colockum herd & true spike rumor

[phishisgroovin]

i overheard many hunters up on the hill saying there may be plans to do away with the true spike rule.

This last season the warden said the rule is stupid, the herd is strong up here & there is no reason for it.
He also said, the bulls are all big (branched) for some reason this year and he only checked ONE true spike elk harvested, but that was on a ranch down near Kittitas (go figure).

anyone else hear if the true spike rule will be lifted?

[Snappy]

Talked to the biologist on the day we were leaving. We asked that very question and he indicated to us that we would not likely see that happen too soon. The departments goal is to have a 12 to 100 bull to cow ratio and they say that they are only counting 6-7 bulls to 100 cows. The biologist is saying that the hunter success for the unit is about 65% on True Spikes and it was 85% when it was just spike only which left too low of an escapement. He said their choice was either to go to true spike or go to permit hunts only to get there bull to cow ratio up. Funny thing is they still have not even gotten close to the 12 to 100 ratio in all the years that it has been true spike. Wonder what is causing this problem? Maybe too many roads offering access to too much area and possibly giving other hunting interests a greater opportunity?

[MtnMuley]

65% hunter harvest success rate on true spikes is absolutely ridiculous.  About as ridiculous as the 85% success rate before.

[WenHunter]

65% hunter harvest success rate on true spikes is absolutely ridiculous.  About as ridiculous as the 85% success rate before.

I believe what he meant was 65% of the true spikes are killed. Leaving 35% to grow into branched Bulls. Also on another note, whatever warden the OP talked to must not have been in the clockum. Our camp got 2, and the warden we talked to opening morning said he had checked about a dozen by 9am.

[Snappy]

Thank you Wenhunter. You are correct I meant to say 65% of the true spikes were taken not 65% success rate. Same with the 85% when we were aloud just spikes. I am pretty sure about 6 were taken on opening morning in the small area that we were in this year.

[carlyoungs]

65% hunter harvest success rate on true spikes is absolutely ridiculous.  About as ridiculous as the 85% success rate before.

did you guys have horses in your camp?

I believe what he meant was 65% of the true spikes are killed. Leaving 35% to grow into branched Bulls. Also on another note, whatever warden the OP talked to must not have been in the clockum. Our camp got 2, and the warden we talked to opening morning said he had checked about a dozen by 9am.

[NOCK NOCK]

Talked to the biologist on the day we were leaving. We asked that very question and he indicated to us that we would not likely see that happen too soon. The departments goal is to have a 12 to 100 bull to cow ratio and they say that they are only counting 6-7 bulls to 100 cows. The biologist is saying that the hunter success for the unit is about 65% on True Spikes and it was 85% when it was just spike only which left too low of an escapement. He said their choice was either to go to true spike or go to permit hunts only to get there bull to cow ratio up. Funny thing is they still have not even gotten close to the 12 to 100 ratio in all the years that it has been true spike. Wonder what is causing this problem? Maybe too many roads offering access to too much area and possibly giving other hunting interests a greater opportunity?

That last sentence is by far the most PC ever..

[WenHunter]

65% hunter harvest success rate on true spikes is absolutely ridiculous.  About as ridiculous as the 85% success rate before.

did you guys have horses in your camp?

I believe what he meant was 65% of the true spikes are killed. Leaving 35% to grow into branched Bulls. Also on another note, whatever warden the OP talked to must not have been in the clockum. Our camp got 2, and the warden we talked to opening morning said he had checked about a dozen by 9am.

Carlyoungs if that was a question for me, Nope we don't use horses not do we even own any. Just boot leather and right place right time.

[carlyoungs]

Just wondering there was a camp that had 2 spikes that had horses in the camp. Congrats on the elk.

[WenHunter]

Just wondering there was a camp that had 2 spikes that had horses in the camp. Congrats on the elk.
[/quote

No worries, wasn't sure you were asking me that question or someone else in the thread. And thanks!! I was just the packer this year no shot opportunities for me.

[MtnMuley]

I assumed you meant escapement and thought I edited the post to say that, but apparently didn't go through.

[PlateauNDN]

Talked to the biologist on the day we were leaving. We asked that very question and he indicated to us that we would not likely see that happen too soon. The departments goal is to have a 12 to 100 bull to cow ratio and they say that they are only counting 6-7 bulls to 100 cows. The biologist is saying that the hunter success for the unit is about 65% on True Spikes and it was 85% when it was just spike only which left too low of an escapement. He said their choice was either to go to true spike or go to permit hunts only to get there bull to cow ratio up. Funny thing is they still have not even gotten close to the 12 to 100 ratio in all the years that it has been true spike. Wonder what is causing this problem? Maybe too many roads offering access to too much area and possibly giving other hunting interests a greater opportunity?

That last sentence is by far the most PC ever..

 

[phishisgroovin]

not sure why the gamie only checked one bull on the farm, he did say he was out of moses lake though.

cool, so a couple folks got bulls.
We were all on foot walking out of our camp to hunt until the final weekend, then we hit colockum road and looked for other ravines to walk up into.

We had the green lifted ford 4x4