WDFW STILL CLUELESS ON HOOF ROT

[bbarnes]

I'm here to inform all sportsman our ELK herd,is in trouble.The WDFW met today with the TAC GROUP and after a 7 hour meeting,we learned nothing more than we already knew NOTHING.How could this be it's the worlds best scientists,vets and micro biologists.There trying to say its treponema,but admitted it could only be a secondary disease.Also with no public comment allowed,the public couldn't including politicians couldn't comment, or ask questions.We did hear again of there plan to cull the herd, in numerous effected areas.My question is why cull them,if they don't know what it is ?Also why kill them if there saying there OK,for us to hunt and eat?If your putting your faith in this group to figure this out,think again.All of us that have been involved know ,what the real cause is.My biggest concern is for all the sportsman that have paid for tags, and are going to find out there's nothing left to hunt.To say the least after knowing about this, this long and doing nothing,we need action from our law makers not words.

[kentrek]

 


Thank you for your efforts and keeping us informed....I feel they are ten years late too this game....its hard to quantifying the loss of a situation like this but I have no problem calling it a tragedy

[ELKBURGER]

That is very disappointing to hear. Did they even say the word 'Herbacide' as a contributing factor?

[HntnFsh]

That is very disappointing to hear. Did they even say the word 'Herbacide' as a contributing factor?

I dont think they will touch that one with a ten foot pole. Doesnt fit their agenda!

[ELKBURGER]

That is very disappointing to hear. Did they even say the word 'Herbacide' as a contributing factor?

I dont think they will touch that one with a ten foot pole. Doesnt fit their agenda!

If they do not allow public comments then they can stick to thier agenda. We need to keep the pressure on them. We know thier agenda will yield nothing but wasted time and money and a continued decrease in the elk herd.

[pianoman9701]

Was Jon there yesterday, Bruce? I got your message this AM.

[Curly]

They don't like the idea of dealing with the herbicide issue, and the public keeps pushing for something to be done about herbicides, so you can understand why they wouldn't want public input.

Actually, I'm surprised they allowed the public to listen in on the meeting.  Why would they even allow that?

Frankly, I don't see them getting anywhere on the issue, especially if they refuse to even think that herbicides could be a cause.  They seem to be too closed minded to really figure this out.  They are going to be chasing their tail around in circles for quite some time.  They will have meeting after meeting and the elk will continue to suffer.   

[bbarnes]

Yes John Gosh was there he recorded the whole event,and took lots of notes as I did.I don't think some of people ,on the committee have a agenda.It was funny when you tried to give them another perspective,they didn't have time to listen.Also Boom Mora was able to have 20 minutes,to talk about his theory LEPTOSPIROSIS.In my opinion his theory,fits best with the limping elk.All of us who have witnessed OUR sick elk realize,they all don't have overgrown hoofs when they limp.It seems there is a lot more limping, with normal hoofs in my opinion.The WDFW says it TREPONEMA but as we heard yesterday,this is a secondary disease that doesn't inflame joints.There was also a consultant there I'm sure was a LOBBYIST for chemical company's,to explain effects on wildlife.I learned they have done no test on wildlife,not big game anyway,and had no info of what happens when there mixed together.I witnessed lots of disagreements, and the WDFW trying to lead them down the path to blame this on dairy farmers in the area it started.Thank god there were some VETS from that area,that weren't buying it.So now we all go into another hunting season with no answers getting a ROTTEN DEAL.

[bbarnes]

They weren't going to allow the public to be there, until they were shown the state law.Also CURLEY the elk won't be suffering long,there plan is to kill the sick ones,but how do you tell which ones are sick.By there own admission they don't know which ones are sick,or the carriers.Some of the samples tested from elk with deformity didn't, test positive for TREPONEMA.As a matter of fact only 4 did out of 43 elk seems a little suspect to me.

[bbarnes]

This is the message I will be sending to all of the law makers in the effected areas.

I know we have had our differences regarding hoof rot and the management of our elk herds.  But, I always felt that we wanted the same thing, to solve the hoof rot problem, and create a healthy heard for our children's future.  But, after spending seven hours today listening to the TAG meeting I have to ask,  is the best WDFW has to offer?  If so I feel the future of our states elk herd is in big trouble.  So, once again I find myself asking you my State law maker to step in, take action and do something about this problem.  It was obvious to that the WDFW's theory of Treponema bacteria, derived from the dairy industry was not being accepted.   And just an  FYI,   they will never be able to sell this to the public,  treponema is a secondary issue no the primary issue, as was pointed out clearly today by the TAG group.   If the WDFW thinks there going to kill off the herd to cover up the real issue your constituency is never going to go stand for it.   Action should have been taken years ago when the disease was first reported, instead of the WDFW's wait and see, do nothing policy.   Our rural community's are facing economic disaster with reduced hunters and new private timber company fee access.  So, again I ask you Mr. Orcutt, to step up, get involved and do something to help the voters in your district.  Please do not let the WDFW manage our herd into extinction,  get on board with live animal testing.  Become proactive, the future of all the elk in SW Washington are counting on you. 

[Curly]

Is Dr. Mora going to be able to implement any of his ideas to help see if his theories are correct?

And, when wdfw kills limping elk, are they going to be donating the meat to a food bank?  Afterall, the meat is supposed to be fine according to them.  I wouldn't think they'd need the entire elk for whatever testing they may do.  So, it will be interesting to see what they do with the meat.

[bbarnes]

They need to do live study's when the animal dies the HOST dies with it.Until this is done i don't think will know the cause.Also soil samples,blood samples,and a third party to test these things that has no dog in the fight.

[bobcat]

It will be interesting to see the decrease in the number of west side elk tags that were sold this year.

I have not hunted the east side for elk since 2005, but I bought an east side tag this year, partially due to the access fees, but the primary reason being the elk hunting in SW Washington is not that good anymore. And even if you do kill an elk, you don't know if it will be fit to eat.

It just might take a dramatic drop in elk tag sales for the WDFW to really begin taking this seriously.

But then I don't really know, maybe they are doing all they can to solve this issue. They've definitely stepped it up a notch since last year, no doubt about that.

[t6]

Im sure that they knew they had to open the meeting.  Pretty sad that they made an effort to close it until the issue was pushed. 

[t6]

Now that their own advisers have told them that Treponema Bacteria is not the cause of the "Hoof Rot" if anything a secondary issue, we should help WDFW out by starting a "What our next guess" Contest. 

Remember.... It can't be anything that is communicable to humans and it can't be related in any way to toxic chemicals. 

It may require some thought... it took WDFW nearly 20 years of observation, and the last five in "Intensive Study" to come up with their first three guesses. 

Lets see what we can come up with.  We can submit our list to WDFW and if they use one of them, we'll declare a King or something.