Deer / Elk management question...

[jrebel]

Please give your input on the following question.

Why is the management plan for deer and elk different?  To build the elk herds we can only shoot spike / true spike / cows (archery) so the larger bulls can be breeding stock.  For deer (all species) you can only shoot the large bucks / does....leaving all the spikes and two points for breeding stock.  This does not make sense to me so please chime in so I can learn something.

Thanks

jrebel

[bobcat]

Good question!

[Mr Mykiss]

Good question. Simple too...I'm sure it can be over-complicated to all hell by the right group of managers

[bobcat]

Well, one thing to keep in mind is that the WDFW doesn't want the 3 point minimum for mule deer. They have only kept it that way because hunters want it. The spike only for elk on the east side is what they want. But again, the 3 point minimum for elk on the west side is what hunters wanted, not the WDFW biologists. They tried to make it spike only on the west side but then got too many complaints.