Cat Hunting in Special Permit Area's

[WACATHUNTER]

So after seeing the Cat that the hound hunters got today ( Post titled Chelan Co Cat?), I did a little research and learned to much.  I called the quota line to see how many more can be killed in Chelan CO and hit the #1 for the automated general cougaer hunting info and learned that as a boot (non-hound owner) cat hunter that I am not allowed to hunt in any of the counties that allow permit cougar hunting during the permit season.  Cougar permit season opens Dec. 1st.  I am all for hound hunting and the taking of more cats, but I also really enjoy boot hunting and feel that I should be able to hunt as well, since I can't put in for the permits anyway, due to not owning a dog.  Also, there are now very few areas to boot hunt since the expansion of the permit areas. 

Just thought I would inform/vent/get some feedback on this topic.

WACAT

[jackelope]

Just thought I would inform/vent/get some feedback on this topic

well...you will surely get what you are after....this will be a 3 page thread quick i bet.

i am far from an expert but i believe the reason or one of the big ones for no boot hunters is so the cats that are killed are id'ed as male or female before they are killed.

[WACATHUNTER]

Well that does make sense and like I said before I am all for hound hunting and if I could own hounds, i definitly would.  I was more supprised than anything because I am new the Wenatchee and had previously lived in eburg and never had to worry about it.  I agree it'll be pages before long. 

[Machias]

"Also, there are now very few areas to boot hunt since the expansion of the permit areas." 

The "expansion" was only one county.  Right now there are only 6 counties closed and those 6 counties were open for boot hunters from 1 Aug until 1 Dec.  Hound hunters get 6 counties, 1 Dec thru 31 Mar.  You have the entire rest of the state currently open, lots of good places to go call or try and track and run one down.   

[Grizzly95]

Hell I just want to get a cat. Shot one about 10 years ago, but I was more scared than anything. We were bird hunting and it went after our dog. Got it with a 1oz slug from a 12ga; turned it into a canoe.

[WACATHUNTER]

Machias, I understand boot hunters have a large area, I guess I am just being selfish to an extent and would prefer to hunt close to home in areas that I am familiar with.  I understand boot hunters have a much longer season, but my prefered method is tracking and typically from dec. 1st on is the best time due to snow and no other big game hunting to do, or very little.  Once again probably being selfish!!!  The point I don't understand is why can't boot hunters and hound hunters hunt the same seasons/areas.  Maybe having seperate quoutas or permits.  Just a thought.
WACAT

[Slider]

I totally agree with you WACATHUNTER!!! Because I don't have a dog I can't hunt in my back yard?

[Houndhunter]

just cause you have hounds dont mean you get to run lion

[bankwalker]

go hunt around eburg. ive seen more cougar sign in manastash and teanaway then anywhere else in this state once the snows start falling.

teanum creek road (south side of thorp on i90) gets alot of cat traffic once the deer and elk start getting pushed out from snows. i cut alot of tracks last year during late archery elk season. and i would assume that the cats are gonna be back in that general area big time again.

[WACATHUNTER]

Bank, I know there is good hunting in kittitas CO, I was just referring to what slider refered to as hunting in your back yard!!!  Does WDFW post the drawing odds for the special permits?  Just curious how long the hound hunters need have to wait to get drawn???
WACAT

[rougheye]

go hunt around eburg. ive seen more cougar sign in manastash and teanaway then anywhere else in this state once the snows start falling.

teanum creek road (south side of thorp on i90) gets alot of cat traffic once the deer and elk start getting pushed out from snows. i cut alot of tracks last year during late archery elk season. and i would assume that the cats are gonna be back in that general area big time again.

Im going to check it out right now , me and the boy , maybe we will see a coyote or something . Report back in a few hours. 

[bobcat]

WACATHUNTER, I totally agree with you and I believe you will find most hunters feel the same way as well. There is absolutely no reason for cougar season to be shut down for us "boot hunters" just because there is a permit season for hounds in that county at the same time. The permits numbers are very small anyway, and the success rate of the boot hunters is going to be almost zero. It makes no sense and all I can think of is it must have been some anti-hunter/cat lover in the WDFW that made up that rule.

[Houndhunter]

as long as the cats shot by boot hunters didnt count on the quota than that would be fine, otherwise even if 2-3 lions get shot by boothunters that could really screw some of us hound guys over

[bobcat]

You're right...it wouldn't be fair for those cats to be counted on the hound hunter's quota.

[billythekidrock]

WACATHUNTER, I totally agree with you and I believe you will find most hunters feel the same way as well. There is absolutely no reason for cougar season to be shut down for us "boot hunters" just because there is a permit season for hounds in that county at the same time. The permits numbers are very small anyway, and the success rate of the boot hunters is going to be almost zero. It makes no sense and all I can think of is it must have been some anti-hunter/cat lover in the WDFW that made up that rule.

I agree. I also think that the hound hunters should consider lobbying to let boot hunters in or there could be even more backlash.