Well I am sorry for starting a sh*tstorm over this.
In the post I deleted I clearly stated that I hope that this is how it plays out. I can dream and
hope, can I not? If hoping is against the rules, I doubt any of us would hunt.
I also clearly stated that I am a person who plays by the rules and am a team player and whatever WSDOT sets as the rules that I will be grateful for the opportunity.
Up until the point that I talked to that individual I too was unaware of any conflict/removal hunt that allowed taking of mature bulls, but the individual who I was talking to said that the objective in this case was to remove a small band of fifteen, or so, elk completely from the area.
It was not my conversation and although I joined in, I did not butt my way into conversation with the gentleman. I basically was complementing him on the elk in the photograph and listened as he talked to others about it.
IIRC he used a muzzle loader because it was in a forearm restriction area.