Speed Goat's on the Rez

[buck470]

Just read an article in the "Yakima Bussiness times" the Yakama's are wanting to transplant a herd of 100 speed goats out on the  Yakama Rez. Cattlemen are oposing it due to Disease issues.

Anybody else herd anything?

[270Shooter]

I have heard that. Don't think that they would last to long . But it would be cool if they would migrate down towards goldendale.
Heres a little article I found you gotta scroll down to pronghorn.

http://www.ynwildlife.org/biggame.php

[Red Dawg]

I dont like the sounds of that either. We are having a hard enough time with deer already. The deer are getting lice from the sheep. Sounds like touble to me.

[270Shooter]

I thought the deer got the louse from some imported Fallow deer or something else like that?

[JBar]

Was reading something about this on the WDFW web sight a few months back. They were looking at transplanting to the Yakima area from who knows where. I guess they were actually native to Washington and were decimated way back. I would love to see them in Washington, only downfall might be they close the land they inhabit until the population is large enough to sustain itself. 

[Red Dawg]

that is what I thought for a while also. But talking with a few people in the "KNOW" I come up with a different conclusion. As cool as it is to have lots of sheep in the cascades the are directly competing with the deer for winter habitat and winning. They also came with lice that they are immune to but unfortunatly the deer where not. It would be cool to see some speed goats in washington but with dwindling winter habitat I dont see it working.

[rosscrazyelk]

There are speed goats in washington now just not a huntable population now.

[270Shooter]

There are speed goats in washington now just not a huntable population now.

Really? Where at I have not heard about this.

[PolarBear]

Yep, there were some around Moses lake but I think that they are no longer.  There are still a few on the Hanford Rez, according to a friend of mine at the WDFW.

[270Shooter]

Oh thats right I did hear about the ones on the Hanford Rez

[Red Dawg]

speed goats on the hanford rez. I dont know. I worked out there for 5 years all over the sight and never saw or heard of any being around. Is this something that has happened recently.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I have a map floating around my house that I picked up and the forest service building down here off 101 at the begining of Bear Season.  It highlighted National Foest and National Park land.  I am not 100% sure but I was reading it the day I picked it up.  I swear their was a small highlighted area in the S Central area of the state that Said Antelope Preserve or something along those lines.  I remember it because I was like WTHeck I don't remember their being any antelope in Washingtong State.  Why would they have a preserve?

[runniNgunnin]

i think the REZ needs to focus on what they have before they get them selfs more things to worry about...... and it wouldnt suprise me if there were some out on hanford. anyone ever seen those little criters off t freeway driving by umatilla and hermiston ?

[rosscrazyelk]

There are some on the firing range They hae been there for over 10 years. And I heard S.C.I is working with the state to build the heard and they will get to auction off a hunt in 2010

[fc2038]

there is also a small thing in the new 2009 2015 Final 2009-2015 Game Management Plan hunting about transplanting speed goats and supporting a heathy population by 2015... http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/management/2009-2015/index.htm

[mkcj]

They transplanted some years ago but they did not do well I read so they want more this time to see if that works better?

[yelp]

SCI and other sportsmans groups better get ready to shell out some $$$$ to landowners for crop damage.  Landowners in Montana, Oregon, Wyoming, etc... hate them.  SSS is a common practice back there.  I think it so the wolves have something more to eat...lol.  I personally love Pronghorn hunting, but I know lots of landowners that blame the WDFW for Bighorn sheep damage, Elk damage, Deer damage, Turkey Damage and one organic farmer that had Quail damage eating lettuce as it was coming up.   

Well maybe there won't be any cattle in Washington if EPA gets there way charging a fee per cow for flagulates released....in the news today.  Could drive cattle and dairy products up  in price and push ranchers out of business.  So maybe the pronghorn has a shot...

[alecvg]

I have heard that there is a herd of 90 or so on the military base near the Tri-cities.

[boneaddict]

There used to be a population of them on the firing center, which may jsut be the hanford ones now.  As far as I know they are gone.  I heard rumors of the military boys killing them.      I knwo they were there at one time as I saw them, but that was a long while ago.

[EastWaViking]

I heard they were on the Yakima firing range back in the 1970's but never really did very well....

I wonder why?  You see them pretty often right across the river from Patterson in OR.  If only they
were good swimmers.

[agchawk]

Here's an article about a project that was being conducted by folks at WAZZU regarding Pronghorn re-introduction. It's a few years old but still a good read. It also speaks to the failed re-introduction attempt years ago and the population that was once native to the state.

http://www.campusecology.wsu.edu/page_045.htm

[jdb]

There are some on the firing range They hae been there for over 10 years. And I heard S.C.I is working with the state to build the heard and they will get to auction off a hunt in 2010

if your talking the yakima training center that was 30 odd years ago. there arent any out there now.

[jdb]

I think that for antelope to prosper on the rez they will need to do something about the horse problem. until you spend Little time out there you have no idea just how many ferrel horses there are out there (literaly thousands) and they're devastating the habitat

[rosscrazyelk]

I am not sure where you got your info JDB but I have first hand knowledge they are there.

[Bigshooter]

In the 2009-2015 game management plan they talk about reintroduction somewhere in the state.

[Elkstuffer]

The project is being funded by SCI-CWC. WDFW doesn't want anything to do with it so SCI is working with the Yakama nation. They are trapping and relocating wild horses as they are in competion with the antelope and big horns for food. There used to be a small herd of pronghorn in the Washtuccna area according to WDFW but that was 6 or 7 years ago. I hunted a lot down there at that time and never saw any.

And yes. The louse problem with the deer was started by ranch raised Fallow and Sika deer.

[huntnphool]

but I know lots of landowners that blame the WDFW for Bighorn sheep damage, Elk damage, Deer damage, Turkey Damage and one organic farmer that had Quail damage eating lettuce as it was coming up.

They get absolutely no sympathy from me, these are the same whining land owners that never give permission to hunt their land, as far as I'm concerned they can cry in their beer all year.

[bucklucky]

+1

[rosscrazyelk]

+1 also. The farmers complain about the animals. The state works with them and gives out permits but then the farmers wants you to pay to access Their land. All crap. In the end all they want is money...

[couesbitten]

About 6 years ago, a guy I worked with tried to tell me that there were antelope on Rattlesnake Mt, near Prosser. I called BS and proceded to call the Yakima office of F&G. Talked to the bio, and he told me that there were not any antelpoe in WA at that time. When I inquired about their history in WA, he said that they were a native animal, but had been pushed/hunted/farmed out of existence. State tried transplanting back in late 70's (I think??) and that they didn't take. Had him repeat it to me buddy, who was habitually full of *censored*.

[jdb]

I am not sure where you got your info JDB but I have first hand knowledge they are there.

I live next door to the ytc and have spent 100's of days out there. I am not saying its impossible for them to have evaded me but I'd bet some cash on there being no antelopes on ytc at this time. JB

[wastickslinger]

I have always heard the rumor of them being out north east of Moses Lake. Never seen one myself though 

[Big10gauge]

There used to be some on the Colockum on the Vantage side back in the 60's and early 70's, They eventually died out.

[7mmfan]

I think they want to transplant them so that the military has some moving targets to shoot at. Those would be a tough critter to shoot out of a jet

[Big Guy]

I have always heard the rumor of them being out north east of Moses Lake. Never seen one myself though 

I had to take a machine out of seattle over to spokane in august and seen one dead on the side of I-90 just pass sprague lake.

[NWTFhunter]

Is this the Yakima Res off of Hwy 97 going to Goldendale ?
There are a ton of wild or semi wild horses out there, not to mention the cattle.  I dont know what that will do to the feed available ?

[wa.hunter]

sounds like alot of bad info here..there are currently no antelope in Washington...the Yakima Tribe may have released some this year...Safari Club  has been working with WDFW for 4 years now to get them introduced at three locations in this state the Feasability Study is complete and the SEPA process is been worked on..maybe in another year or 2.. there will be 30 released a each location and a additional 30 at each location with diferent genetic pools for the following 2 years...with alot of help with predator control..coyotes, it just might work. Safari Club has been funding this project and hopefully will continue to do so total expected cost $350,000.00 or so just so WE in 10 years or so might have an opportunity to hunt them...currently there are no tags of any kind...Just thought you all might like to know.

[huntnphool]

Good news wa.hunter, lets hope the farmers don't take them all out.

[bobcat]

There is a report available here: http://www.working4wildlife.com/Pronghorn_Antelope_Reintroduction.htm


It is called "ASSESSMENT OF PRONGHORN HABITAT POTENTIAL IN EASTERN WASHINGTON."   Click on the link that says "FinalReport" towards the top of the page.

[TeacherMan]

  I think its a great idea, its not like they are an invasive species.

[buck470]

I think they want to transplant them so that the military has some moving targets to shoot at. Those would be a tough critter to shoot out of a jet

They use Helicopters.

[provider]

I think the discussion we had on here last year was more constructive.

 http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=76e7063befe697927542198743f3a52d&topic=3438.0;all

Within WDFW there is support for antelope reintroduction, and opposition.  Some key players are in support though.  It would not hurt to let them know your feelings and encourage the process to move forward.  I still think the public comment period will come soon, but a few people in the Dept. are dragging their feet.

huntnphool,  public vs private land was one of the main considerations in the habitat suitibility assessment and one of the main reasons the Quilomene, YFC etc... are considered more favorable.    

There sure are a lot of guys on here claiming to see antelope in Washington.  Anybody have any proof?  

[bobcat]

I'm not sure if I'm for the re-introduction or not. I would love to see antelope in this state but I just don't know if it's worth the cost, and I don't want to see other species negatively affected either. I would almost rather have the money spent on improving/protecting wildlife habitat, especially mule deer and/or elk winter range. Besides I can just see the new antelope herds being wiped out by the indians just as soon as they get established.