Cow Tags

[Mossyoak]

What caused the huge drop in the Cow Tags in the Colockum, Manashtash, Little Naches? Was it caused by high tag allotment and high success coupled with a rough winter? I thought they issued way to many Cow tags last year. Was the survey really bad? I thought the reason WDFW issued more tags was because they were exceeding objective. Would like to see consistent tag allotment to stabilize the heards.

[bobcat]

I think the blame was placed on the bad winter we had. I'm not sure I believe it though.

[Killmore]

I don't buy the bad winter thing, They feed the elk on the west side of Kittitas valley and the elk on the east side move down toward vantage. I wonder if there is some tribal issues going on.

[fishngamereaper]

Those areas should of never had 300 tags issued for them in the first place.

[Reidus]

They were over objective. Now they're at or just below objective. Winter of 2015 was hard on them due to dry conditions and going into winter with low fat content. Calf recruitment has been low as well. Just what I heard.

[7mmfan]

What caused the huge drop in the Cow Tags in the Colockum, Manashtash, Little Naches? Was it caused by high tag allotment and high success coupled with a rough winter? I thought they issued way to many Cow tags last year. Was the survey really bad? I thought the reason WDFW issued more tags was because they were exceeding objective. Would like to see consistent tag allotment to stabilize the heards.

While this obviously plays a roll in herd size, consistent tag numbers have nothing to do with herd stability. Mother nature is always cyclical, we have to adjust accordingly with increased or decreased harvest to moderate those fluctuations. Man will never be able to stabilize nature.

[buglebuster]

Indians

[CP]

It’s been a very harsh winter and it still isn’t over.  Many of the areas that elk would normally be feeding in by now are still covered in snow. 

[Hi-Liter]

Way too many cow tags in years past in those units. they should drop the cow from archery general hunt too. 

[Mossyoak]

I know Mother Nature is unpredictable. By consistent tags numbers I meant start being proactive rather than reactive. In my opinion now matter how good or bad of a winter there should never be a 490 difference in tags issued in the Colockum.You have to be able to fluctuate the tags with objective goals. I guess this is why WA can't adopt two year hunting regulations. They are already behind in management and that would make it worse if they were making the adjustments even later.

[Bwana Bob]

WOW, I drew that tag 2 years in a row and shots cows both times. Probably won't draw it again for a long time.

[Stein]

I know Mother Nature is unpredictable. By consistent tags numbers I meant start being proactive rather than reactive. In my opinion now matter how good or bad of a winter there should never be a 490 difference in tags issued in the Colockum.You have to be able to fluctuate the tags with objective goals. I guess this is why WA can't adopt two year hunting regulations. They are already behind in management and that would make it worse if they were making the adjustments even later.

By being proactive, you mean predicting how many animals will be there next year so you can set the tags this year

If they are over objective, they issue more tags and more animals get shot until they get to objective, then the tags are pretty consistent until the herd either goes up or down.  Many variables at play.

[Mossyoak]

I agree there are a lot of variables that play into it. Proactive in my opinion would have been to slowly increase the tags to reach objective. That way if a bad winter or high success rates happen then adjust to that. When you almost double the cow tag alottment from the 2013 season to the 2014 season? They should have incrementally increased. I get 50 to 100 tag swings, hard to see a 490 tag swing in the Colockum. Somewhere in the middle seems logical.

[trophyhunt]

Those areas should of never had 300 tags issued for them in the first place.

I always thought that was too many, especially when certain races have no limits. 

[400out]

you can hunt any elk west of the PCT 

[buglebuster]

you can hunt any elk west of the PCT 

False

[400out]

you can hunt any elk west of the PCT 

False

sure you can! and in many areas you can shoot more than one!

[Killmore]

Thursday Daily record  paper, Sounds like the Game department and the DOT are going to have help figuring out how to reduce elk loss on I 90 near Vantage. The state says there are to many elk in the herd (6500). The game department wants the herd to be reduced to 4500 head. So how does reducing the cow permit numbers going to help that??

[Bullmoose]

The Archery Hunters will take of it for them,

[lastmk8]

Thursday Daily record  paper, Sounds like the Game department and the DOT are going to have help figuring out how to reduce elk loss on I 90 near Vantage. The state says there are to many elk in the herd (6500). The game department wants the herd to be reduced to 4500 head. So how does reducing the cow permit numbers going to help that??

Here is a link to the article....

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/news/state-directed-to-help-with-elk-issues-in-kittitas-county/article_a6648eef-cfa8-5b90-bd35-e0aa1fb3fd54.html

[Killmore]

So why reduce cow tags?

[jstone]

I would doubt that the herd is still 6500 animals. There where lots of cow tags given out in the past.

[Mfowl]

Thursday Daily record  paper, Sounds like the Game department and the DOT are going to have help figuring out how to reduce elk loss on I 90 near Vantage. The state says there are to many elk in the herd (6500). The game department wants the herd to be reduced to 4500 head. So how does reducing the cow permit numbers going to help that??

Too many elk is only something WDFW would say. I'd rather see an elk fence with game by pass points than a reduced herd. I'd rather my tax dollars pay for that than any Seattle waterfront projects or Good to Go lanes.

[Rainier10]

Thursday Daily record  paper, Sounds like the Game department and the DOT are going to have help figuring out how to reduce elk loss on I 90 near Vantage. The state says there are to many elk in the herd (6500). The game department wants the herd to be reduced to 4500 head. So how does reducing the cow permit numbers going to help that??

Too many elk is only something WDFW would say. I'd rather see an elk fence with game by pass points than a reduced herd. I'd rather my tax dollars pay for that than any Seattle waterfront projects or Good to Go lanes.

Ding, ding, ding.  This is the winning idea in my mind as well.  There is tons of wintering ground for them right there.  There is a freeway running right through the middle of it with no way around for the elk.  Put up a fence and paths over/under the freeway, problem solved.

[Stein]

Someone could always call the WDFW bio and ask if they really wanted to know.  My experience is they are usually very knowledgeable and able to give you all the information surrounding decisions and herd management strategies.

[ALLTERRAIN]

There was some winter kill this year from the fall forage and cold winter weather and freeway kill's. As for the high tag number's given out, look up the success rates and you'll see a very low # tagged. Last year's #'s I believe was around 146. Maybe I read it wrong but talking to one of the local bio's, was told it's been approx. 25% rate since they started the cow hunt's again. But yeah, such a drastic drop from one year to the next does raise question's.

[Igor]

Someone could always call the WDFW bio and ask if they really wanted to know.  My experience is they are usually very knowledgeable and able to give you all the information surrounding decisions and herd management strategies.