2014 Colockum cow tags special permit

[alanger]

What the heck is up with all the freckin cow tags in the colockum this year? are they trying to kill off all the damn elk up there or what? I do not understand the reasoning of nearly or more 1000 cow tags available for the 328/329 gmu's. to me it seems complete assignine to provide that many permits for such a small herd in such a confined area that's bad enough of a wild shooting range on opening morning anyway. can someone clarify or is this an error, it seems so unreal but you never know what type of "management" strategies or plans our game department will come up with next.

[mossback91]

We have to get the bull to cow ratio looking good after the yakamas have slaughtered the bulls....

I'm not very old to say I have been hunting the herd forever, but I can say the herd is slacking compared to about 10-15 or so years ago.

[bowhunterforever]

Definitely seems like there giving to many tags out. What needs to be done to get the bull and cow ratio back to normal is do something about the natives killing all the bulls

[ICEMAN]

If you want to sell permits, and want to be able to claim you are offering plenty of hunting opportunity, you do this; annihilate the herd.

[HoofsandWings]

Figuring that only 1 in 15 of the cow permit holders actually kill a cow and in years when the weather does not cooperate, 1 in 20, the number of hunters shooting a cow are not that high.

[Band]

Figuring that only 1 in 15 of the cow permit holders actually kill a cow and in years when the weather does not cooperate, 1 in 20, the number of hunters shooting a cow are not that high.

I haven't looked over recent statistics for Colockum but historically cow permit holders are way more successful than the numbers you're showing.  Am I missing something?

[ELKBURGER]

They did the same thing in western wash. Toutle, mudflow, margaret, coweeman. Now with hoof rot as a major concern, the SW wash herd is waning fast.

[vandeman17]

I think part of it has to do with the fires and limited resources for the animals in the area. Maybe they are thinking that they need to reduce the herd for a year or two so they don't overrun their food and starve. Just a theory but also think it has to do with bull to cow ratio and wanting to make more money!

[NOCK NOCK]

What the heck is up with all the freckin cow tags in the colockum this year? are they trying to kill off all the damn elk up there or what? I do not understand the reasoning of nearly or more 1000 cow tags available for the 328/329 gmu's. to me it seems complete assignine to provide that many permits for such a small herd in such a confined area that's bad enough of a wild shooting range on opening morning anyway. can someone clarify or is this an error, it seems so unreal but you never know what type of "management" strategies or plans our game department will come up with next.

The big question here is "Are you going to apply for one of these cow permits"   
NO is how I read your post. Just curious

[TMortensen]

From what I read on the wdfw web site, Colockum elk management numbers exceed management objectives and they want to bring the herd back down to a level that the habitat will support. Apparently the fish and game dept doesn't want us to have animals to hunt for future generations.

[Mfowl]

Its not just the Colockum herd. There is a big increase in Yakima tags as well. I would think if the elk are forced out on to the winter range in the Quilomene early again due to fires like they have the last two years it could be all out slaughter.

And to answer the question: Yes I will be applying for a Yakima ML cow tag.

[HoofsandWings]

Looking at the new regs, it appears that instead of waiting 8 or 9 years for a cow permit, I will only have to wait 6-7 years.
With 3 points, I still have to wait 3 more years.
Unless I get lucky, that is.
I think I will have a better chance with a bull permit with 7 points.

[HoofsandWings]

If you want to sell permits, and want to be able to claim you are offering plenty of hunting opportunity, you do this; annihilate the herd.

But iceman, if they annihilate the herd, hunters will go elsewhere leaving you with less competition.
Hunters will find happier hunting grounds and if you stick it out, you should be able to be much more lonely in the woods.
How can you lose?
Another way to reduce the herd is to pave the roads up there, making them 4 lane highways. 

[Bob33]

Figuring that only 1 in 15 of the cow permit holders actually kill a cow and in years when the weather does not cooperate, 1 in 20, the number of hunters shooting a cow are not that high.

I haven't looked over recent statistics for Colockum but historically cow permit holders are way more successful than the numbers you're showing.  Am I missing something?

Someone else is. Harvest success for Colockum antlerless elk is much higher; around 75%.

[HoofsandWings]

Figuring that only 1 in 15 of the cow permit holders actually kill a cow and in years when the weather does not cooperate, 1 in 20, the number of hunters shooting a cow are not that high.

I haven't looked over recent statistics for Colockum but historically cow permit holders are way more successful than the numbers you're showing.  Am I missing something?

Someone else is. Harvest success for Colockum antlerless elk is much higher; around 75%.

75 percent? 30 years ago, I used to go up there and never saw a cow. Never saw a bull either.
The hunting must be improving there if people are actually shooting cows. I am going to let all of my buddies know, so they all put in for those permits.

[stevemiller]

  Me too! 

[HoofsandWings]

Figuring that only 1 in 15 of the cow permit holders actually kill a cow and in years when the weather does not cooperate, 1 in 20, the number of hunters shooting a cow are not that high.

I haven't looked over recent statistics for Colockum but historically cow permit holders are way more successful than the numbers you're showing.  Am I missing something?

Someone else is. Harvest success for Colockum antlerless elk is much higher; around 75%.

75 percent? 30 years ago, I used to go up there and never saw a cow. Never saw a bull either.
The hunting must be improving there if people are actually shooting cows. I am going to let all of my buddies know, so they all put in for those permits.

Did I miss anyone in the list below?   

Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
Colville Indian Reservation
Cowlitz
Hoh Indian Reservation
Jamestown S'Klallam Indian Reservation
Kalispel Indian Reservation
Lower Elwha Indian Reservation
Lummi Indian Reservation
Makah Indian Reservation
Muckleshoot Indian Reservation
Nisqually Indian Reservation
Nooksack Indian Reservation
Port Gamble Indian Reservation
Port Madison Reservation (Suquamish Indian Reservation)
Puyallup Indian Reservation
Quileute Indian Reservation
Quinault Indian Reservation
Samish Indian Reservation
Sauk-Suiattle Indian Reservation
Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation
Skokomish Indian Reservation
Snoqualmie Indian Reservation
Spokane Indian Reservation
Squaxin Island Indian Reservation
Stillaguamish Indian Reservation
Swinomish Indian Reservation
Tulalip Indian Reservation
Upper Skagit Indian Reservation
Yakama Indian Reservation

[jason stevens]

Best part about the hype is everyone and there friends will apply and it will be like rush hour traffic.

[Bob33]

Figuring that only 1 in 15 of the cow permit holders actually kill a cow and in years when the weather does not cooperate, 1 in 20, the number of hunters shooting a cow are not that high.

I haven't looked over recent statistics for Colockum but historically cow permit holders are way more successful than the numbers you're showing.  Am I missing something?

Someone else is. Harvest success for Colockum antlerless elk is much higher; around 75%.

75 percent? 30 years ago, I used to go up there and never saw a cow. Never saw a bull either.
The hunting must be improving there if people are actually shooting cows. I am going to let all of my buddies know, so they all put in for those permits.

Hunt 2220 in 2012: Colockum antlerless elk, Modern Firearm. October 31 through November 4. Forty permits. Thirty-seven hunters reported. Twenty-eight elk reported killed. 28/37 = 75.676%, which is pretty close to 75%.

[D-Rock425]

 

[Rainier10]

The archery guys are lower than that.  Hunt 2268 in 2012, 50 permits, 44 reported only 36 of those even hunted and 15 were successful for 41.7%.  I think that number is swayed though since not everyone reported and not everyone hunted, so for 50 permits given out on 15 cows were killed which is actually a success rate of 30%.

[bowhunterforever]

Anybody know the success rate for muzzleloader from the last couple years?

[Rainier10]

Anybody know the success rate for muzzleloader from the last couple years?

2012 it was hunt number 2296, gmu 328and 329, 30 permits, 29 reported, 23 cows taken, 79.3% success.