Donate to feed Mt Saint Helens Wildlife

[saudog]

I think the original poster is refering to alot of the Loowit Elk/Lewis River GMU elk that don't go down the Toutle but go down the south side of Mt. St. Helens toward the Lewis river resiviours.  There is develpment going on on that side that has cut the elk off from getting lower and I think that is the area they are trying to help out.  Notice the feed company he referenced is in Ridgefield.

There is a lot going on in that area around Cougar as the feds are trying to turn the Monument into National Park, and the local businesses and sportsmen don't like it one bit.  The elk up there on the West/South side of the mountain get forgotten about because there isn't a lot of people hunting up there and the WDFW doesn't pay it a lot of attention.

I hunt up there and saw more winter kill in one hike this last year than I've ever seen in my whole life.  We know of 3 bull elk skull/skeletons found in one little area, 3 point or better, and my dad found one as well opening day.  Those elk never should have been up there and were sure to be healthy going into the winter but they are hesitant to come down due to development on the south side of the mountain.  Also, the crazy weather we have been seeing doesn't help.  The huge early and then late season dumps that we saw last year and now this year don't give the elk much time to make up their minds.

Just my two cents on the subject.  I'm going to donate a little cash to these guys as I've talked with them while up there about their cause and their ideals.  Their hearts are in the right place.  Mismanagement of the land and the game regs is hurting the elk, which have traditionaly always thrived up there.

[RPM]

we get tunnel vision and only think about our own little pond. thanks for the info

[bbarnes]

Are you guys a not for profit organization? Are you working in conjunction with advice from WDFW?

Yes, we are a non-profit organization.  No we are not working in conjunction with the WDFW, they however are aware of the feeding on the North and South side of Mt. Saint Helens.

[saudog]

Hello bbarnes.  Is the info I posted close to accurate?  Do you have an opinion regarding this thread or do you just want to ask for donations?  Your opinion would be much appriciated.  I've spent my whole life on the south side of that mountain around Cougar and I want to know as much about whats going on as possible regarding both the south/west side and the area as a whole.  I have a friend who is a Cowlitz County Commisioner and he asks me a lot about my opinion regarding all of this.  He is an avid hunter as is his whole family but he is a liberal and has ins with a lot of the higher ups in his party.  Any updates on the proposed National Park?  I would like to talk to you sometime perhaps.  Thanks!

[elkangel]

The following are the facts related to the Mt. St. Helens Problem along SR 504, Since the eruption man made decision have contributed to the destruction of habitat along the North fork, Toutle River Valley.  The following are examples of some of these decisions. 

The Spirit Lake Tunnel changed forever the mouth of the N. Fork Toutle River.  What now exists is a waterless waste land that stretches over six miles in front of the mountain.

Over the year, two sediment dams have destroyed all natural habitats as the 14 mile valley slowly fills in with sediment.  This leaves no vegetation in the valley for winter or summer habitat.

The WDFW has spent 15 years and thousands of dollars to increase habitat, this effort has failed, in fact the areas habitat has decreased.

Forty eight thousand acres of timber salvage were replanted at the same time thus creating a large forested monoculture, 25 years old timber with little vegetation.

The ten years of helicopter seeding by the Federal Government to prevent erosion created a false habitat which allowed the herd to feed and grow on an artificial food source.  After this ten year period, planting was abandoned and erosion continues to deplete the landscape.

Timber company forest practices have changed to a four year herbicide spraying program on new clear cuts.  This is destroying a great deal of foliage providing less habitat.  This is could be effecting approx. 14% of the winter habitat.

The WDFW allows over 100,000 hunter days around the mountain.  This has led to over pursuit pushing animals into closed hunting units putting them over their carrying capacity.  This can equal borderline harassment that has enhanced the stress to an already nutritional deprived herd. 

All these manmade influences have negatively impacted the natural habitat for elk.  In addition the WDFW's inability to initiate and operate their herd plan in a timely manner has lead to the over population of the herd.  The mismanagement has led to an imbalance of bull to cow ratios estimated 2.4 cows to every 1 bull.   This has also led to line breeding or in-breeding, producing smaller rag horn bulls.
All of this has lead to some of the highest winter mortality rates in the States history.

The WDFW has known about this for at least the past 3 years, and still has not addressed the problem.  This action appears to have allowed the elk to be in poor condition year round and diseased, hoof rot, deformed antlers, scabies, calf diphtheria and many other conditions are developing in the herd. The only cure for this herd is to get them healthy, but this will be a lot harder to do than to talk about it. WE must get aggressive and make some more man made decision to help correct the problem so we can bring the herd and habitat back to a more natural state, what ever it takes.  But one thing is for sure letting the elk starve is not the answer, we have to be able to do better than that.

[bbarnes]

We are looking for donation's to supplement the Mt Saint Helen's Elk herd.  This winter has been extremely hard on the wildlife because of habitat and excessive snow fall. The Department of Fish and Wildlife only feeds the elk on their 1700 acres on HWY 504 in the toutle river valley.  Our organization has taken a proactive approach to supplement the herds around the mountain. We are all outdoor enthusiast's, conservationists, and sportsmen that benefit from the health well being of this natural resource.

Please consider a donation which will purchase Alfalfa to help the survival of these animals for today and in the future around the Mt Saint Helen's area.

Donations can be made directly to:
Pioneer Feed and Supply of Ridgefield Washington 360-887-4237

More information can be found at www.mtsainthelensrescue.com

Videos:  http://www.youtube.com/MtSaintHelensRescue

[Huntbear]

I just posted about this on another thread.  They are blaming the hunters!!!  for the starving elk.  this is on YouTube, so the whole world can see it.  Like I said in the other thread, was wanting to sign up to help, but not now.

[elkangel]

The Concern to the long hunting season as an affect to the  problem extends from the season starting in September and ending in January. The WDFW has gone to the well one to many times, they hammer the same (GMU's), with the same limited access that hunters  cover every day till January.  Either scouting, deer hunting archery, muzzle loader, then elk archery, muzzle loader, then deer modern firearm, elk modern firearm, late archery deer and elk, late muzzle loader.  this does not cover the multiple special tags and advanced hunter permits.   The problem is that no one gets any type of quality hunting, it's based more on just luck.  The access is so poor in the area that you can only cover it on weekends when and if open. If gates are open during the week there are so many hunter driving into the area you would do better to sell hot dogs and coffee.  The rest of the season hunter walk, ride bikes and horses.  Or their are a few that find State land to camp on during the week, so the stay there and drive behind the gates during the week.   All this leads to a constant push from limited access general season areas to drive elk into the limited tag areas or closed areas were there is less pressure.  The elk herd up and spend more time in these areas depleting the habitat at faster rates due to the travel, stress and numbers.  As an example the WDFW has kept the Winston until open as a catch all for every special tag and permit in addition to the always open either sex archery season.  This area is one of the highest per hunter day areas in the State. 

And now the rest of the story, loving wildlife to death, just when the hunting season ends people start heading into the deep winter woods looking for antlers, deer sheds of coarse, in January thru February.  But, you can't help but run into elk and chase them around, scouting for the elk shed that will start in March and April.   During these times the elk are easy to find herded up in the valleys close in searching for food to get through winter.   So in reality they are pursued in poor condition 7 months of the year.

So, this is the reality of the pursuit, stress and harassment, unintended by people who are just trying to enjoy themselves.

If you are siting there saying this guy is full of S--t, ask yourself, how stressed do you get hunting these days?

[ICEMAN]

Great perspective elkangel. What a predicament we have.

[RPM]

you nailed it all

[JoeVon]

The Concern to the long hunting season as an affect to the  problem extends from the season starting in September and ending in January. The WDFW has gone to the well one to many times, they hammer the same (GMU's), with the same limited access that hunters  cover every day till January.  Either scouting, deer hunting archery, muzzle loader, then elk archery, muzzle loader, then deer modern firearm, elk modern firearm, late archery deer and elk, late muzzle loader.  this does not cover the multiple special tags and advanced hunter permits.   The problem is that no one gets any type of quality hunting, it's based more on just luck.  The access is so poor in the area that you can only cover it on weekends when and if open. If gates are open during the week there are so many hunter driving into the area you would do better to sell hot dogs and coffee.  The rest of the season hunter walk, ride bikes and horses.  Or their are a few that find State land to camp on during the week, so the stay there and drive behind the gates during the week.   All this leads to a constant push from limited access general season areas to drive elk into the limited tag areas or closed areas were there is less pressure.  The elk herd up and spend more time in these areas depleting the habitat at faster rates due to the travel, stress and numbers.  As an example the WDFW has kept the Winston until open as a catch all for every special tag and permit in addition to the always open either sex archery season.  This area is one of the highest per hunter day areas in the State. 

And now the rest of the story, loving wildlife to death, just when the hunting season ends people start heading into the deep winter woods looking for antlers, deer sheds of coarse, in January thru February.  But, you can't help but run into elk and chase them around, scouting for the elk shed that will start in March and April.   During these times the elk are easy to find herded up in the valleys close in searching for food to get through winter.   So in reality they are pursued in poor condition 7 months of the year.

So, this is the reality of the pursuit, stress and harassment, unintended by people who are just trying to enjoy themselves.

If you are siting there saying this guy is full of S--t, ask yourself, how stressed do you get hunting these days?

Good Stuff, Mark.