Hunter facing charges after death of beloved elk named Bullwinkle

[whacker1]

following along for the ride

[bearpaw]

I'm not going to comment on the legalities of it because I was not there nor the one that got supposed permission to hunt that area.

I do have a problem though with the part about how it's bad to shoot an animal in a field. Zero difference then shooting a cat out of a tree. Neither one takes any skill yet 99% of the people on this site would jump at the chance to shoot a lion in a tree. The first thread on this issue was started because guys were saying it wasn't much of a hunt. Not that it was illegal. Then that started after a page or two.

So for the guys that are saying it's not hunting get off your high horse.

You do a lot of hound hunting Brandon??

oooo you beat me to it!

he likely has never cougar hunted....

I've been lucky enough to do many different hunts, including hunts in several other countries, cougar hunting is still my favorite hunt. Some of the best cougar hunts have ended by taking photos and leaving the cat in the tree! The most rewarding part is watching the young hounds learn and develop into experienced lion hounds. Almost anyone can become successful in many types of hunting, but to be a top notch hound hunter requires incredible dedication by the hunter and a very sharp learning curve. After all the time and work to get good at hound hunting, you can take your dogs to field, search for days and sometimes weeks to find a good track, you and your dogs can experience the thrill of the hunt, hopefully you catch the cat and get photos of the hunted, and then you leave the hunted animal unharmed in the wild after experiencing the hunt of lifetime. Hunting really can't get any better than that!

For those that choose to notch a cougar tag you then have some of the best meat in the woods!

[dscubame]

following along for the ride

The ride sucks I may suggest you get off at the first stop.  It is like a bad groundhog day, a scratched broken record.

[birddogdad]

Well actually, I have to say, I was glad that someone posted a link to the Yakima Herald article. I may not have seen it otherwise. I probably would have posted it myself if I had come across it first. This is also being discussed on Facebook and I'm sure there are comments being posted in the Yakima Herald as well.

thanks for the link to the article. I find it interesting how this one animal and hunter has created such a stir... from a different perspective, this person has probably put into WA state conservation (financially) MORE than this entire site full of hunters combine since just 2007. I don't know him, his ethics, or how rich he is either.. This animal was a conservation tool, used to draw money from us all for a chance of a lifetime, one ticket ever year for me too! Ethics and location maybe not so much. In the end, the money this one hunter has given has most likely made a direct impact in WA and now, the state will waste most of it (i bet) toward litigation and investigation fees. Why not just fix the book to allow this to occur, after all, these raffles and auction tags are just designed to make conservation dollars as I am led to understand in all the writings right? One draw, one animal, one hunter? Is it really that bad that this old rich dude paid to play or are we just jealous and casting stones?
Again, just considering the gain from all the moneys invested, not the ethical hunting of one man position. I find it more appalling when a person of this financial affluence takes the route of posting up a 100K piece of property his millionaire buddies to hunt and not giving back, don't you?

So should he also be able to shoot a Record Book Roosevelt in Grays Harbor, Lewis or Pacific County?  If not why not?  Here, let me answer that for ya:  Because that South Central Washington - Big Game Raffle Tag is not good there.  WTH is so hard to figure out about that.

Now, re: the "Bullwinkle" aspects of this - just because something is legal, is it a smart thing to do?   Well, irrespective of the legal issues, Scott Sandsberry was talking with residents and property owners all around the area who had absolutely no idea that any law was broken.   They were PO'd, and they thought that shooting this bull was wrong and they were talking to Scott Sandsberry about why they thought it was wrong, but they had no idea that the tag he used to kill the bull with came with this restriction: 
South Central Washington - Big Game $ 17.00 per ticket
Elk: Any 300 or 500 series GMU open to elk hunting except GMUs not open to branch antlered bull elk hunting
http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/raffles/index.html   

again I don't agree with the whole thing he did. was just saying that he definitely has contributed large sums to the state and now they will just use it up in court proceedings. reviews show suspect activities since 2007, why blame just him? allowing continued contributions from 2007 forward is frankly a state swing and a miss. since this raffle and auction is all about the money, the state WDFW didn't step in and prevent his participation after past adjudicated activity. To me, its not hard to understand JD, my point was either they (state) cares or they are just going thru motions, he was as I understand, forced off lands for a couple years by courts after 2007/8 raffle/auction tag episode yet still allowed to throw money into the state hoppers and participate in follow on auctions and raffles, that was the major state miss. Now, the state industry will waste money, not using it for conservation in this process. This person has as I read in articles, a fairly unlimited resources to dip from, how much will the state spend to pursue him? I would think that WDFW raffles and auctions programs could restrict individual participation and everyone moves on and conservation dollars are used for conservation. I get it upsets everyone here, myself included, but I blame more than the act or individual here...

[Alchase]

Ironic that the day after Dale closes down the thread, this article comes out and starts a whole new one.

Not ironic, disrespectful.

 The Yakima Herald disrespected Dale? Really?

I guess you did say article, I mis read that. I meant , the need to post this article knowing damn well it would be a continuation of the recently locked thread is disrespectful to this forum and Bearpaw.

I agree. There's a reason the other one was shut down. Special thanks to JDHasty for reviving this hot mess.

Due to the reason given of legal threats for removing the other thread I think this goes way past disrespectful.  I am very suprised this forum continues to let this individual have access knowing his actions may lead to legal headaches for them.

I am glad "other" sources are finally showing some interest in this story.

I also find the threatening this forum, and or members of this forum with lawsuits over this very telling about the individual doing the threatening.

See you can have all the money in the world and you can sue everyone who disagrees with you. If you are rich enough, you probably will win.

Does that make you right?

Not where I come from.

In your first few posts, you came on here insinuating (if not threatening) some people who post here with legal action.



I personally do not know either of you. if anyone should not be allowed to post, I would rather it be someone who has only brought threats of lawsuit to the forum, rather then someone who is a regular contributor who is passionately trying to ensure this whole issue does not get swept under the rug, just because the individual involved has money.

There is something called integrity, money can't buy it, and you can't silence people with threats, and  still hope to earn it.

[greenhead_killer]

Well said alchase. I happened to see this same article on another hunting forum today. People are talking about it everywhere. Wonder if they will be charged too with putting their opinions online as well and sharing printed news??

[Gringo31]

See how easy this would have gone if all of the rules were followed?

[jkthomps]

 

[jkthomps]

Wait, wasn't "Bullwinkle" a moose? 

[JDHasty]

It's not over yet.  Anybody got a squirrel rifle handy? 

[Rainier10]

Squirrel!

[ctwiggs1]

In my youth, I was blessed to be on several hound "hunts" to recollar cougar with the WDFW.  Some of the best memories of my teenage years!

I can tell you with full certainty that it doesn't even remotely compare to shooting an elk in the field.  There is a LOT of front end work that goes into hound hunting and it's not a walk in the park mid process either.

I will have to sample cougar meat sometime to see if I am willing to kill one or not though. 

[Rainier10]

In my youth, I was blessed to be on several hound "hunts" to recollar cougar with the WDFW.  Some of the best memories of my teenage years!

I can tell you with full certainty that it doesn't even remotely compare to shooting an elk in the field.  There is a LOT of front end work that goes into hound hunting and it's not a walk in the park mid process either.

I will have to sample cougar meat sometime to see if I am willing to kill one or not though.

It's delicious, you won't be disappointed.  Kind of like pork/chicken cross.  Great in stir fry with vegies over rice. 

[ctwiggs1]

Any idea where you can buy it commercially?

[JJB11B]

I find lots of cougars in dive bars, they normally taste like cigarettes and bloody Mary's to me