Wolves prompt cougar hunt quota increase

[wolfbait]

Wolves prompt cougar hunt quota increase

http://www.king5.com/story/tech/science/environment/2015/07/11/wolves-cougars-hunt-wildlife-petition/29999553/

[pianoman9701]

The HSUS are protesting this. Isn't it unbelievable that they're on our WDFW's team and yet work against the WDFW's decision? No, not at all and I've called this, but in reference to the wolf program. Wait until hunting starts on wolves, if it ever does. Of course, according to the director and son-to-be former wildlife director Ware, WA has a different political climate than ID or MT. I think this statement was a precursor to "We may never see a wolf season in this state".

[Axle]

One quote in the video: 'wolves will kill cougars'.

I know cougars kill wolves on a regular basis but I've never heard of a wolf killing a cougar 
Anyone ever seen or heard of that happening?

[WAcoyotehunter]

This is obvious crap. 

The WDFW doesn't have an accurate cougar population estimate.  How are they supposed to know what 12-14% of the population is for a harvest quota???

It doesn't have to do with wolves.  It has to do with cougar conflict, which has been an issue lately.

[pianoman9701]

This is obvious crap. 

The WDFW doesn't have an accurate cougar population estimate.  How are they supposed to know what 12-14% of the population is for a harvest quota???

It doesn't have to do with wolves.  It has to do with cougar conflict, which has been an issue lately.

So, did King5 get it wrong or did the WDFW get it wrong?

[AspenBud]

Sounds to me like WDFW's new director is "subtly" telling wolf supporters who want no shooting of them, "you tie our hands and we'll do what we have to do."

[pianoman9701]

Well, they're going to try and tie their hands no matter what. The only thing that changes with the appointment of pro-wolf groups to the WAG and the Commission is the pre-warning their organizations get of management and/or lethal control moves by the agency.

[AspenBud]

Well, they're going to try and tie their hands no matter what. The only thing that changes with the appointment of pro-wolf groups to the WAG and the Commission is the pre-warning their organizations get of management and/or lethal control moves by the agency.

Yes, but if part of the mission of WDFW is to manage wildlife they are going to have to take steps to do so, some of which are not very palatable, when people demand one species gets protection over all others. It's a chess piece I would move if I were them (WDFW) trying to make a point about wolves to the pro wolf crowd.

You don't want, at minimum, problem wolves shot in problem areas? That's fine, all other predators can suffer for that then.

[pianoman9701]

What you're saying is reasonable. HSUS has never been known to be reasonable, ever.

[wolfbait]

I think the bottom line here is there are too many predators with the wolf thrown into the mix>Killing a few more cougar actually makes WDFW look like they care about the ungulates.

Look at the LoLo elk herd, and ask yourself how long will it be before WDFW admits that some of Washington's game herd's are plummeting do to wolf predation?

[jasnt]

I think the bottom line here is there are too many predators with the wolf thrown into the mix>Killing a few more cougar actually makes WDFW look like they care about the ungulates.

Look at the LoLo elk herd, and ask yourself how long will it be before WDFW admits that some of Washington's game herd's are plummeting do to wolf predation?

I fear it will be too late since they don't even do accurate counts just estamations.  Ex specially in the NE where there is no feed stations. I agree that this does make wdfw look like they do care some what.  I think we need to take more black bear as well. OTC spring bear tags and 8-1 opener state wide would be a good start. I think they need to up cougar quotas and not count juvinial cats towards the quota. 

[CAMPMEAT]

......and some thought Unsworthless would be good for our WDFW. Told ya.........he's a wolf lover.

[idahohuntr]

  

[mfswallace]

I knew it was to good to be true but man that was a nice 13 days 

[Special T]

Funny that they are clamoring for good science on cougars now. They didn't do that over the baiting or hound laws... I have to ask what good will it do to "double" the quota since there weren't that many places that actually reached the quota last year anyway? If they want to kill more Cougs then perhaps they need to lengthen the season farther into the winter, Lower the tags price, OR offer up the old combo of adding bear and cougar to just deer or elk. Its pretty disingenuous to say they are doing something about the problem IMO ONLY by "doubling" the quota...