Animal Rights Groups Challenge Washington Cougar Hunt Quota

[Humptulips]

I was at the Commission meeting where HSUS, DOW and CNW were asking for reconsideration of this change in quota. They seemed to all be working together. It was pretty hard not to have overheard them discussing strategy before the meeting.
Apparently the Commission had made the decision in a conference call and this was the first chance these groups had to complain.
I do not believe the Commission will go back on these changes. They said as much at the meeting. In fact several Commissioners took them to task for some of the outlandish comments they made.
The one that really stood out was one a woman made who before the meeting was huddled up with the CNW, DOW people. "If the ranchers in E WA don't like the cougar they should just move, The deer eat my raspberries here in Olympia and I don't want them all killed."

[WAPatriot]

I thought we were supposed to work with these people? I wonder why they would hamstring the process like this? I like how they had to throw in the statement that we want to kill wolves but we can't so we take it out on the cougars. That definitely paints the correct portrayal of hunters.

they will never work with us on any subject. Their goal is to take away hunting all together.  Hsus is an enemy not an Allie, anyone who thinks they will ever give in on ANY issue is clueless!!!

I couldn't agree more they will never comprise. This state is so liberal if predator managment is not an individual grassroots efforts we are done for. Hunting will be all but done in the next 40 years.  It's never enough for these terrorist organizations they won't stop til hunting is done and they get stronger and stronger every year. Just look at this bs wolf recovery. Endangered please what a joke.

[idahohuntr]

The WAG does not make any decisions on wildlife management.

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The WAG will certainly influence decisions or it wouldn't have been formed.

Thats cute.

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[grundy53]

The WAG does not make any decisions on wildlife management.

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The WAG will certainly influence decisions or it wouldn't have been formed.

Thats cute.

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Is what I said not true?

[pianoman9701]

"Humane Society". What a crock.

Too bad that WDFW gets slammed from both sides.

I'm surprised that including the HSUS on the WAG hasn't helped stop their disruption efforts in other areas. But, I don't suppose they'll object when it's time to manage the wolves, though. After all, we're still building our relationship with them, right? 

[jasnt]

The WAG does not make any decisions on wildlife management.

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The WAG will certainly influence decisions or it wouldn't have been formed.

Thats cute.

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the wag will influence decisions. Nothing cute about it! I don't hold much faith in the WAG.  I hope wdfw is going to raise quotas on cougar especially in the areas with very high predator numbers such as the NE and SE corners. I also believe juvinial cougar especially young males should not be counted towards the quota. Young males are often killed by dominate males any way. 

[pianoman9701]

"The Humane Society and other groups have petitioned for a return to the original quota. The commission has 60 days to respond."

I wonder which other groups those might be. Is it possible they're also sitting on the WAG and/or the Wildlife Commission? I can't remember: what is it that happens when you sleep with dogs??

[Rainier10]

Funny that they think killing more cougars will kill the mature trophy animals that know how to interact with people leaving the young ones to move in and cause conflicts with people.  Sounds like they think if you don't kill as many cougars the young ones will stay in line and not cause problems.    None of their argument makes sense.

[pianoman9701]

Their arguments become crystal clear when you understand that their ultimate goal, these partners of the WDFW, is to end hunting. It's what they're all about.

[bearhunter99]

Paul describes the state's cougar population as stable and healthy. One concern with a higher quota is it could change the dynamics of that otherwise healthy population. He says the "trophy animals" sought by hunters are adult male cougars – and when there are fewer of them, younger males become more dominant. That, he says, is trouble.

"The young cougars will move in, and they don't know how to interact with people well, so they're going to create conflict," he says. "This whole plan is really convoluted, because you're killing more cougars. But they're going to make these new cats, way less experienced, and have way more problems."

According to research cited in the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Game Management Plan, even increasing hunting quotas to 24 percent wouldn't affect the number of cougar-human conflicts.

If you just neglect the fact that the quotas never really get met anyway there is still this statement which is asinine.  A biologist once explained it to me this way: 
Older males typically take up territory further away from populated areas, pushing the younger males closer to urban environments.  This actually creates more conflict as the younger cats have not learned that Humans=Bad.  As the cougar population grows as a result of lower harvest rates, due to the ban on hound hunting, the younger cats get pushed closer and closer to urban environments where they start preying on Fifi and Rover, causing conflict. 

This is basically the opposite of what this guy is quoted as saying.

[huntnphool]

Funny that they think killing more cougars will kill the mature trophy animals that know how to interact with people leaving the young ones to move in and cause conflicts with people.  Sounds like they think if you don't kill as many cougars the young ones will stay in line and not cause problems.    None of their argument makes sense.

Paul describes the state's cougar population as stable and healthy. One concern with a higher quota is it could change the dynamics of that otherwise healthy population. He says the "trophy animals" sought by hunters are adult male cougars – and when there are fewer of them, younger males become more dominant. That, he says, is trouble.

"The young cougars will move in, and they don't know how to interact with people well, so they're going to create conflict," he says. "This whole plan is really convoluted, because you're killing more cougars. But they're going to make these new cats, way less experienced, and have way more problems."

According to research cited in the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Game Management Plan, even increasing hunting quotas to 24 percent wouldn't affect the number of cougar-human conflicts.

As the cougar population grows as a result of lower harvest rates, due to the ban on hound hunting, the younger cats get pushed closer and closer to urban environments where they start preying on Fifi and Rover, causing conflict.

 Actually the study WDFW have based their cougar management plan on says the reason we have urban conflicts with the big cats is over harvest. In a nut shell the philosophy is increased numbers = less urban conflict.

 For your entertainment http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,106200.msg1385948.html#msg1385948 here is the link.

[Rainier10]

I get that if you are harvesting the mature animals but since that study was done hound hunting has been banned and you aren't taking out the big toms anymore you are taking out whatever happens by when deer or elk hunting.  I would guess since the ban the number of people specifically targeting cougars while hunting has dropped drastically.

They are basing their decisions on old and outdated data.  Frustrating. 

[bobcat]

I get that if you are harvesting the mature animals but since that study was done hound hunting has been banned and you aren't taking out the big toms anymore you are taking out whatever happens by when deer or elk hunting.  I would guess since the ban the number of people specifically targeting cougars while hunting has dropped drastically.

They are basing their decisions on old and outdated data.  Frustrating.