Poor WDFW Decision leads to Ruined Quality Bull Elk Permit Hunt

[leed]

My questions are many but I have a specific reason that I have asked each and every one of them. I'm tired, just so tired of stupid things happening in our gegion. It simply must end. If you only knew how many other issues are on going and how many we have addressed without going public. Good day!
LD

[bobcat]

She chose to shoot, she needs to live with the consequences, in my opinion. If it were me, I would have taken the cow elk that was offered.

I don't see much room for any complaints here. It is unfortunate, but it sounds to me like the WDFW made a fair offer to make it right, and the hunter declined. Fine, that's her choice. But if she wanted elk meat she had the opportunity.

[Jonathan_S]

I totally agree with you but generally speaking, having a 1-3 pronged thesis is how you go about obtaining public support.  Not asking 22 overlapping questions.

Anybody have any pictures of this stud bull?

[WAcoyotehunter]

We really should be cheering for some research occurring!!

It was poor timing considering the harvest restrictions with the drugs.

[Pinetar]

She did not know the bull was collared before shooting. The collar was very thin and tan in color according to the guy that was hunting with her. I personally would not want a cow shot by someone else not knowing how it was taken care of. IMO They should let her shoot a cow for the meat, its not like we don't have plenty of elk around here.

[bobcat]

I really wouldn't have a problem with the state issuing her a cow permit either. Of course there's no guarantee she would fill it. That's why I said before that she should have taken the offer of a poached elk from the state when one became available.

[Curly]

She did not know the bull was collared before shooting. The collar was very thin and tan in color according to the guy that was hunting with her. I personally would not want a cow shot by someone else not knowing how it was taken care of. IMO They should let her shoot a cow for the meat, its not like we don't have plenty of elk around here.

I agree.  They should give her a cow permit if they told her that if she shot a collared bull she could take another.  Apparently the guy that told her that must have overstepped his authority.  But they should try to make it right by letting her take a cow.   

[bobcat]

If I'm understanding correctly, she WAS given the option of giving up the bull she killed and she could then take another bull. Why didn't she do this then? She was given two alternatives and didn't accept either one.

[blackveltbowhunter]

   Leed thanks for bringing this to attention   Given the situation as described The only thing I see that the hunter could/should have done differently is PRIOR to the hunt outline what HER preference would be to resolve said situation. At that point I think WDFW should have been accomodating of whatever request (within reason, and I believe the antlerless option to be resonable) she had. Since the WDFW is the one who chose to introduce the added risk, they should be held responsible for the consequences as well.
 
  Since it appears she accepted their terms as outlined, she now has at least some burden of responsibility, And I hope everything works out for her.

  IMO neither alternative is a good one. And my GUESS is that the hunter and Bio didnt think that completley  through when discussing this. Given the nature of the tag, the hunter should have at least entertained the possibility that she would kill an above average bull, with potential for a OIL type animal. The bio should have known this as well. Had she killed a 5x5 this may not have even been a discussion.

 

 

[Pinetar]

From what I understood from a friend that was with her is she did not think that it would be right or ethical to go shoot another mature bull after she had already killed one. She was very happy with the bull she had killed as it was a monster, very unique OIL bull. She just wanted some meat along with her trophy but didn't want a piece of meat that she had no control over. Can't blame her for this.

They were tagging any bulls (spikes, raghorns and mature) they could dart, not just mature big bulls.

[Dave Workman]

I really wouldn't have a problem with the state issuing her a cow permit either. Of course there's no guarantee she would fill it. That's why I said before that she should have taken the offer of a poached elk from the state when one became available.

Is that with or without maggots?

[BOWHUNTER45]

that is freaking crazy ...but nothing surprises me anymore ..

[JLS]

I believe it is quite common that in a situation where meat is inedible, you can turn the ENTIRE animal in and be allowed to harveest another.  If you choose to keep the head, then you don't get to have your cake and eat it too.  I know of hunters in the Missouri Breaks that have killed bulls on permits, that had arrows in them.  The hunters were given the choice of keeping antlers or shooting another elk.

If she turned down the cow or another bull, it seems to me that's her choice to live with.

[winshooter88]

There was a news release that came out way before the hunt that explained about the darting and what the options would be if you shot a collared bull. I've seen collars on elk from a half of a mile away with a spotting scope, so they aren't impossible to see most of the time. If the hunter new the rules before taking the shot, why should the WDFW give her an additional tag. If she wants meat then all she has to do is turn in the whole first bull and take a different one. It appears to me that she wants the trophy more than she wants the meat. Now if the WDFW changed the rules after the hunt started then she would have a valid complaint. 

[winshooter88]

It's been a month since this was posted, did the WDFW respond? If they did please post the response that you received. I'm interested in what they had to say about this situation.