SB 5474 Would Create Year Round, Unlimited Season on Hoof Rot Elk

[bigtex]

SB 5474 was introduced by Senator Pearson today. The bill changes state law in 6 different areas, most of which have to do with ordering the department to investigate the disease. Outside of those areas the bill does the following:

- Prohibits any person, including department staff, from translocating a live elk from an area with elk affected by hoof disease to any other location. The department may not issue a permit allowing such an action.
-While on duty, department staff in possession of a firearm must humanely euthanize an elk that is exhibiting a severe limp and is located in an area where hoof disease is present.
-An authorized person, as identified in  (c)  of this subsection, may humanely euthanize an elk that the person reasonably believes is exhibiting a severe limp and is located in an area where hoof disease is present. An authorized person may humanely euthanize an affected elk the person encounters without regard to hunting season dates and areas and no tag is required. An authorized person may retain the animal, at their discretion.
(b)  An authorized person humanely euthanizing an elk under this subsection  (3)  must, except for a tribal member, notify the department of that action within forty-eight hours after taking that action.
(c)  Those authorized to humanely euthanize an elk under this subsection  (3)  are a landowner humanely euthanizing an elk on their land, a person with a valid hunting license under  chapter  77.32  RCW, and a person with a tribal identification card from a federally recognized tribe.

http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5474.pdf

[Special T]

Get them before the wolves do I guess.

[bigtex]

This would truly create an enforcement mess!

There is no definition of what a "severe limp" is so what I may think is a "severe limp" may just be a 'normal limp' to the next guy. It'll basically come down to people shooting elk and just telling officers "well it had a severe limp" and there's nothing officers could do if they didn't see the elk walking itself.

The whole road kill savage law has created issues, but this one would create huge issues! 

[Special T]

This would truly create an enforcement mess!

There is no definition of what a "severe limp" is so what I may think is a "severe limp" may just be a 'normal limp' to the next guy. It'll basically come down to people shooting elk and just telling officers "well it had a severe limp" and there's nothing officers could do if they didn't see the elk walking itself.

The whole road kill savage law has created issues, but this one would create huge issues! 

From the wardens I've talked to here in the Skagit Valley it has resolved lots of issues.

For a while the only way a road kill elk could get used was the tribe. They would only pickup the Bulls with horns.

[Boss .300 winmag]

This would truly create an enforcement mess!

There is no definition of what a "severe limp" is so what I may think is a "severe limp" may just be a 'normal limp' to the next guy. It'll basically come down to people shooting elk and just telling officers "well it had a severe limp" and there's nothing officers could do if they didn't see the elk walking itself.

The whole road kill savage law has created issues, but this one would create huge issues! 

From the wardens I've talked to here in the Skagit Valley it has resolved lots of issues.

For a while the only way a road kill elk could get used was the tribe. They would only pickup the Bulls with horns.

 

[bigtex]

This would truly create an enforcement mess!

There is no definition of what a "severe limp" is so what I may think is a "severe limp" may just be a 'normal limp' to the next guy. It'll basically come down to people shooting elk and just telling officers "well it had a severe limp" and there's nothing officers could do if they didn't see the elk walking itself.

The whole road kill savage law has created issues, but this one would create huge issues! 

From the wardens I've talked to here in the Skagit Valley it has resolved lots of issues.

For a while the only way a road kill elk could get used was the tribe. They would only pickup the Bulls with horns.

It's created issues statewide. There have actually been people witnessed placing apples and other bait next to fog lines in hopes that someone whacks a deer. The number of city cops/deputies calling WDFW because they have an "untagged deer" on a traffic stop is going thru the roof because as you know you don't get a tag for roadkill deer.

Obviously there's positives in that less animals are wasted, but there are definitely people out there trying to screw the system. Never thought I'd hear about people placing bait on fog lines, but it's happened several times since the reg passed.

[Boss .300 winmag]

This would truly create an enforcement mess!

There is no definition of what a "severe limp" is so what I may think is a "severe limp" may just be a 'normal limp' to the next guy. It'll basically come down to people shooting elk and just telling officers "well it had a severe limp" and there's nothing officers could do if they didn't see the elk walking itself.

The whole road kill savage law has created issues, but this one would create huge issues! 

From the wardens I've talked to here in the Skagit Valley it has resolved lots of issues.

For a while the only way a road kill elk could get used was the tribe. They would only pickup the Bulls with horns.

It's created issues statewide. There have actually been people witnessed placing apples and other bait next to fog lines in hopes that someone whacks a deer. The number of city cops/deputies calling WDFW because they have an "untagged deer" on a traffic stop is going thru the roof because as you know you don't get a tag for roadkill deer.

Obviously there's positives in that less animals are wasted, but there are definitely people out there trying to screw the system. Never thought I'd hear about people placing bait on fog lines, but it's happened several times since the reg passed.

The state needs to educate the police of the new law. How did they get caught baiting the fog lines?

[olyguy79]

There is a change in the works because it is an enforcement mess. I think what will end up happening is a permit system where any LEO can issue a salvage permit to a person. No more self reporting.


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[bigtex]

There is a change in the works because it is an enforcement mess. I think what will end up happening is a permit system where any LEO can issue a salvage permit to a person. No more self reporting.

That's what I am hearing as well. People aren't being honest so now WA could be like other states where an actual permit needs to be issued by an LEO before the animal can be taken.

[bigtex]

This would truly create an enforcement mess!

There is no definition of what a "severe limp" is so what I may think is a "severe limp" may just be a 'normal limp' to the next guy. It'll basically come down to people shooting elk and just telling officers "well it had a severe limp" and there's nothing officers could do if they didn't see the elk walking itself.

The whole road kill savage law has created issues, but this one would create huge issues! 

From the wardens I've talked to here in the Skagit Valley it has resolved lots of issues.

For a while the only way a road kill elk could get used was the tribe. They would only pickup the Bulls with horns.

It's created issues statewide. There have actually been people witnessed placing apples and other bait next to fog lines in hopes that someone whacks a deer. The number of city cops/deputies calling WDFW because they have an "untagged deer" on a traffic stop is going thru the roof because as you know you don't get a tag for roadkill deer.

Obviously there's positives in that less animals are wasted, but there are definitely people out there trying to screw the system. Never thought I'd hear about people placing bait on fog lines, but it's happened several times since the reg passed.

The state needs to educate the police of the new law. How did they get caught baiting the fog lines?

The issue is you are now having city/county officers who don't hunt trying to decipher okay is this a poached deer or a roadkill deer? I've had such officers call me and they cant tell me if the animal is a deer or an elk or a doe or a buck, you think they'll know how to decipher between a poached deer and roadkill?

For your second question. Bait was placed, officers removed, it was placed again, so they watched it for a night and the bait placer came back. That's one instance but it's happened throughout the state.

[dreamunelk]

Basically and open poaching season.
That 6 point looked like it had a severe limp to me.

[bigtex]

Basically and open poaching season.
That 6 point looked like it had a severe limp to me.

[Boss .300 winmag]

There is a change in the works because it is an enforcement mess. I think what will end up happening is a permit system where any LEO can issue a salvage permit to a person. No more self reporting.

That's what I am hearing as well. People aren't being honest so now WA could be like other states where an actual permit needs to be issued by an LEO before the animal can be taken.

People don't have all day waiting for an officer to come to the scene. Keep online reporting, and officers come to the address of salvage person to issue tag/permit.

[Bob33]

My suspicion is that the number of healthy elk poached would be small. I've seen some estimates of hoof rot being in 25% of the elk or more. I expect most herds have some elk with hoof rot that could be targeted. Whether a significant reduction in animals with hoof rot, and a reduction in the overall herd population would have long-term benefits to their health is unclear. It could certainly be considered humane in the case of those elk with a severe condition to put them down.

[JimmyHoffa]

which GMUs have hoof rot again....oh man, year round elk season!  With hardly any fishing left....

So, bigtex...would you have to use the method on your tag to shoot hoof rots or if you have an archery tag can you hunt the rest of the year with a rifle?