Houndhunters Apply Now: Cougar Management Removal Permit Program

[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.

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 

  I would agree fully. If WDFW as a whole were an aminal, they'd be a boar with tits crossed with a weasel.

[WAcoyotehunter]

only hound owners are supposed to be on the list?  It says

(i) "Dog hunter" means a person that owns and hunts with dogs that are capable of detecting, tracking and treeing a cougar.

then goes on to say

(b) To be eligible for a public safety cougar removal permit (permit), the participant must be a Washington resident dog hunter who, at the time of application for a permit, possesses a valid big game license with cougar as a species option. The permit holder must use dogs while participating in a cougar management removal.

I'm sure there will be another group of guys over here looking for hound hunters to take them out.... 

[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.

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!

So without contacting you how do they know

1.) That you, or anyone previously enrolled, still have hounds if they did not contact you?

2.) That you, or anyone previously enrolled, have the time/schedule/desire to participate in this new program, if they did not contact you?

3.) That you, or anyone previously enrolled, still have a valid tag in your wallet, if they did not contact you?

 These are all requirements of the application process. How can they simply state that "if you had a pilot study permit in the past you automatically were in the drawing" without confirming all of these requirements first?

 I know a couple guys that were in the previous pilot program that no longer have hounds, do they know that?

[MtnMuley]

All valid questions, phool.  Seems to be a lot in the "gray" with this issue as with most WDFW issues. 

[huntnphool]

All valid questions, phool.  Seems to be a lot in the "gray" with this issue as with most WDFW issues.

And to think there are those that actually put faith in WDFW running any kind of controlled wolf hunt/season/pilot program! LMAO

[MtnMuley]

All valid questions, phool.  Seems to be a lot in the "gray" with this issue as with most WDFW issues.

And to think there are those that actually put faith in WDFW running any kind of controlled wolf hunt/season/pilot program! LMAO

  True!  I feel deeply sorry for every WDFW enforcement officer that has to constantly "try " to enforce many of these thoughtless new rule changes and pilot programs that "upper management" decides on, and repeatedly hear the criticism from the public as they're always the easy targets to point the finger at.   

[huntnphool]

All valid questions, phool.  Seems to be a lot in the "gray" with this issue as with most WDFW issues.

And to think there are those that actually put faith in WDFW running any kind of controlled wolf hunt/season/pilot program! LMAO

  True!  I feel deeply sorry for every WDFW enforcement officer that has to constantly "try " to enforce many of these thoughtless new rule changes and pilot programs that "upper management" decides on, and repeatedly hear the criticism from the public as they're always the easy targets to point the finger at.   

Spot on right there!

[mulehunter]

TWISP — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued five special permits in the Methow Valley allowing hunters to use dogs to track and kill cougars in response to numerous problems this winter.

Wildlife officer Cal Treser said the special permits are the result of many sightings and incidents in which cougars have killed livestock and pets in the Twisp and Winthrop areas. They are called public safety cougar removal permits, and they’re issued when areas experience numerous complaints. Hunters with hounds are drawn by permits and allowed to hunt in specific areas.

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2014/feb/20/state-lets-hunters-call-in-dogs/

 

[MtnMuley]

I saw that yesterday, mule.  I was wondering how they were going to do the  "draw" for those with hounds.......

[cougarbart]

they used the old pilot program list! after drawing the names they made a call to the person, Hell I bet phone numbers where not updated so if you changed phone numbers in the last two years you might of been drawn but couldn't be reached!

[mulehunter]

I saw that yesterday, mule.  I was wondering how they were going to do the  "draw" for those with hounds.......

Ya I know,  I know that two guys got draw and both are strong houndmen and they are on way up this weekend.  It's better than nothing.  Hopefully it change to better system soon. I am looking forward to hear from them soon.

[backcountry55]

Tell them to save there gas trust me!!

[MtnMuley]

Tell them to save there gas trust me!!

I have a feeling Scott won't be in charge of these depredation tags.

[cougarbart]

I heard they get to hunt the whole unit on the tags up by twisp!

[Mic Obrien]

The cougar removal permits were reinstalled so quickly in response to the house bill introduced to reinstate the pilot program. Right now some in DFW are not supporting the house bill so they brought this program back to keep the house bill stalled.