Cougar Management Removal Program

[idaho guy]

 I would really like to draw one as an out of state guy since I have been taking my son hunting over there  because he is too young for Idaho big game license. But I am glad they are reserving for the resident hound guys. Washington hound doggers have been getting the shaft for a long time. Hope you can get a season back. Be a lot of fun running dogs on all those cats! someday   

[MtnMuley]

I am still confused how there were like 720 applicants, yet nearly nobody that I know that owns hounds knew anything about it.   I understand if they put everybody in because at one point they were a hound hunter, but 720?   This makes ZERO sense and many things don't add up.........

[idaho guy]

 Probably everybody that knows someone with hounds put in. Not sure how they would verify that not only do you own hounds but they are actually trained dogs that would trail and tree a lion. I had a mixed up dog that was great on bears and good on cats but looked more lab than a hound. I guess I would just go with what they give you better than nothing and maybe a step towards more hound hunting.   

[snowpack]

I find it hard to believe that there are over 700 people that actually own trained hounds.  Even with the number of contract houndsmen for the tree farms, I just don't see too many houndsmen these days.  Where are they all hiding?

[MtnMuley]

There is a million "probably's" but that's not what I'm referring to.  I want to know EXACTLY how this mess was conducted, and how these 720ish applicants heard about this and applied, whether they owned hounds truthfully or not.  I'd like a list of names and addresses of those successful............and yes, I've emailed  DFW.

[Special T]

What are some easy reasonable ways that the WDFW COULD have used to vet people? Hound Lic in another state? Previous hound Lic in this state? Name on the previous "on call list" for problem cats? Outfitter?

Are there any other easy to identify ways to tell if someone is a "real" applicant?

[woodywsu]

When I read about it online about a month ago, I understood that these hunts were going to be strictly depredation tags where a selected hunter would be told where he has to hunt due to a landowner complaint/incident. That would make sense especially for this example in the Methow Valley whether WDFW's quotas have been met or not. A problem arises regarding a cat, WDFW issues permit to houndsman to resolve issue at hand. However, based on what I was told by a selected hunter he was told he can hunt the entire GMU because the GMU hasn't reached their quota for cats killed. For the record, this individual is a Washington resident owning hounds capable of treeing cougar.

[Special T]

Wouldn't you also think that Said person would have to be located relatively close to the area they were putting in for since it was a area specific permit?

[idaho guy]

 mtnmuley you are right it doesnt look like they did it right and did not do much due dilligence. I was told the last time they stopped this program it was because a bunch of pissed houndsmen sent  letters and called everyone and raised a fit and the result was they took it away. I was  told this by other dog guys I know so I guess maybe thats right maybe not.Its not really my business I dont even live there nor can i draw the permit but it would be cool if you got some hound hunting back.  I used to hunt the Idaho side along the washington border and was pretty sure most of the cats in Idaho  we caught were crossing out of washington. I would take what you can get now and try to build on it to maybe get a better season. Maybe even a real hound season where an Idaho guy could come over the line and chase some cats.     

[jackmaster]

How could a californian draw that tag? I read the rules and it said only Washington residents that owned hounds? I must be blind cause i only the the one dog the blue tick.

it looks like two differant hound, the first two pics look like the same hound the third looks like a pure blue tick, either way those permits should only be sent to washingtonians with hounds, and then to guys in idaho with hounds and so on and so forth, but only if they cvant find enough houndsman in washington, doing the crap wdfw is doing by the way they are allocating these permits arent helpn anyone or themselves 

[bearpaw]

According to written requirements you must be a resident and own hounds.

If an officer feels that you are not a hound owner they may investigate you to prove it one way or another. That happened to a friend. In the end the friend was proven to own hounds, but they did thoroughly investigate.

[KFhunter]

They didn't do a very good job making that clear,  maybe with 700 applicants to vet they'll think about it next time....or scrap the idea.

I give it 50/50 odds.

[bearpaw]

They didn't do a very good job making that clear,  maybe with 700 applicants to vet they'll think about it next time....or scrap the idea.

I give it 50/50 odds.

I think local wardens are asking for help with all the cougar problems, I expect the problem to grow, hopefully it will lead to the legislature approving another cougar hunting program similar to what we used to have a few years ago.

[buddyw]

This was something that was done at the last minute, In my opinion solely due to the Cougar Bill announced in the legislature.  This same program was in place last year, and,  and if anyone payed attension Last year they did not draw a single tag for this program.   I'm almost positive that they were not going to draw any applicants this year either, however with the Bill getting introduced in the legislature they were forced to do something, to ease political pressure. 

We All are better off waiting for the right opportunity to work on the Best bill in the legislation and then work to move that bill through completion.  I don't think there is any chance of getting the current bill through this year,  or any predator bills through with the Legislation we have in place today, 

I'm hopeful that everyone will help in the 2014 elections and maybe we will have better political winds in the Legislature, and then we can make some progress on these topics. 

I was contacted by several folks asking me about this bill and this program and I told them that it's a waste of time and it is mostly just lip service, and political games.   Nothing to get excited about,     We need to wait for the right opportunity, It doesn't hurt to have your name on the list, but it's pretty much Slim to Nill chances of being drawn.   In fact I would guess that 2 months ago there was zero percent chance of drawing this type of tag since I don't think the Department had any interest in drawing any of them.

Just my 2 cents worth about this...

Buddy

[BOWHUNTER45]

BH45 is being extreme again  How about a huge protest  Lets round up all the hounds and hound hunters in the state and head over to Winthrop and cut them loose all at the same time  Sounds fun to me