How should we manage our Mule Deer in WA?

[huntnphool]

I would say black bears are a far greater impact on mule deer fawns in NE WA. The bear population is out of control up here! Not a good sign when you see more bears and sign of bears than deer! Been like this for over 20 years great deer country and its void of deer and full of bears

 Easy remedy for that would be members helping other members find them, but far too many are more worried about their "honey holes" than helping thin the threat.

[MtnMuley]

 
However, I do agree with huntnw's thoughts there. Would it make you upset if I drew a Sherman spring tag there this year and didn't go?

[huntnphool]

However, I do agree with huntnw's thoughts there. Would it make you upset if I drew a Sherman spring tag there this year and didn't go?

 Not at all.

[huntnnw]

Ive helped many on here and have taken several to my spots and also offered to help more that never take me up on my offer.

[bearpaw]

What really happens: Whitetail Deer vs. Coyote (trailcam)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_ES7MmS5Ho#t=72

[grundy53]

I would say black bears are a far greater impact on mule deer fawns in NE WA. The bear population is out of control up here! Not a good sign when you see more bears and sign of bears than deer! Been like this for over 20 years great deer country and its void of deer and full of bears

State wide OTC spring season and up the amount of bears we can harvest.

sent from my typewriter

[JimmyHoffa]

You are making a whole lot of irrational assumptions and grundy I'm not interested in engaging in your drama. 

Think about it this way...if cougars are eating 200000 deer and hunters kill 34000 each year you are basically saying hunting regs will have little or no effect...which is not the case as I have observed it.  It is a mistake for hunters to place so much blame on predators in most instances.  Mule deer declines are no exception. 

Keep fighting the good fight md.

What things affecting the deer herd do managers have any reasonable amount of control over?  Winter kill or drought can take out a lot more deer than all predators could dream of, but weather is out is something that can't be controlled.
I really don't see the managers having much impact in stemming development--homes, roads or shopping areas.  Unless the mule deer is endangered, I don't think they have any weight in that argument.
Buying up land/improving habitat?  The cost is enormous to accomplish to be used by the vast range of the herd.  I don't think the WDFW budget is near enough to buy tracts that could support a herd....buying salmon estuaries and butterfly parks and riparian zones seem to take the priority for land acquisition.
Do they have the ability to control road collisions?  Lowering speed limits, deer underpasses, more deer crossing signs.
The only real factors that seem to come to mind that they have any real influence over are harvest, predators and poaching. 
I think almost all the hunters would like to see poaching enforced a little more,especially the real cases like ucwarden worked on.  That guy was killing something like an elk every other day for seven years. 
I don't know why hunters would prefer to limit their harvest before the predators' harvests.  Seems to me that predators are the easiest factor in the equation without cutting tags and reducing opportunity.

[KFhunter]

We need statewide coyote rules for cougar and bear.  24/7 365 hunting predators 


I very highly doubt that enough would get taken that there would ever need to be special permit draws,  but if hunters are successful enough then visit restricting the season limits.


Problem is WDFW thinks there needs to be a predator behind every tree and under every rock. 

[grundy53]

We need statewide coyote rules for cougar and bear.  24/7 365 hunting predators 


I very highly doubt that enough would get taken that there would ever need to be special permit draws,  but if hunters are successful enough then visit restricting the season limits.


Problem is WDFW thinks there needs to be a predator behind every tree and under every rock.

sent from my typewriter

[KFhunter]

We need statewide coyote rules for cougar and bear.  24/7 365 hunting predators 


I very highly doubt that enough would get taken that there would ever need to be special permit draws,  but if hunters are successful enough then visit restricting the season limits.


Problem is WDFW thinks there needs to be a predator behind every tree and under every rock.

sent from my typewriter

add wolves 

[huntnphool]

We need statewide coyote rules for cougar and bear.  24/7 365 hunting predators

 Does anyone have any actual attainable suggestions?
 

[KFhunter]

We need statewide coyote rules for cougar and bear.  24/7 365 hunting predators

 Does anyone have any actual attainable suggestions?

vastly increase hound permits for cougar in Mule deer impacted areas.
Increase spring draw permits for bear in Mule deer impacted areas, introduce bear 2nd tag in NE WA. 
Increase cougar yearly bag limits for Mule deer impacted areas.
Introduce 2nd Cougar tag for Mule deer impact areas.
Allow hunters to draw for special use hound permits without proving they own hounds, and let them hire a hound hunter to help fulfill the tag in Mule deer impact areas.
Open special permits for bear baiting in mule deer impact areas.



There's no money in this for conservation groups, it's far more profitable to net in habitat projects.  Keep herds struggling and keep money flowing in for recovery efforts.

[JimmyHoffa]

We need statewide coyote rules for cougar and bear.  24/7 365 hunting predators

 Does anyone have any actual attainable suggestions?

why not a year round on cougar?  It hasn't lead to an annihilation in Oregon.  They had hounds stolen from them too by the urban populaces, but can hunt them year round on foot.

[huntnnw]

An absolute joke we have to apply for the measly amount of spring tags! all about the dollar!! This should be a statewide OTC hunt May 1-June 30th! 

[KFhunter]

We need statewide coyote rules for cougar and bear.  24/7 365 hunting predators

 Does anyone have any actual attainable suggestions?

why not a year round on cougar?  It hasn't lead to an annihilation in Oregon.  They had hounds stolen from them too by the urban populaces, but can hunt them year round on foot.

Going from our recent insult of a cougar plan to year around hunting would be a big step. 



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