Should ALL general season Elk hunts be canceled in favor of permit only hunting?

[idahohuntr]

I definitely would support permit only for E. Wa...to me, its such a joke as is, I really don't hunt general seasons for elk in WA...but I hunt elk in other states so maybe my opinion would be different if I only hunted WA or grew up hunting here. 

[bobdog86]

Like I stated before, unless you can get the Native American population on board to manage collectively with WDFW it would be an effort in futility. In a perfect world, great, let's try it, but it's not gonna happen, not in your life time, not in mine. Not there fault, it is there right.

[trophyhunt]

Like I stated before, unless you can get the Native American population on board to manage collectively with WDFW it would be an effort in futility. In a perfect world, great, let's try it, but it's not gonna happen, not in your life time, not in mine. Not there fault, it is there right.

i think I've said this about 2 or 3 times already on this thread.  It is pointless without the tribes cooperation, and that will not happen. 

[bobcat]

I totally get the issue that if the state increases the number of elk in our state through more limited hunting that the native Americans would only kill more elk, entirely defeating the purpose of our reduction in harvest. However, it's mostly only one tribe that has the year around season with no limit to how many elk each person is allowed to take, and we all know which tribe that is. So my solution to that would be an unlimited number of permits in those GMU's in which that particular tribe allows un-controlled  hunting by their people. So while it would be a "general season," anyone who applied for a permit would get it.

[bobdog86]

I totally get the issue that if the state increases the number of elk in our state through more limited hunting that the native Americans would only kill more elk, entirely defeating the purpose of our reduction in harvest. However, it's mostly only one tribe that has the year around season with no limit to how many elk each person is allowed to take, and we all know which tribe that is. So my solution to that would be an unlimited number of permits in those GMU's in which that particular tribe allows un-controlled  hunting by their people. So while it would be a "general season," anyone who applied for a permit would get it.

my particular issue is the SE Blues, primarily from Idaho Native Americans. Currently there is no control or management, contrary to what any one says. If we could get some cooperation with that, I'd possibly in agreement, I do like the unlimited # of permits, I may get one..

[kentrek]

by

Yes please, more regulation.   Cant believe there are people dumb enough to even entertain such an idea.

So we as a group of sportsman on HW cannot even have a civil discussion without name calling? I should have known better...I've been following this subject since it started and finally wanted to add another perspective that hadn't been brought up. I mistakenly thought that my two cents was as valuable as others.  Shame on me Mr. Snake.  I bow to your vast knowledge and wisdom over us dumb people. Thanks for the encouragement. Over and out.

Sorry snowflake,  don't over think it.  We don't need to go to a draw only.

No, we don't NEED to, but it would allow for proper management of our state's elk, and it would make for much better hunting opportunities than what we have now. I'd actually start elk hunting in this state again if the WDFW would properly manage our elk herds using science rather than popular opinion.

So why not use science now ?? Why go from one end of the spectrum to the other I'm all for science...but science doesn't necessarily mean limited draw

[snake]

Sorry to hurt your little feelers ladies,  for those of you who haven't been paying attention for about the last +20 years, more regulation in Washington is BAD news. Hunting, fishing, gun rights... I can make a list or give a 7 hour powerpoint presentation if needed.

[bobcat]

Sorry to hurt your little feelers ladies,  for those of you who haven't been paying attention for about the last +20 years, more regulation in Washington is BAD news. Hunting, fishing, gun rights... I can make a list or give a 7 hour powerpoint presentation if needed.

What makes it bad in Washington but good in other states? Why are we different?

[chester]

Sorry to hurt your little feelers ladies,  for those of you who haven't been paying attention for about the last +20 years, more regulation in Washington is BAD news. Hunting, fishing, gun rights... I can make a list or give a 7 hour powerpoint presentation if needed.

What makes it bad in Washington but good in other states? Why are we different?

Larger land mass
Fewer people
Different treaties
Predator management
Better habitat

That's a start.....

[bobcat]

Sorry to hurt your little feelers ladies,  for those of you who haven't been paying attention for about the last +20 years, more regulation in Washington is BAD news. Hunting, fishing, gun rights... I can make a list or give a 7 hour powerpoint presentation if needed.

What makes it bad in Washington but good in other states? Why are we different?

Larger land mass
Fewer people
Different treaties
Predator management
Better habitat

That's a start.....

Which position are you arguing for? You just made the argument for draw only elk hunting in Washington stronger.   

[chester]

No im going to look at it the other way. A lot of draw only states actually manage their game. We don't . They already whine about funding.
If it goes permit the numbers will be low and just get lower. I wouldn't even want to think of what they would charge for them. We will never get it back.
Think about cougars. They went from an 11 month season to having quota overnight.
Some people seem to be ok with getting to go elk hunting less then half a dozen times in their life. I'm betting more aren't.

[snake]

false bobcat, trophy hunting will not save our hunting heritage, opportunity may.  If there are too many cows in the pasture you get more pasture, you don't remove 1/2 of your herd.  As much as i hate overcrowding WE ( me and you) need every able bodied man woman and child in Washington to get out in the woods/hills and hunt. 

[Jpmiller]

Is the concern that there aren't enough elk, or that there aren't enough trophy elk, or that there are too many hunters? I don't see the first two as an issue here right now in the areas I am familiar with and honestly getting away from other hunters hasn't proven to be all that difficult in my experience. I don't think I grasp what problem we are trying to solve.

[bobcat]

The problem is it's ALREADY essentially permit only, because the general modern firearm season only allows us to hunt spikes. So most people buy an elk tag only so they can apply for special permits. If they don't draw, they don't hunt. Eliminate the spike only general season, and increase the number of permits available in the draw, and we get to hunt elk more often.

[Karl Blanchard]

Is the concern that there aren't enough elk, or that there aren't enough trophy elk, or that there are too many hunters? I don't see the first two as an issue here right now in the areas I am familiar with and honestly getting away from other hunters hasn't proven to be all that difficult in my experience. I don't think I grasp what problem we are trying to solve.

    I'm still trying to figure it out.  Where the state wants elk, there continues to be more and more every year.