Yakima elk herd survival?

[dvolmer]

So just a stupid question from someone that doesn't start to believe he knows everything.  I have hunted for the past 20 years on and off out of Joe Watt Canyon for elk.  Some years there are tons of animals and some years less.  two of my daughters drew cow permits last year and the place was just full of elk.  The WDFW web page tells us the Yakima herd is above average in size and population is above expectation.  The Manastash GMU is heavily weather dependent.  They raised the cow permits to 275 this year because of over population.  Cle Ellum has an average of 1.6 inches of rain in the month of October and Ellensburg averages 1 inch of rain for the month.  Both cities had no recordable rain fall at all for the entire month.  we had Early September weather during the whole elk season.  this resulted in a season where few if any elk were harvested at all.  My buddy had a big bull permit and I hunted the Monday opener with him and saw nothing.  Hunted the spike opener and no animals at all.  Not even a shot heard.  Hunted the cow opener with nothing seen and no shots heard.  I hunt hard.  Putting in at least 8 to 12 miles a day on foot. Talked to many people that all saw nothing at all.  Ok, so here is my question, What is the chance of WDFW opening up a second cow season on a year like this to meet their harvest goals?  Now i know you are all saying "ya right!".  I seriously doubt that more no more than 20 out of the 275 permits where filled.  I know that the Taneum, Umtanam, and other GMU's in the area suffered the same results in most cases.  the elk were simply still way up in the mountains and probably still in Mt Rainier park.  It will cost the WDFW (us) quite a bit to feed all of these elk this season at the feeding stations with the cost of hay.  They could easily realize what has happened and open a two to four day season in a week or two and accomplish the goal that they tried to achieve but didn't due to a very late summer like fall season. They have all of the special permit holders email addresses and could easily shoot us all an email and update the web page just like they do with fishing seasons when they adjust limits due to current harvest data.  Just a thought and it will be interesting to see what you all think on this.  Go ahead and tell us what you think.  This should be interesting and I am sure the ideas will be all over the board.

[lostbackpacker]

  . the only way wdfw will open another season is if they charge you for another license. 

wdfw is not about conservation.  its about the money. 

I got into plenty of animals this season.  some were in Manastash unit, some were not. 

I hunted one day in my normal area in Manastash.  no sign, not enough elk.  adapted my plan and found the animals on day 2, just no spikes. 

[vandeman17]

. the only way wdfw will open another season is if they charge you for another license. 

wdfw is not about conservation.  its about the money. 

This is my feeling as well... sadly

[Killmore]

I feel your grief, but, take a drive up there in a couple of weeks and you will be shocked at the hunting that is going on!! nuff said

[Hilltop123]

I feel your grief, but, take a drive up there in a couple of weeks and you will be shocked at the hunting that is going on!! nuff said

Can you imagine the fist fights, if not flat out gun battles, if the two competing parties had to hunt the same ground at the same time..........be fun to watch......
IMHO is why there is not late hunt for cows, conflict resolution state style...

[jason stevens]

Problem isn't lack of animals it is two many people that think elk are gonna stand on the side of the roaad so they can ride there quads up and shoot them.elk have adapted to the people and there habits I've been hunting there for 20 plus years and always find the elk in the same spot during riffle season a couple members got to see this area but only cause they had permits and they were nice. Ban the orv's that should be first if you want two seasons try bow hunting early season was a huge success for most.just my opinion

[Jimmy33]

I think most people try and hunt too much area during elk season. There are days where I tend to hunt large areas and 8-12 miles on foot to find sign would be a good day. However, elk are everywhere. I have found that if I slow down and hunt small tracts of timber slower and more methodically, I find more elk. I felt this year some of the reason getting into elk was difficult was because my good area was overrun by people I have never seen hunt the area, I had someone put a camp in above the tract of timber that I had been watching elk come out of all summer, and the dry weather made hunting some of my south facing hill sides louder. Moral of the story is...I am going back to hunting with a bow or muzzleloader.

P.S. Thanks for all the help...

[coachcw]

I really don't think all the elk are way up hi . I can find elk from umptannuem all the way to the park . I really think that guys get stuck in a rut and hunt the same spot even if they arnt seeing elk . they are always some where you just have to burn some leateher and find them . there was a decent herd hanging in the heart k most of the summer those elk didn't head for the park . they are going to go where the preasure is off that simple . with the small amount of rain those elk where holding in dark timber near water . believe it or not there's no giant migration from the park ! sure some elk move out but most are local to 336.346.340 342 they just condense when the feeding starts . atch what comes outta there in the next month till they lock the gates it willo make you sick.

[Mfowl]

What about the bow and ML guys who didn't fill tags? Would this emergency opening be a free for all? I hunted during ML season, filled my antlerless tag on opening morning but the other 3 members of my group didn't get a chance. We all saw elk, there seemed to be quite a few around to start the season in 342. They just seemed to vanish quickly do to the above average hunting pressure. Additionally, my usual areas that have held elk for the last few years had none this year. We had to adjust and move to new ground to be around the elk. I think it just varies from year to year, they are where you find them.

[270Shooter]

Wdfw goal is to make as much money as possible off hunters while allowing the smallest amount of animals to be killed.

[eastsidemallard74]

Are the heads of WDFW elected officials.  Washington in a whole should realize the hunting (money) possibilities we have in this state.  If they had better management........... Only if!