Free: Contests & Raffles.
Quote from: villageidiot on January 30, 2014, 09:23:39 AMI heard that the pilot program died because the head of the natural resource committe refused to bring it up for a vote to continue it. It was originally set up to be voted on every 3 yrs but the greenies outfoxed us on this one and got a bunny hugger in as head of the natural resource committee who has the right to not bring things up for a vote thus it dies. I'd like to see all hunters be able to get a chance at a tag including out of state to help on the revenue end. Part of this would allow any hound hunter to pursue even if they did not get drawn to keep their dogs in shape and ready to go when a tag holder calls. I'd also like the owner of the dogs to be allowed to charge at least his expenses or they will get shafted like Mulehunter did. Doubtful they would ever allow pursuit without a kill tag because that would be considered "recreational hunting" which the anti's hate. They do not want hunters to actually enjoy a sport even if they just catch and release. This seems no different to me than catch release fishing. They could even charge a healthy fee for a permit to hound hunters just for a pursuit permit. If legal pursuit was allowed then the big problem the Methow Valley is having right now would be helped quit a bit by just chaseing all these cats away from town. At preseent WDFW is having to pay their people to catch and kill many cats at the expense of the dept when the exact same thing could be done by hunters bringing in revenue to the dept, towns and free up the game agents to get their other work done.I don't think that is the way things went down. Couple years ago WDFW was behind a bill to basically expand the program to all counties. The pilot program bill wasn't sent up because they were pushing for a statewide program. It was shot down so they came up with an empty net and nothing has been in place in the interim.WDFW was well intentioned and I saw Donny Matorella give a really excellent presentation at a hearing for the bill in The House Committee on Agricultue and Natural Resources. I think Hans Dunshee was instumental in killing the bill.
I heard that the pilot program died because the head of the natural resource committe refused to bring it up for a vote to continue it. It was originally set up to be voted on every 3 yrs but the greenies outfoxed us on this one and got a bunny hugger in as head of the natural resource committee who has the right to not bring things up for a vote thus it dies. I'd like to see all hunters be able to get a chance at a tag including out of state to help on the revenue end. Part of this would allow any hound hunter to pursue even if they did not get drawn to keep their dogs in shape and ready to go when a tag holder calls. I'd also like the owner of the dogs to be allowed to charge at least his expenses or they will get shafted like Mulehunter did. Doubtful they would ever allow pursuit without a kill tag because that would be considered "recreational hunting" which the anti's hate. They do not want hunters to actually enjoy a sport even if they just catch and release. This seems no different to me than catch release fishing. They could even charge a healthy fee for a permit to hound hunters just for a pursuit permit. If legal pursuit was allowed then the big problem the Methow Valley is having right now would be helped quit a bit by just chaseing all these cats away from town. At preseent WDFW is having to pay their people to catch and kill many cats at the expense of the dept when the exact same thing could be done by hunters bringing in revenue to the dept, towns and free up the game agents to get their other work done.
Senate Bill 6287 sponsored by Senator Dansel will be introduced this week. The bill, would allow WDFW to permit the use of dogs to pursue or kill cougars in Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Chelan, Okanogan, and Klickitat counties with the approval of the county for 5 years.NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1)(a) The department, in cooperation and collaboration with the county legislative authorities of Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Chelan, Okanogan, and Klickitat counties, shall recommend rules to establish a five-year pilot program within select game management units of these counties, to pursue or kill cougars with the aid of dogs.(b) Dangerous wildlife task teams must be developed in each county comprised of representatives from the county and the department. A pursuit season and a kill season with the aid of dogs must be established through the commission's rule-making process, utilizing local dangerous wildlife task teams. The dangerous wildlife task teams shall also develop a more effective and accurate dangerous wildlife reporting system to ensure a timely response.(c) The pilot program's primary goals are to provide for public safety, to protect property, and to assess, conserve, and manage cougar populations.(2) Rules adopted by the commission to establish a pilot project allowing for the pursuit or hunting of cougars with the aid of dogs under this section must ensure that all pursuits or hunts are:(a) Designed to protect public safety or property;(b) Reflective of the most current cougar population data;(c) Designed to generate data that is necessary for the department to satisfy the reporting requirements of section 3 of this act; and (d) Consistent with any applicable recommendations emerging from research on cougar population dynamics in a multiprey environment funded in whole or in part by the department.(3) The department may authorize five seasons in which cougars may be pursued or killed with dogs, subject to the other conditions of the pilot program. The seasons are authorized to aid the department in the gathering of information necessary to formulate a recommendation to the legislature regarding whether a permanent program is warranted and, if so, what constraints, goals, and objectives should be included in a permanent program.(4) This section expires July 1, 2019.NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) A county legislative authority may request inclusion in the pilot project authorized by section 1 of this act after taking the following actions:(a) Adopting a resolution that requests inclusion in the pilot project;(b) Documenting the need to participate in the pilot program by identifying the number of cougar/human encounters and livestock and pet depredations;(c) Developing and agreeing to the implementation of an education program designed to disseminate to landowners and other citizens information about predator exclusion techniques and devices and other nonlethal methods of cougar management; and(d) Demonstrating that existing cougar depredation permits, public safety cougar hunts, or other existing wildlife management tools have not been sufficient to deal with cougar incidents in the county.(2) This section expires July 1, 2019.NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) By September 1, 2018, the department must deliver to the legislature, consistent with RCW 43.01.036, a progress report summarizing the pilot program authorized in section 1 of this act. The report must include information relating to how the program has been used to assess cougar population levels and protect public safety and property. The report may also include any recommendations as to how cougar management policies may be changed in the future to achieve more effective or efficient management.(2) This section expires July 1, 2019.http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6287&year=2013
Our local Senator Dansel whom I believe sponsored this bill was on the radio today saying it is looking good for the hound bill.
Quote from: bearpaw on February 26, 2014, 09:21:50 AMOur local Senator Dansel whom I believe sponsored this bill was on the radio today saying it is looking good for the hound bill. I wonder how it looks good?Bills were supposed to be passed out of their house of origin by Feb 14. This bill hasn't even been scheduled for a full Senate vote yet, then it would have to go to the House. The legislative session ends March 13th....
Quote from: bigtex on February 26, 2014, 08:03:03 PMQuote from: bearpaw on February 26, 2014, 09:21:50 AMOur local Senator Dansel whom I believe sponsored this bill was on the radio today saying it is looking good for the hound bill. I wonder how it looks good?Bills were supposed to be passed out of their house of origin by Feb 14. This bill hasn't even been scheduled for a full Senate vote yet, then it would have to go to the House. The legislative session ends March 13th....I've got a message in to him asking questions.
The result while it was in effect was that all cougar hunting was closed during modern firearm seasons for deer and elk in many or the popular deer and elk GMU's. I'm in favor of allowing hound hunting but not at the expense of the rest of us losing that opportunity.
Quote from: sakoshooter on March 04, 2014, 02:41:54 AMThe result while it was in effect was that all cougar hunting was closed during modern firearm seasons for deer and elk in many or the popular deer and elk GMU's. I'm in favor of allowing hound hunting but not at the expense of the rest of us losing that opportunity.I agree. The decision to shut it down for boot hunters was as pathetic as it can get. No matter who tries to explain that logic to me, I will never agree with it.
However we will be bringing this bill back for consideration next year and we would welcome your support when that time comes.
Quote from: MtnMuley on March 04, 2014, 08:02:01 AMQuote from: sakoshooter on March 04, 2014, 02:41:54 AMThe result while it was in effect was that all cougar hunting was closed during modern firearm seasons for deer and elk in many or the popular deer and elk GMU's. I'm in favor of allowing hound hunting but not at the expense of the rest of us losing that opportunity.I agree. The decision to shut it down for boot hunters was as pathetic as it can get. No matter who tries to explain that logic to me, I will never agree with it.I agree, they should not have taken all opportunity from the boot hunters. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't have hound hunting, it means that WDFW should not remove all opportunity from boot hunters. It doesn't have to be one or the other, there should be equal opportunity for both.
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