Houndhunters Apply Now: Cougar Management Removal Permit Program

[MooseZ25]

The rules are just like the last pilot study.  Only three handlers and the permit holder.  They have the entire unit 121 to hunt.  Only two permits is the only negative thing I cold see.  Maybe timing would of been nice to hunt from December till March, but this is defiantly a start.  I will keep everyone posted.

[bearpaw]

I'm really not sure if this program has been continuous or if it has been revitalized. However, it will remove a few cougars from areas where there are problems, the hound hunter gets to run cats with his dogs to keep them trained, and the hound hunter gets to keep the cougar. I think it's far better than nothing and perhaps it can be increased over time as more problems occur.

Good luck Moose. 

[mulehunter]

My friend got called yesterday. 

  

 

[jackmaster]

I'm really not sure if this program has been continuous or if it has been revitalized. However, it will remove a few cougars from areas where there are problems, the hound hunter gets to run cats with his dogs to keep them trained, and the hound hunter gets to keep the cougar. I think it's far better than nothing and perhaps it can be increased over time as more problems occur.

Good luck Moose. 

will you get to get in on any of these hunts bearpaw? do you forsee any permits being given out for the westside, there are a couple units over here on the westside that are overrun with cats, bobs and cougars, are there any plans by the way to reduce the number of bobcats in this state? they kill alot of fawns every spring and there really isnt a sure fire method of killing them without the aid of dogs or trapping, sure there are a few caught in live traps but no where near as successful as leg holds or hounds

[bearpaw]

I'm really not sure if this program has been continuous or if it has been revitalized. However, it will remove a few cougars from areas where there are problems, the hound hunter gets to run cats with his dogs to keep them trained, and the hound hunter gets to keep the cougar. I think it's far better than nothing and perhaps it can be increased over time as more problems occur.

Good luck Moose. 

will you get to get in on any of these hunts bearpaw? do you forsee any permits being given out for the westside, there are a couple units over here on the westside that are overrun with cats, bobs and cougars, are there any plans by the way to reduce the number of bobcats in this state? they kill alot of fawns every spring and there really isnt a sure fire method of killing them without the aid of dogs or trapping, sure there are a few caught in live traps but no where near as successful as leg holds or hounds

So far I have not been contacted about a permit, they say they randomly choose, not sure how that is done. Yes I would love to go cougar hunting in WA, but my dogs have had a fair share of hunting this year in Idaho so it's not critical that my dogs get to hunt in WA this year. Currently with high fur prices bobcats are being harvested fairly heavily. Live traps are pretty effective for certain species such as bobcat. Until fur prices drop I think bobcats will continue to be harvested heavily. Honestly, it seems to be WDFW policy to not manage predators any more than absolutely necessary. Hopefully that changes but don't hold your breath.

A local warden asked my son about doing damage complaints again, we used to do a lot of damage complaints for WDFW. He told the warden to get us a season in WA so we could keep our dogs trained in WA and we would consider doing complaints again. Local hound doggers have aided the WDFW in taking care of problem cats across this state, it does not seem that they have received much consideration for their efforts.

[bearpaw]

My friend got called yesterday. 

  

 

Hope you get to go with him. 

[jackmaster]

well i guess i will have to buy a couple live traps, or build a few, sucks cause i have a couple garbage cans full of leg holds and conibers  oh well, such as life!!! atleast this little hound program is a start in the right direction, i would think for the guys that get to hunt, i would be out ahead of time knockn on doors for property to run my hounds across, people may not want you to hunt deer or elk on their places but i am sure they will be more than happy to let you all kill cougars that eat their deer and elk or worse their pets  good luck fellas, best part is we will get to see alot more cat pics on here hopefully 

[mulehunter]

My friend got called yesterday. 

  

 

Hope you get to go with him. 

He is a houndman and own 6 dogs and he have family to invite so I won't go.   I am happy for him.     

[MtnMuley]

I realize that this is closed now and I don't mean to bitch, but news of this gets posted on here after 7pm on the 6th, and the deadline to get submitted is by the 7th?  WTF? When did the officially begin accepting apps?  You think you would have gotten at least an email if you were on the lists before.   Anyhow, several I know had no clue.  Glad they at least bucked up and did this and a dead cat is a dead cat, but I'm still confused.

[bearpaw]

I realize that this is closed now and I don't mean to bitch, but news of this gets posted on here after 7pm on the 6th, and the deadline to get submitted is by the 7th?  WTF? When did the officially begin accepting apps?  You think you would have gotten at least an email if you were on the lists before.   Anyhow, several I know had no clue.  Glad they at least bucked up and did this and a dead cat is a dead cat, but I'm still confused.

Actually WDFW had it posted on their website as they do with most info, but nobody here on the forum knew about it. I was notified that it was on the WDFW website and that we might want to post it on here. I am glad they notified us and I did get it up as soon as I could. Sorry for not knowing and for not getting it up sooner.

[mulehunter]

I realize that this is closed now and I don't mean to bitch, but news of this gets posted on here after 7pm on the 6th, and the deadline to get submitted is by the 7th?  WTF? When did the officially begin accepting apps?  You think you would have gotten at least an email if you were on the lists before.   Anyhow, several I know had no clue.  Glad they at least bucked up and did this and a dead cat is a dead cat, but I'm still confused.

  I didnt know that until a friend email me from HW, it was very very Nice of him for letting me know and I was like oh Chit and I only have few hours left and I tried to text some houndmen and was in middle of errands with Drs  and forget to text more friends who has dogs. I am sorry if I didnt spread out loud enough.   I counted applied was almost 735 people filled out one day.  Thats so fast.
Next time.      

[MooseZ25]

The way I understood it if you had a pilot study permit in the past you automatically were in the drawing.  I hope that helps with some of the frustration.  My wild ID was on the list when I checked so I did not have to apply.  Still short notice. 

[huntnphool]

I realize that this is closed now and I don't mean to bitch, but news of this gets posted on here after 7pm on the 6th, and the deadline to get submitted is by the 7th?  WTF? When did the officially begin accepting apps?  You think you would have gotten at least an email if you were on the lists before.   Anyhow, several I know had no clue.  Glad they at least bucked up and did this and a dead cat is a dead cat, but I'm still confused.

Funny how the important things, like clam digging, status reviews on killer whales and spotted owls are constantly going out in emails from WDFW Public Affairs in their "WDFW News Release", yet this, "coincidently" was hidden on their website three pages deep, and was never mentioned.

After Dale posted this on here

nobody here on the forum knew about it. I was notified that it was on the WDFW website and that we might want to post it on here. I am glad they notified us

 I went to the website and looked for the whole article. Knowing it was there somewhere, it still took several minutes of digging to find it.

 I am greatful that WDFW puts out their "News Release" but come on, is this really not news worthy enough?

 My guess is they purposely hid it there and when it got down to the application deadline they realized very few actually saw it, and that a chit storm was going to erupt once the deadline passed and nobody knew about it. So a little bird told Dale right before the deadline, knowing he would share it on his forum, thus letting them off the hook and allowing someone to say

Actually WDFW had it on their website as they do with most info

 

[jackmaster]

I realize that this is closed now and I don't mean to bitch, but news of this gets posted on here after 7pm on the 6th, and the deadline to get submitted is by the 7th?  WTF? When did the officially begin accepting apps?  You think you would have gotten at least an email if you were on the lists before.   Anyhow, several I know had no clue.  Glad they at least bucked up and did this and a dead cat is a dead cat, but I'm still confused.

Funny how the important things, like clam digging, status reviews on killer whales and spotted owls are constantly going out in emails from WDFW Public Affairs in their "WDFW News Release", yet this, "coincidently" was hidden on their website three pages deep, and was never mentioned.

After Dale posted this on here

nobody here on the forum knew about it. I was notified that it was on the WDFW website and that we might want to post it on here. I am glad they notified us

 I went to the website and looked for the whole article. Knowing it was there somewhere, it still took several minutes of digging to find it.

 I am greatful that WDFW puts out their "News Release" but come on, is this really not news worthy enough?

 My guess is they purposely hid it there and when it got down to the application deadline they realized very few actually saw it, and that a chit storm was going to erupt once the deadline passed and nobody knew about it. So a little bird told Dale right before the deadline, knowing he would share it on his forum, thus letting them off the hook and allowing someone to say

Actually WDFW had it on their website as they do with most info

 

what huntnphool said 

[MtnMuley]

I realize that this is closed now and I don't mean to bitch, but news of this gets posted on here after 7pm on the 6th, and the deadline to get submitted is by the 7th?  WTF? When did the officially begin accepting apps?  You think you would have gotten at least an email if you were on the lists before.   Anyhow, several I know had no clue.  Glad they at least bucked up and did this and a dead cat is a dead cat, but I'm still confused.

Actually WDFW had it posted on their website as they do with most info, but nobody here on the forum knew about it. I was notified that it was on the WDFW website and that we might want to post it on here. I am glad they notified us and I did get it up as soon as I could. Sorry for not knowing and for not getting it up sooner.

Not your fault at all Dale, nor did I mean to come off that way.  I appreciate you posting as soon as you found out.  My beef is with the WDFW did this.  I was also a part in the pilot program and was fortunate to draw several times.  My name/Wild ID is also on the list.  Maybe they did put me in the drawing without me knowing, but if they did, you surely would have figured they would have let you know through email or by phone.   I just hope several hounders were actually drawn and they take care of this over population problem.  I will bitch to the extreme if I ever find out that any "hugger" was drawn to take a slot away from somebody deserving!