Fish & Wildlife Commission meeting - April 9th & 10th

[Jarhead Chase]

Thanks for the encouragement. I have no intention of quitting. Even the frustrating days are days that I get to be out hunting.

[buckfvr]

The best time to scout is before green up.....look for last falls rubs and scrapes, then focus on the topography above those areas..........that'll be #2

[bobcat]

bobcat.......if you ask the business owners that we have, they all agree, the overall economy is the reason for the decline in this area, not the silly 4pt restriction.  Its a one more phony excuse wdfw uses.  Seriously.

Well either way, I have confidence that the WDFW has only good intentions and only want to do what is best for hunters, and for the whitetail deer population. I don't believe for a second that there are any ulterior motives. But again, it won't be decided by them, but by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

[buckfvr]

Well bobcat, If I was to tell you a few things that have gone on over here in the last week regarding this, it would burst your confidence bubble guaranteed..................but what purpose would that serve ?

[Jarhead Chase]

The best time to scout is before green up.....look for last falls rubs and scrapes, then focus on the topography above those areas..........that'll be #2

Great advice. I'll definitely throw that in the brain pan for later. I'm hoping to look at some new spots early this summer while I have some free time. 

[bobcat]

Well bobcat, If I was to tell you a few things that have gone on over here in the last week regarding this, it would burst your confidence bubble guaranteed..................but what purpose would that serve ?

Send me a PM if you get a chance.

[mfswallace]

Oh no, don't be a tease! Give all of us these things going on and  your proof 

[X-Force]

I have read a couple times on hunt-wa that once WDFW enacts an antler restriction they don't retract it... If the 4pt restriction isn't dropped there are a couple 2pt restrictions on the westside that were dropped 437 for one.


I am interested to see what happens tomorrow with "baiting"

[MtnMuley]

buckfvr: If you haven't figured out bobcat by now,  I feel bad for you.  He summed it up perfect when he replied he doesn't care either way because he doesn't hunt that unit. It's no different when he throws his comments out there on other issues. 

[bobcat]

buckfvr: If you haven't figured out bobcat by now,  I feel bad for you.  He summed it up perfect when he replied he doesn't care either way because he doesn't hunt that unit. It's no different when he throws his comments out there on other issues. 

It's not that I don't care, but it doesn't really affect me either way, at least not this year. Someday I'd like to do some whitetail hunting over there. But right now I don't see myself driving 7 hours for a deer. Not when I'm going 1000 miles to Wyoming and with any luck will shoot 4 deer and 4 antelope. But all that's irrelevant. What's it matter what I think? I really don't know what would be better- to retain the 4 point minimum or go back to the way it was. Normally I listen to the people who are educated in wildlife management and know what they're talking about. Which in this case is the WDFW.

What's your opinion on this issue, MtnMuley?

[idahohuntr]

So you are going back tomorrow bobcat?  And Mr. Kehne is going to be there too?

I've heard that Mr. Kehne wants to table the baiting issue and come up with better alternatives...if thats true I'm glad he will be there for the baiting vote.  Anybody know what happens if commissioners split among 3 or more of the alternatives?  Is it the one with the most votes? Or do they need a majority (5 votes for at least 1 alternative) to enact a change?

[bobcat]

Yes I'm going tomorrow, mainly I want to see the vote on the baiting issue. I think Jay Kehne will be there tomorrow. They're counting on having 9 commissioners tomorrow, instead of just the 8 they had today. I don't how it works if they don't have a majority voting for one of the options. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

[MtnMuley]

buckfvr: If you haven't figured out bobcat by now,  I feel bad for you.  He summed it up perfect when he replied he doesn't care either way because he doesn't hunt that unit. It's no different when he throws his comments out there on other issues. 

It's not that I don't care, but it doesn't really affect me either way, at least not this year. Someday I'd like to do some whitetail hunting over there. But right now I don't see myself driving 7 hours for a deer. Not when I'm going 1000 miles to Wyoming and with any luck will shoot 4 deer and 4 antelope. But all that's irrelevant. What's it matter what I think? I really don't know what would be better- to retain the 4 point minimum or go back to the way it was. Normally I listen to the people who are educated in wildlife management and know what they're talking about. Which in this case is the WDFW.

What's your opinion on this issue, MtnMuley?

My opinion on this issue is that I certainly don't trust WDFW one bit when making the right choice.  Especially with some of the so called experts they have in the area on the issue. Does the name Scott Fitkin ring a bell? He solely decides certain seasons because he is the "knowledge paid resource" in the area. Does that make him right? I personally rely on people like buckfvr who live in the particular area and know the situations well. Although I hate whitetail, I spend a little time in that GMU and have noticed a much better whitey herd since the restriction has been in effect. Many others I know have been successful recently there and are very happy with the restriction.  Again, they get off the roads and actually hunt.

[bobcat]

buckfvr: If you haven't figured out bobcat by now,  I feel bad for you.  He summed it up perfect when he replied he doesn't care either way because he doesn't hunt that unit. It's no different when he throws his comments out there on other issues. 

It's not that I don't care, but it doesn't really affect me either way, at least not this year. Someday I'd like to do some whitetail hunting over there. But right now I don't see myself driving 7 hours for a deer. Not when I'm going 1000 miles to Wyoming and with any luck will shoot 4 deer and 4 antelope. But all that's irrelevant. What's it matter what I think? I really don't know what would be better- to retain the 4 point minimum or go back to the way it was. Normally I listen to the people who are educated in wildlife management and know what they're talking about. Which in this case is the WDFW.

What's your opinion on this issue, MtnMuley?

My opinion on this issue is that I certainly don't trust WDFW one bit when making the right choice.  Especially with some of the so called experts they have in the area on the issue. Does the name Scott Fitkin ring a bell? He solely decides certain seasons because he is the "knowledge paid resource" in the area. Does that make him right? I personally rely on people like buckfvr who live in the particular area and know the situations well. Although I hate whitetail, I spend a little time in that GMU and have noticed a much better whitey herd since the restriction has been in effect. Many others I know have been successful recently there and are very happy with the restriction.  Again, they get off the roads and actually hunt.

Well that seems reasonable, but so did what I heard today from the WDFW. They are saying the deer numbers are up due to milder winters. Like I said before, the adjacent units that don't have the 4 point restriction are showing the exact same improvements.

Now don't get mad at me for saying that. I'm posting what I heard at the meeting and you seem to have a problem with that. This thread was meant to inform people of what occurred at the meeting today. The 4 point issue is not why I attended the meeting, it was just one of the topics and I was asked what happened with that. If you don't like me posting about it, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe just don't read my posts.

[idahohuntr]

you HATE whitetail mtnmuley? 

I'm with bobcat, I sit on GMAC and I've heard many sides and briefings on this issue...I don't really care what they do.  I am inclined to support whatever the folks that live in those GMU's prefer if there is strong consensus.  I don't think WDFW staff really have big concerns with which way this one goes...maybe they are slightly in favor of going back to any buck?

Most of us appreciate your posting on this meeting bobcat