Update: Help for Okanogan Mule Deer

[Rainier10]

I am curious as to how many people emailed Mr.  Fitkin and what kind of response they got

Did you and did he respond?

I didn’t I’m not familiar with the area or history of the mule deer population.

[Skyvalhunter]

Yes I did and the reply was pretty much per what the news article in the Okanogan news paper reported. I. Said that predator control needs to be on top of the list and gave my reasoning. I said doe and special permits need to be reduced. He disagreed with me.

[idahohuntr]

Yes I did and the reply was pretty much per what the news article in the Okanogan news paper reported. I. Said that predator control needs to be on top of the list and gave my reasoning. I said doe and special permits need to be reduced. He disagreed with me.

It would be interesting to read the exchange - I assume if he disagreed with you he provided some rationale?  I'm not sure I would support reducing special permits while there is an unlimited OTC tag for nearly all mule deer GMU's. 

[huntnphool]

Yes I did and the reply was pretty much per what the news article in the Okanogan news paper reported. I. Said that predator control needs to be on top of the list and gave my reasoning. I said doe and special permits need to be reduced. He disagreed with me.

It would be interesting to read the exchange - I assume if he disagreed with you he provided some rationale?  I'm not sure I would support reducing special permits while there is an unlimited OTC tag for nearly all mule deer GMU's. 

 The herd was strongest when there were far more hunters than today with OTC tags, the season was twice as long and there were no special permits.......hmmm.

[Skyvalhunter]

Are you in favor of keeping the special doe permits as is then along with the buck permits. I talked yo a few special buck permit holders that didn't fill as they didn't see a buck in Alta gmu

[idahohuntr]

Yes I did and the reply was pretty much per what the news article in the Okanogan news paper reported. I. Said that predator control needs to be on top of the list and gave my reasoning. I said doe and special permits need to be reduced. He disagreed with me.

It would be interesting to read the exchange - I assume if he disagreed with you he provided some rationale?  I'm not sure I would support reducing special permits while there is an unlimited OTC tag for nearly all mule deer GMU's. 

 The herd was strongest when there were far more hunters than today with OTC tags, the season was twice as long and there were no special permits.......hmmm.

Yea...cut the special permits and double the general season so it extends into November...that will bring back the mule deer 

[bigmacc]

Cut out the doe tags, cut out the late tags and address the predator issue aggressively, by doing those 3 things I would bet you would be able to go back to a 2 week OTC rifle season ending on October 31st every year, and probably enjoy quality hunting again during the GENERAL SEASON!....

[no.cen.wa]

I always loved the season when it went to the end of October and into the first part of November! Get about 4 days of single digit temps, some snow on the ground and the hunters were like rats off a sinking ship, one after another getting out of the woods, pretty soon there were just a few of us left.  Nice time to hunt. Of course thats before 1997 when they moved the season earlier and went 3 point, forcing us to take the deer with the best genes. But then thats another fight we can't win, just count the number of late,quality,deer etc tag application fees and tell me they will let that kind of money go.
John G

[MtnMuley]

You're forgetting that with Fitkins line of thinking, adding doe tags will get that buck to doe ratio closer. I truly believe we'll never see the true muley numbers even close to where they once were.

Back to the main point this thread: Where is all the donated money that was supposed to be used to plant bitterbrush after the original Carlton Complex Fire?

I was told someone was asking about that money, it is in the WFW checking account (Chase Bank). If I remember correctly the bitter brush that was being raised accidentally died. It was decided to send the money to the methow chapter of the mule deer foundation, they said they would accept the funds and eartag them for habitat improvement, but that never happened because I was unclear about what amount to send? It was a busy time for me and I forgot to pursue it when I later had time. I'm quite busy right now with year end reports and then cougar hunting again soon, but if someone could total up the auctions we did and give me a number, I've got the checkbook and I could send a check if the methow chapter of MDF still wants it.

Thanks for your efforts and everybody elses in this deadend road idea. I really wished that following spring we could have made it happen.  I believe the Methow Chapter of the MDF has basically moved to the Okanogan or similar name Chapter after the passing of a few organizers and dwindling number of members. Once this occurred, a new person took the helm. It was decided shortly after that a paid member of the Conservation Northwest organization be a committee member of the newly restructured/organized chapter. I was appalled and immediately withdrew my support for the chapter. Furthermore my point being,  members of HW graciously donated money specifically for the recovery efforts of the Carlton Complex. Whether the ball was dropped (which I truly believe) or all these bitterbrush plants died (apparently there's only one place to buy these plants in North America), they never got planted. I personally do NOT want any part of doanating even a penny to this Chapter and will happily return the items I donated money for in their original unused form in the back of a closet, to where ever they need to go, and in return, will accept a check in the amount I originally donated. It's disgusting and sad it has to come down to this.

[bearpaw]

Great News Today from Jay Kehne, Okanogan Trails MDF Chapter Co-Chair:


Hey Josh and Dale, just wanted you to know your money went in the ground today!  We had 1,000 beautiful bitterbrush plugs and got them all hand planted on previously burned areas in the Methow WLA.  We planted directly into burned bitterbrush skeletons to give some protective cover to the seedlings from deer and or cattle grazing.  Rain is expected tomorrow (we had snow today planting) which is a great thing for survival.  We also got some shrubs planted on the Golden Doe WLA and seed is ready to go for a fall seeding of some abandoned cropland acres.  Here’s what I sent to our communication staff to put out on this: 

Using plants purchased with money donated by Hunting Washington Forum, volunteers from  Okanogan Trails Mule Deer Foundation Chapter& WDFW staff hand planted over 1,000 Bitterbrush Plugs into 150 acres of previously burned areas on the Methow Wildlife Area near Twisp, Wa, this weekend.  Replacing Bitterbrush in burned areas is a high priority to improve wintering habitat for Mule Deer.   Also,  over 80 wildlife friendly shrubs were planted and fenced for protection  in abandoned cropland  areas on the Golden Doe Wildlife Area.  In addition, grass and forb seed has now been purchased to re-seed 100 acres this fall on the Golden Doe WLA improving these areas for wildlife food and cover.   

[KFhunter]

Bitterbrush going in the ground is a good thing not matter how it got there 

[bearpaw]

More photos and a map from Jay showing the planting location. Thanks Jay! 

[Skyvalhunter]

 

[Rainier10]

Awesome.

Love the photos of the bitter brush and the description of how they did it.  I have tried planting seeds with no luck.  After reading this I am going to buy some plugs and plant them as shown in the photos, right at the base of a burned bushed and hope for success.  The place that I have bought my 5,000 pine seedlings from sells 20cubic inch bitter brush plugs for $5 each.  Going to try 20 and see how they go.  If they make it I will buy more.

Glad to see they got the plants in.

[bearpaw]

Awesome.

Love the photos of the bitter brush and the description of how they did it.  I have tried planting seeds with no luck.  After reading this I am going to buy some plugs and plant them as shown in the photos, right at the base of a burned bushed and hope for success.  The place that I have bought my 5,000 pine seedlings from sells 20cubic inch bitter brush plugs for $5 each.  Going to try 20 and see how they go.  If they make it I will buy more.

Glad to see they got the plants in.

That is an awesome plan, I hope you are successful, every plant that goes in the ground will help wildlife.