euthanizing elk with hoof rot....

[bobcat]

I don't see how the killing of sick elk really affects people hunting in those areas this year. The elk that will be killed prior to the hunting season are ones that a hunter wouldn't want to harvest anyway, and these sick elk may not have survived until hunting season even if the WDFW hadn't decided to go in and kill them.

Maybe those sicklies are what's keeping the cougars and other predators fed.  If you go kill off a big chunk of kitty chow now, what are those cats going to be eating in the weeks after?  The healthy elk that the hunters do want to harvest.  Plus you get the added benefit of the herd being pressured by humans well before the season.

Definitely not an ideal situation. Like I said, I bought an east side elk tag this year, and I haven't done that since 2005. I doubt I'll ever hunt the west side again (for elk) unless I draw a multi season tag.

[Curly]

Even if wdfw is innocent in the timing of the euthanization announcement, they bring the problem on themselves by showing in the past about how they are all about money. The category permit system is a perfect example............nothing but a money grab. 

[bobcat]

What do you think they should have done different then, regarding the announcement that elk would be euthanized? Maybe they shouldn't have said anything? Or, wait until after hunting season to put sick elk out of their misery?

[Curly]

I think they should have made the decision and made the announcement prior to people buying applications. 

They are in a tough position, no doubt, but that is what they get for dragging their feet for 18+ years. 

Why couldn't they decide to start wacking hoof deformed and limping elk 5+ years ago?  It is so sad to see elk suffering like that, I can't believe they didn't start wacking them years ago. 

They really probably ought to open up the Toutle and Margaret to general season and get the population dwindled down even more.  The less elk there is, the less the bacteria will be spread I would think.

[Curly]

BTW - I know I should probably not be so critical of WDFW (maybe I could draw a special permit again someday if I stop being so critical) but they just make it so hard not to be critical.  It is almost as if they try to irritate people on purpose. 

[bobcat]

Well, I guess the phrase "hindsight is 20/20" fits.

[Curly]

I hope you draw a moose permit next year.  Then you can start being more critical of wdfw too.   

 

[bbarnes]

This is theft by deception and wreck las endangerment,no way around it.Not to mention they have been telling everyone there ok to eat,BS.In a letter to the Clark County Commissioners received April 16 th 2013 it states no one should eat sick wildlife.This was a response from Nate Pamplin the assistant director.In today's Colombian Dave Ware the big game manager says they will donate the sick elk to churches.All this without knowing what's killing the elk ? and stealing our money for tags and licenses.Why wouldn't they tell hunters before hand plus the additional cost incurred to hunters to access private timber lands.The sportsman in this state need to unite and state writing,calling and emailing the law makers of the state.

[_TONY_]

Even if they informed hunters about this, the wdfw would have still had the same application $$ coming in...People would have just applied elsewhere

Just my 

[pianoman9701]

Even if they informed hunters about this, the wdfw would have still had the same application $$ coming in...People would have just applied elsewhere

Just my 

Right, they would have had a chance to apply elsewhere if they'd been informed. That's BBarnes' whole point. Since they didn't find out until after the fact, they have no choice to choose another unit.

[snowpack]

This does lead me to wonder when this plan was first dreamed up and when it was anticipated to happen; and then how it was released.  I would find it tough to believe (but not impossible given their history with wolves) that they were keeping quiet until after the draw.  Is it more of internal communication?  Is the hoof rot team at WDFW out of the loop on the timing of the draw and of hunting seasons?  Or maybe it was just due to backlog and the memo finally made it up and back down the process, and the timing was unfortunate?  Don't they have some higher up that has been around the block and could look at this and ask the same questions about the timing and the draw?  Was it planned to happen when it did so that the cull wouldn't interrupt the timber company bear eradication?  I don't know...too many questions I guess.

[ELKBURGER]

Could a hunter try to get his points back based on the new release? or get a class action lawsuit started?

[Blacktail Sniper]

According to the original news release, it isn't planned to happen until next winter, which would be after most, if not all seasons:

"Next winter, WDFW will capture and fit elk with radio-collars to determine how the disease is affecting area elk populations, survival rates and calving. Wildlife managers will likely remove elk showing severe symptoms of hoof disease to end their suffering, Pamplin said."

Has there been another, more recent news release saying something different?

[ELKBURGER]

I didn't pick up on the 'next winter' part. That gives them an out.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

According to the original news release, it isn't planned to happen until next winter, which would be after most, if not all seasons:

"Next winter, WDFW will capture and fit elk with radio-collars to determine how the disease is affecting area elk populations, survival rates and calving. Wildlife managers will likely remove elk showing severe symptoms of hoof disease to end their suffering, Pamplin said."

Has there been another, more recent news release saying something different?

This is from the OP link.