......but wheat farmers just have the problem animals gunned down in the middle of the night.

Wolves are protected and elk are not. Make sure you write to your reps about the federal wolf delisting.

[Boss .300 winmag]

How come ranchers are expected to install special fences, flaggery and get range riders to keep wolves off their product for market......but wheat farmers just have the problem animals gunned down in the middle of the night.

How come ranchers are expected to install special fences, flaggery and get range riders to keep wolves off their product for market......but wheat farmers just have the problem animals gunned down in the middle of the night.

Wolves are protected and elk are not. Make sure you write to your reps about the federal wolf delisting.

Wheat farmers have elk gunned down?

[KFhunter]

farmers - does the crop really matter to you that much??   

[Boss .300 winmag]

farmers - does the crop really matter to you that much??   

How come ranchers are expected to install special fences, flaggery and get range riders to keep wolves off their product for market......but wheat farmers just have the problem animals gunned down in the middle of the night.

was thinking that the east side had elk problems as well tearing up wheat crops. 

[KFhunter]

Oh 

Ya there is wildlife conflicts here too, lot's of elk in the hay fields and such.   
I didn't understand your post and thought you were calling me out because I got the wrong crop.


Doesn't matter which side of the state, I don't like the idea of government killing animals when hunters could do it.


I'm actually wishing I had this "problem"   

[snowpack]

farmers - does the crop really matter to you that much??   

How come ranchers are expected to install special fences, flaggery and get range riders to keep wolves off their product for market......but wheat farmers just have the problem animals gunned down in the middle of the night.

was thinking that the east side had elk problems as well tearing up wheat crops. 

pretty sure they do around Hanford.  maybe I'm mistaken