Margaret unit going to general bull elk tags

[Legacy]

I read in our local paper that last Friday the Fish & Wildlife Commission was holding a hearing to determine if the majority of the Margaret was going to be opened up to general tags during elk season commencing this fall. Does anyone know if the hearing took place or if any decision was made to convert most of the Margaret to a general bull elk unit.

[Whitpirate]

Who says money can't buy everything... Sad that certain well heeled land owners get the permits changed to have their own high end hunting lodge.

[bobcat]

It's a done deal. No doubt in my mind. I'm just wondering how crowded it's going to be this year, and how many elk will be left when the last season is over. I'd like to hunt it, but won't.

[kentrek]

Who says money can't buy everything... Sad that certain well heeled land owners get the permits changed to have their own high end hunting lodge.

 

[Mudman]

Its a good thing.  The herd is decimated and the best spot may be good for 1 year.  The goal is to kill as many as possible to facilitate new herd health.  I predict they will close entire St Helens herd units in 3 years for recovery.  Hoof rot sucks.  Probably not many left after the culling.  Weyco to lose $ soon as permit sales will cease.

[Big6bull]

Taking that many special permits out of west side bull category's making the few permits left with terrible draw odds . Very sad for those of us that we're still waiting to draw this. I hope this has a positive affect on the hoof rot situation at least.

[Wenatcheejay]

Wow....

[pianoman9701]

Limping elk OTC. Sounds like a real party. 

[bowhuntersd]

Who says money can't buy everything... Sad that certain well heeled land owners get the permits changed to have their own high end hunting lodge.

IMO- I don't think it has a lot to do with Agnew's land. I'm sure the is an advocate for it but I feel its more about Weyerhaeuser. With last years St. Helens tree farm permit being an epic fail, I think they've the most influence. Last year the planned on selling 15,000 permits for that tree farm, they only sold just over 3000. The revenue generated by those sales was significantly low (15,000 available @ $150 =$2,250,000 / 3,000 sold @ $150 =$450,000). I feel they've put added pressure on the State to improve their sales. If you look at the proposed regs for 2016, they are also wanting to add multiple units for muzzleloaders. Just my 

[Skyvalhunter]

Its more that the unit is no longer a trophy unit like it once was.

[longwalker]

I'm pretty sure it never had anything to do with trophy quality, IMO that tag was never worth the points. It being a draw was about heard recovery and it should have gone OTC years ago.

[Bullkllr]

So who can explain why the Toutle Unit is not going to general?

While the Toutle did not have quite the same "boom" in elk population as the blast zone areas in the Margaret recover after the eruption (and decline as the habitat matured), it has undergone a similar effect of hoof rot. And most (not all) of it is Weyco.

I think if it was all about selling St. Helen's Tree Farm permits, Weyco would want the Toutle to be general also.

[fireweed]

So who can explain why the Toutle Unit is not going to general?

While the Toutle did not have quite the same "boom" in elk population as the blast zone areas in the Margaret recover after the eruption (and decline as the habitat matured), it has undergone a similar effect of hoof rot. And most (not all) of it is Weyco.

I think if it was all about selling St. Helen's Tree Farm permits, Weyco would want the Toutle to be general also.

One step at a time...one step at a time....like the frog in the slowly heated pot, don't want him to jump out early.

[lokidog]

I drew that archery tag back in 2001, it was a fun hunt.  This was the only special draw I've tried for in the last 10 years, guess I get to save my $$ and let my points go....

[Alan K]

IMO- I don't think it has a lot to do with Agnew's land. I'm sure the is an advocate for it but I feel its more about Weyerhaeuser. With last years St. Helens tree farm permit being an epic fail, I think they've the most influence. Last year the planned on selling 15,000 permits for that tree farm, they only sold just over 3000. The revenue generated by those sales was significantly low (15,000 available @ $150 =$2,250,000 / 3,000 sold @ $150 =$450,000). I feel they've put added pressure on the State to improve their sales. If you look at the proposed regs for 2016, they are also wanting to add multiple units for muzzleloaders. Just my 

I wouldn't say that Weyerhaeuser was planning on selling 15,000 permits. It was an artificially high number of permits at a reasonable price so that everyone who wanted a permit could buy one, even if they didn't get a permit in the other areas.  I would think it was also intended to be a barometer for understanding the demand for permits than anything else.  Look for the price to go up this year, and possibly the total permits to get cut back.