Advance Hunter Program Axed???

[fishunt247]

I heard a rumor that the WDFW was getting rid of the Advanced Hunter Program. Honestly, I think it would be great if they did this. My family and our neighbors have called the WDFW to report these "advanced hunters" cutting and opening the elk fence to allow elk below the fence into the orchards by our houses so they can shoot them...in years past and already this winter. Sad. This is hunting to these guys. All the game dept. said was "its really hard to catch them doing that." Not really, they open it in the same corner every year. Don't get me wrong, there are probably some great guys in this program, but in my experience, not so much. And I know of another couple guys who were giving the answers out for the Advanced hunter test and were shooting more elk than they were supposed to. Again, nothing done. One of these "advanced" men was convicted of poaching elk in a feeding station many years ago.  Man this program just really chaps my ass. It just seems to me that the program gets taken advantage of and becomes more of a slob hunt than anything. Is this rumor true? Any other opinions on this?

[WDFW-SUX]

Im not renewing

[HntnFsh]

Actually,I beleive they just reopened it for apps.

[BENCHLEG]

i hope that they nix it also. i know a few people that are so-called advanced hunters and they are also outlaws. nice to see this program work.

[billythekidrock]

Not sure if they are going to axe the program, but I read something about the possibility of eliminating the positions of the support staff due to budget cuts.

[fishunt247]

Maybe thats what they meant, it was a second hand rumor so who knows how blown up it was. Man I just wish they would get rid of it. If they have these "problem elk" that advanced hunters are killing, give those tags strictly to youths or disabled hunters or hunters 65 and older instead. That seems to make more sense to me.

[billythekidrock]

If they have these "problem elk" that advanced hunters are killing, give those tags strictly to youths or disabled hunters or hunters 65 and older instead. That seems to make more sense to me.

The problem with that is most youth or disabled hunters don't have the ability to deal with all the issues related to "problem elk". The program just needs to monitor itself better and with the new rules and background checks hopefully it will work out.

[C-Money]

I would like to see the program go away too. Every hunter should have some chance to hunt problem deer/elk. I was really POed when they made 371 access for advanced huntes or permit only for elk.

[Crunchy]

The program doesnt need to be axed, just controlled better.  Sorry to hear about your fence, but dont let that if done by some Advanced hunter types ruin your impression of everyone.

[flyguide]

It seems to me around Ellensburg that a lot of the elk being shot during the AHE season (that I have witnessed) are on good winter range without any threat to private property.  The overall heard is below population goals yet the AHE are still harvesting a lot of elk migrating to the Quilomene.  A portion of which are bull calves, which doesn't help the bull population and therefore we are having a tough time getting any big bull tags delegated to us.  I know the main problem with the bull count lies with a different form of late season "hunting" but it has to contribute.  Also, it seems like we might be going backwards here because you can't even bowhunt for cows (due to heard #'s being below average) in the Collokum any more, yet the AHE guys shoot dozens upon dozens of them during the wintertime.

I'm not saying the program should be axed, far from it.  But I do I think that the same scrutiny should be put into evaluating the effect of these AHE hunts on population goals that are put into the general seasons and permit seasons.  Lord knows that the general seasons are the first thing to be cut back.  I would rather see these AHE season examined first and the need analyzed before its too late and we start hurting the general population of hunters.

[Crunchy]

Well I dont hunt the areas mentioned, so I know I am not part of the problem.  I didnt think that AHE took that many elk in that area.  Permits issued and hunter success are two different things.  I will look at the success numbers from last year.

[C-Money]

We need to stop the AHE from killing the winter elk in 329. I know there is a few that stay down low all year, but there is a lot more this time of year. I would like to see permits issued by draw, and farmers with crop/haystack damage joing a program placing signage on their land notifing permitted hunters that they are having elk problems. Get permission, and got fill your freezer! This would target farmers that would need help, and leave the rest of the elk alone! My dream is to draw a branch bull tag in 329, and the way things are going, I might never get to.

[Wahoo]

A portion of which are bull calves

This comment was made in an earlier post which confused me as my understanding is the 3911 hunt is anterless only. 

[WAcoyotehunter]

We need to stop the AHE from killing the winter elk in 329. I know there is a few that stay down low all year, but there is a lot more this time of year. I would like to see permits issued by draw, and farmers with crop/haystack damage joing a program placing signage on their land notifing permitted hunters that they are having elk problems. Get permission, and got fill your freezer! This would target farmers that would need help, and leave the rest of the elk alone! My dram is to draw a branch bull tag in 329, and the way things are going, I might never get to.

The 3911 boundary (overlaps 329) is really well thought out to manage the elk that are down low and to 'haze' them away from the farms.  the boundary keeps AHE guys from going up into the quilamine to hunt- you're basically hunting private land in the valley.
 I don't think many bull calves are being taken there.

[C-Money]

Thanks for the info, I do understand that 3911 is down low. I hunted it before it went AHE. I Did a lot before AHE. Use to hunt the firing center too. As for 3911, seems like the only way to solve the problem with crop damage would be to hunt with a spot light. The elk are in the farmers fields at night. Come in at night and leave before sunrise. They are educated. But a lot still get killed. I tried to become an AHE. Trying to put in your time as a volunteer was tough and I ran out of time. The local fish hatchery was not needing much help, and drew a blank on where I could put the time in locally. I did try, but got the cold shoulder from the hatchery due to limited work. I called every few weeks. Should have tried harder. Would like things to back to the way they were before AHE.