The end to Elk hunting

[sAsQuAtCh17]

  wonder if they are figuring the impact on the Selkirk caribou herd into this plan. As stated before, to many hunters and not enough game.Then the clowns crack down on the best predator control methods like trapping and night hunting and hound pursuit. This is the kinda mickey mouse hogwash you get when evergreen graduates get into the game dept. Save the wolfs,all other species be d**ned!

[xXLojackXx]

I can't wait to put some 150lb coyotes in the dirt. Let's go 

[dinker]

i know people before in the thread have said to many liberals, but i think what we should do is do a raffle thing also cert in number of tags to bring money in also and depopulate the wolf packs. or just let us hunters have a hay day with some AR-15s and AKs haha

[buglebrush]

Got to shoot the big yotes if you get a chance or in the next years to come will all be standing around the ole campfire talking about how elk and deer hunting used to be and our kids and grandkids will have missed out. 

Let's see, Alaska is just over 9 times larger than Washington.  Alaska has about 10,000 wolves and there is still plenty of game to hunt. That would be like Washington having over 1,000 wolves, which will never happen. Washington is so populated that there would be too much conflict for one thing.  I doubt your scenario will come true.

More likely, your kids and grandkids will have no place to hunt unless they want to spend lots of money for access as more of Washington's private property becomes gated pay for hunting land, and communities continue to grow taking game habitat with them.

Let me guess.  You have not spent time hunting areas like Idaho where this has been devastating.  If you want to compare something try Idaho as it is next to Washington, and Alaska is a whole different case.  I have personally seen the devastation.  How many wolf kills have you stood over?  Seriously man.

Has elk hunting stopped in idaho ?? I agree with Sitka that land issues & habitat are bigger problems than wolves..wolves suck for sure but they aren't gona bring an end to hunting just like they havent in states that have been dealing with them for awhile now

Hunting might get slow an less elk might be killed but once tag sales drop fish an game has no choice but to react..there jobs depend on it

" Hunting might get slow an less elk might be killed"   Exactly.  I couldn't have said it better myself.  That is what is happening.  If it continues to happen then it will end altogether.  There has already been loss of hunting opportunity, and season/tag restrictions.  Again, I would ask if you have personally spent years in the woods where this is happening?  Have you personally seen the effects, or are you simply talking about something you know absolutely nothing about?  It is vital that we as hunters stand together for responsible management.  Washington's management of predators is going to continue to negatively impact elk, deer, moose, etc...

[idaho guy]

buglebrush is exactly right on. I am so sick of people saying I still kill bulls in Idaho! Big deal, so do I. Problem is wolves have devasted elk herds and if you still have a honey hole in Idaho or Montana its because the woves have not made it their in numbers yet.  Look at a map and you can see the expansion-(migration north) of wolves and a trail of collapsing elk herds. Also the plan washington has for breeding pairs I think is the same number for ALL of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming! Enjoy the dream of living with wolves.     

[kentrek]

Got to shoot the big yotes if you get a chance or in the next years to come will all be standing around the ole campfire talking about how elk and deer hunting used to be and our kids and grandkids will have missed out. 

Let's see, Alaska is just over 9 times larger than Washington.  Alaska has about 10,000 wolves and there is still plenty of game to hunt. That would be like Washington having over 1,000 wolves, which will never happen. Washington is so populated that there would be too much conflict for one thing.  I doubt your scenario will come true.

More likely, your kids and grandkids will have no place to hunt unless they want to spend lots of money for access as more of Washington's private property becomes gated pay for hunting land, and communities continue to grow taking game habitat with them.

Let me guess.  You have not spent time hunting areas like Idaho where this has been devastating.  If you want to compare something try Idaho as it is next to Washington, and Alaska is a whole different case.  I have personally seen the devastation.  How many wolf kills have you stood over?  Seriously man.

Has elk hunting stopped in idaho ?? I agree with Sitka that land issues & habitat are bigger problems than wolves..wolves suck for sure but they aren't gona bring an end to hunting just like they havent in states that have been dealing with them for awhile now

Hunting might get slow an less elk might be killed but once tag sales drop fish an game has no choice but to react..there jobs depend on it

" Hunting might get slow an less elk might be killed"   Exactly.  I couldn't have said it better myself.  That is what is happening.  If it continues to happen then it will end altogether.  There has already been loss of hunting opportunity, and season/tag restrictions.  Again, I would ask if you have personally spent years in the woods where this is happening?  Have you personally seen the effects, or are you simply talking about something you know absolutely nothing about?  It is vital that we as hunters stand together for responsible management.  Washington's management of predators is going to continue to negatively impact elk, deer, moose, etc...

I spend about 4 weeks hunting in Idaho a year...next year might be 6 weeks

Yes wolves suck,yes I've seen exactly what happens after a big pack comes into an area...I've been dealing with these critters for the last 8 years..people in Washington are gona get a real slap in the face for sure...but this isn't like a big surprise..Washington is going to experience the same impact as Idaho did..get over it..you are more than a few years late if you were planning on changing anything esp with our game department

It seems people don't care about something until it directly effects them...nobody cared when wolves were only devastating Idaho just the same when hoof rot was only devastating the Stella...

But unless fish and games figures out away to exist with out money they are gona be forced to react (just like Idaho)

Just speaking my mind

[snowpack]

So, how do you think wolves will affect elk hunting in Washington?
I think that it will push it to permit only.  We have a lot less elk than ID or MT to begin with.  Our herds seem more segregated and the westside herds act a bit differently than the eastside herds.  In Yellowstone, the researchers determined that wolves eat about 2.2 elk per wolf per month (about 26 elk per wolf per year).  Plus wolves generally start with calves and cows.  At least in MT/ID, the wolves can move from herd to herd easily and the herds can intermix to rebuild numbers.  Parts of WA, the herds are basically trapped and a wolf pack will have that one (or few) elk herds to solely focus on.
Many areas on the westside have small isolated elk herds that are already permit only.  Would only take a few wolf kills to suspend those permits, then the odds drop for the other permits as more people go to different areas.  Other herds that are near management objectives could easily drop making them go permit only.  It would take 300ish wolves to kill the same number of elk as state hunters (but wolves would likely take calves cows so it could be a couple seasons before the lack of bulls is really noticed).  My guess is that WDFW will have to micromanage the herds more to determine the amount of permits and it could be later in the year before we know how many elk permits will be available for certain areas.

[vandeman17]

I have lots to say on this but will keep it simple. I truly think that the combo of wolves, some tribes having unlimited harvests, poaching by natives and non-natives, and loss of habitat will lead to a permit only elk season by 2025 at the latest. I just can't see how all these factors going unchecked won't steadily diminish the herds enough to force the wdfw to draw only. 

[sAsQuAtCh17]

  Sounds like a call and complain campaign is in order.

[cryder]

call and complain !! I've been doing just that since the whole idea was introduced ! well look where that got me and like hundreds of others ,we have finally got to the point that I have had knightmares about, for years ! elk is on these critters tables more often than not,and if it isn't ,there chasen them down somewhere.when they get to 364 that's it !!!,the place I have been hunting for 35 years is being destroyed ,and that is time for me to go back to Colorado where if you see the big bad wolf you shoot till the chamber is empty.you folks could not be more right,if there is to many elk why so many permits but if there isn't enough elk why let the wolf have his way with the best meat on the planet ??well Washington you want your wolf ,go ahead,just give us bow hunters the same opportunity,without jumping through our wallets and your little hoops and draws!!!anyway I'm still not done complaining and calling so let me know when and where and I got the coffee and doughnuts,(actually,juice n fruit I'm training for next season !)I'm just going to call this thread project 364 if you don't mind ?( GET TO THE CHOPPAH !! )

[irishevox]

Anyone know about the population in wenatchee

[Simcoe hunter]

Has elk hunting stopped in idaho ?? I agree with Sitka that land issues & habitat are bigger problems than wolves..wolves suck for sure but they aren't gona bring an end to hunting just like they havent in states that have been dealing with them for awhile now

Hunting might get slow an less elk might be killed but once tag sales drop fish an game has no choice but to react..there jobs depend on it
[/quote]

Here is where the argument could get sticky.  You say they will react when tag sales drop.  That is arational assumption, and one you should never make about WDFW.  They quit living solely off of tag sales a long time ago.  There heads are off in the clouds somewhere.  It used to be when you talked to someone from the department they were looking after the sportsmans best interest.  That doesn't seem to be the case today.  Now there are all sorts of agendas that seem to take precedence.

[TheHunt]

I think a bunch of you smart folks should capture a few and put them in North Bend or Carnation.

Holy smokes I think people would flip out. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Has elk hunting stopped in idaho ?? I agree with Sitka that land issues & habitat are bigger problems than wolves..wolves suck for sure but they aren't gona bring an end to hunting just like they havent in states that have been dealing with them for awhile now

Hunting might get slow an less elk might be killed but once tag sales drop fish an game has no choice but to react..there jobs depend on it

Here is where the argument could get sticky.  You say they will react when tag sales drop.  That is arational assumption, and one you should never make about WDFW.  They quit living solely off of tag sales a long time ago.  There heads are off in the clouds somewhere.  It used to be when you talked to someone from the department they were looking after the sportsmans best interest.  That doesn't seem to be the case today.  Now there are all sorts of agendas that seem to take precedence.
[/quote] Man ...you nailed it ...their is more law enforcement out there than ever before ...How are they paying for it ..between wardens and DNR ?

[Booman2]

Wow, Dinker: maybe check out a spell checker as well as your facts?