list of gmus closing jan 1st for cougs?

[Elkpiss]

I would also like to see the kill numbers posted . The SW Wash. 500 units that are closed have a combined quota of 10 -15 cats , did hunters really harvest that many in the early season ?

Exactly.. lets see the kill numbers.. 667 is closed every year jan 1.  I would like to see harvest report, I call BS..  667 is flooded with cats, quota on these cats is BS too..

[Blacktail Sniper]

Thanks.  I didn't know that.  Does everyone that kill a cougar actually have it sealed per the law below?

(d) Any person who takes a cougar must notify the department within twenty-four hours of kill (excluding legal state holidays) and provide the hunter's name, date and location of kill, and sex of animal. The raw pelt of a cougar must be sealed by an authorized department employee within seventy-two hours of the notification of kill. Any person who takes a cougar must present the cougar skull, in such a manner that teeth and biological samples can be extracted, to an authorized department employee at the time of sealing.


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Basing the math on the qoute from the regs.... Clearer now???

WDFW WILDLIFE PROGRAM
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
wildthing@dfw.wa.gov
Dear Cougar Hunter:

Starting January 1, 2016, cougar hunt areas that have reached or exceeded harvest guidelines will be closed for hunting through the remainder of the season. Those areas still open will be monitored weekly through April 30. Additional areas will be closed if they meet or exceed the harvest guidelines.

The Game Management Units (GMUs) closed include 108, 111, 117, 204, 336, 340, 342, 346, 564, 568, 572, 574, 578, and 667.

Additional cougar hunt areas may close before the late season ends on April 30. Hunters can check WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/cougar/ or call the cougar hunting hotline at 1-866-364-4868 to learn which areas of the state remain open.

It is the responsibility of each cougar hunter to verify if the late cougar hunting season is open or closed in hunt areas with a harvest guideline. The website and hotline will be updated weekly beginning January 1. Check area openings and closures before setting out on your hunting trip to ensure you are in compliance with current harvest guideline laws.

All cougars killed by licensed hunters during early and late cougar hunting seasons, as well as those seasons authorized under WAC 232-12-243, shall be counted toward the harvest guideline.

As a reminder, a 2016 cougar license is required to hunt cougar in April 2016. Those who wish to hunt cougar during the month of April will need to purchase a new 2016 license and tag.

If you successfully harvest a cougar, you must report the kill over the cougar hotline within 24 hours. Kills must be sealed by WDFW within five days (unfrozen). Contact a WDFW office to schedule a sealing.

Sincerely,

Wildlife Program
WDFW

 

You have received this e-mail as you are a customer of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Your privacy is important to us. If you no longer wish to receive periodic communications from WDFW, you may opt-out by going to http://wdfw.wa.gov/lists/opt-out.html

No, still muddy.....
Maybe we are both correct.  See the letter, clearly stating the 1 day + 5 day method I've quoted.

Well, I guess that shouldn't be a surprise...conflicting information from a state run agency!!!

Thanks!!

[kenbell27]

This year I was talking to the Weyerhaeuser forest patrol in Vail about the number of Cougars that are taken out of there. He was not sure of the exact number but he personally saw 11 come out of there in 2014. I am sure there was more that he did not see. When I told him the quota for Vail was 3-4 cats he just shook his head and laughed. He said he sees at least one cougar a week while patrolling.

[jasnt]

I would also like to see the kill numbers posted . The SW Wash. 500 units that are closed have a combined quota of 10 -15 cats , did hunters really harvest that many in the early season ?

Exactly.. lets see the kill numbers.. 667 is closed every year jan 1.  I would like to see harvest report, I call BS..  667 is flooded with cats, quota on these cats is BS too..

same with 117

[dreamingbig]

In case you are wondering how many have been killed in each GMU they promise it is at least the amount stated in the regs.  They won't tell us if it is 12 killed vs quota of 8 for example.  They only will say at least 8.   Here is the email I received.

Dear Mr. Johnson,
 
Thank you for contacting the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
 
The information you seek is on page 68 of Washington’s 2015 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations pamphlet.  The Harvest Guideline Column in the General Cougar Seasons Chart shows how many cougars will be permitted to be taken before that area closes. For example, GMU 117 is now closed to cougar hunting, so at least eight cougars were harvested in that GMU between September 1 and December 31.
 
Actual cougar harvest numbers for 2015 won’t be published online until mid-May.  The most up-to-date information on cougar harvests may be obtained from the Cougar Hotline at (866) 364-4868, online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/cougar/, or by contacting a WDFW Regional Office, as they will be monitoring the harvests in their specific areas of responsibility.
 
Sincerely,
 
Wildlife Program Customer Service
(360) 902-2515


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[M_ray]

334 is closed unless you have a raffle tag 

[PLAINSHUNTER]

I would also like to see the kill numbers posted . The SW Wash. 500 units that are closed have a combined quota of 10 -15 cats , did hunters really harvest that many in the early season ?

Exactly.. lets see the kill numbers.. 667 is closed every year jan 1.  I would like to see harvest report, I call BS..  667 is flooded with cats, quota on these cats is BS too..

same with 117

Sorry a little behind on this but it has bothered me for a month.  I too find this strange and call BS.  The Columbian Newspaper reported that 5 SW WA units all closed on Dec 31st along with 4 others in the state for a total of 9.  See below.  Did all 5 units happen to coincidentally reach their quotas on the same day?  Did some reach the quota earlier in the month/year yet remained open until the 31st which makes me think management isn't doing their job? 

By The Columbian
Published: January 7, 2016, 5:59 AM
OLYMPIA — Cougar hunting season is closed five Southwest Washington game units — Battle Ground, Washougal, Siouxon, Wind River and West Klickitat, according to state wildlife officials.

Washington has 50 cougar hunting areas. Nine closed on Dec. 31.

[bearpaw]

Thanks.  I didn't know that.  Does everyone that kill a cougar actually have it sealed per the law below?

(d) Any person who takes a cougar must notify the department within twenty-four hours of kill (excluding legal state holidays) and provide the hunter's name, date and location of kill, and sex of animal. The raw pelt of a cougar must be sealed by an authorized department employee within seventy-two hours of the notification of kill. Any person who takes a cougar must present the cougar skull, in such a manner that teeth and biological samples can be extracted, to an authorized department employee at the time of sealing.


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Yes, cougar, lynx, and bobcat must all be sealed within a certain time frame and before being transported to another state or any taxidermy or tanning can occur. It's a very efficient system.