Wolves prompt cougar hunt quota increase

[Special T]

Wolves are great for the anti hunting crowd, much more so than the other predators. Wolves have the ability to reduce hunting opportunity much more than the others because of how they hunt and because they are more prolific breeders. If the powers that be are debating wolf vs cougar vs bear it take away any need to debate healthy huntable populations of ungulates. Why else do you think they gloss over the woodland caribou? 

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[pianoman9701]

Wolves are great for the anti hunting crowd, much more so than the other predators. Wolves have the ability to reduce hunting opportunity much more than the others because of how they hunt and because they are more prolific breeders. If the powers that be are debating wolf vs cougar vs bear it take away any need to debate healthy huntable populations of ungulates. Why else do you think they gloss over the woodland caribou? 

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They're also easier to identify with for those who think wild animals are cuddly. Wolves look like fido and their puppies like all puppies. This makes it easy for the wackos to convince them that they need to be saved. 

[Special T]

They do seem to be the perfect storm for hunters.

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[RadSav]

Although, it seems like the wolf is the favorite of the animal rights wackos, in preference to all other species. They've all pretty much said by their actions that they don't care what dies as long as we have wolves again and lots of them.

HSUS doesn't care about dying animals.  They kill more per year than hunters do.  They just want to stop all hunting.  If they could completely destroy elk and deer herds with a predator or two or three and that wipeout ended hunting in WA state...They would consider that a victory!  And if the end of hunting created a new socialist order where government claimed citizens no longer have a need for guns as there is no longer hunting...big picture success story!

[wolfbait]

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.

Are you trying to tell us that WDF&Wolves is BSing the public agin?

[tgomez]

Whoops, thought it was a coyote! Seriously though, when is this political bullsh** gonna end? Open a damn Wolf season already!

[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.

Are you trying to tell us that WDF&Wolves is BSing the public agin?

No.  I am saying that the WSU research is being used inappropriately at the policy level and the WDFW is not prepared to refute it because they have not been able to generate an accurate population estimate.  We need to be doing what MT is doing to determine cat densities.

[Special T]

Which is???

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[WAcoyotehunter]

they are using genetic sampling to determine populations, rather than modeling based on a couple sample populations and extrapolated statewide.

[Special T]

Would it be that hard or difficult to do since we have to have hides sealed anyway?

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[WAcoyotehunter]

 

nope.  It would be pretty easy.

[Special T]

Ok So the WDFW really needs a verbal Dress Down!  The WDFW doesnt need to re invent the wheel, there is already a system out there that apparently works fairly well, there is marginal additional cost yet is much more effect than the BS guessing they are doing now. 

[WAcoyotehunter]

Yes. 

[Capt. Rob]

The real problem is they don't know how many cats they have and won't listen to wolf sighting reports when they get an actual legit report. Still business as usual. To many cats for their projected quotas already. I have seen 9 Cougars in the last six years all crossing pavement. WA will never be able to control predators like MT because of the anti hunters will put another initative on the ballot to stop them from it. Wolves are here to eat whatever or whoever they want and WDF&W will write another check!