Calling cougar??

[JJB11B]

am I stupid? it looks like everything is still open

[Woodchuck]

That will likely be corrected today.

[JJB11B]

guess I'll forego the cat tag and go look for yotes

[Rainier10]

am I stupid? it looks like everything is still open

Everything is still open until end of day December 31st.  As of January 1st a bunch of units will be closing because they have met their quota.  Check the website again January 1st and you will not see open next to all of those GMU's.

[renrutbocaj]

Yeah, I received this email yesterday stating that most of these will be closed starting January 1st. I have seen 2 Cougar kills, walked into a Cougar and have heard about a few more in our area. I have a hard time believing WDFW's population estimates. 121 should stay open. 

 Dear Cougar Hunter:

Starting January 1, 2017, Game Management Units (GMUs) within 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. The closed GMUs include:

    Region 1: 105, 108, 111, 117, 121, 145, 149, 154, 157, 162, 163, 166, 175, 178,
    Region 2: No GMU closures
    Region 3: 352, 356, 360, 364, 368
    Region 4: No GMU closures
    Region 5: 574, 578
    Region 6: 667

Additional GMUs may close before the cougar late season ends on April 30 if these areas meet or exceed the harvest guideline. 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.

[JJB11B]

ridiculous

[Timberstalker]

am I stupid?

Yes.  LMAO

[JJB11B]

am I stupid?

Yes.  LMAO

way to go after that low hanging fruit!

[Timberstalker]

Here is a recent Email from WDFW:


Dear Cougar Hunter:
Starting January 1, 2017, Game Management Units (GMUs) within 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. The closed GMUs include:
•   Region 1: 105, 108, 111, 117, 121, 145, 149, 154, 157, 162, 163, 166, 175, 178,
•   Region 2: No GMU closures
•   Region 3: 352, 356, 360, 364, 368
•   Region 4: No GMU closures
•   Region 5: 574, 578
•   Region 6: 667
Additional GMUs may close before the cougar late season ends on April 30 if these areas meet or exceed the harvest guideline. 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 the GMUs 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 2017 cougar license is required to hunt cougar in April 2017. Those who wish to hunt cougar during the month of April will need to purchase a 2017 license and tag.
If you harvest a cougar, you must report the kill over the cougar hotline within 72 hours of harvest. Kills must be sealed by WDFW within five days (unfrozen) of harvest. Contact a WDFW office to schedule a sealing.
Sincerely,
Wildlife Program
WDFW

[jasnt]

Worst part is their harvest guidelines come from a study done at wsu which recommended 12% of the population harvested to keep below carry capacity. If you go off wdfw's estimated population then most areas quotas are 4% of estimated pop.

[Ridgeratt]

Worst part is their harvest guidelines come from a study done at wsu which recommended 12% of the population harvested to keep below carry capacity. If you go off wdfw's estimated population then most areas quotas are 4% of estimated pop.

Crazy part is that when you could run hounds the quota for 105 was 20 total with no more 7 females . I think that's what I remember. Now the quota is 2 of any combination. Those numbers  (20) were reached every year.

So how can there be less now nobody is pestering them.

[boneaddict]

They are managing predators like they always do. 

[Ridgeratt]

They are managing predators like they always do.

Would that be the "Hey there went the horse"  Think we should close the gate?

[boneaddict]

Seems to be....we don't see them all the time so we obviously need more.

Or then there is the hawk mentality.......
Well I don't even know what drives that?

[rainshadow1]

I always thought the NE/SE closures were kinda questionable.... Now I own property in NE and I hunt deer every year in SE... now I KNOW the early closures there are completely lame brained!!! Plain and simple. No reason whatsoever to close off these regions for Lions. There are WAY more there than anywhere else in the state. It's just an ongoing attempt to manage hunters out of the loop. Status quo for WDFW.