Another idea for Washington Muley's: Increased spring bear quota

[JakeLand]

to get more does you need less predators

To get less predators you need longer predator seasons and higher quotas.

and a practical trapping method ( footholds and snares ) 

[Tjv28]

Over 30,000 deer are harvested each year by Washington hunters. That’s a lot. Also, those are the ones that are legally tagged. Not counting poaching, lost game, etc....

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/

[BULLBLASTER]

I would like to see a “pick your species” approach to deer. When you buy a tag it is species specific and then seasons can be laid out by species. That would spread the hunting pressure out. Make Whitetail and blacktail seasons a bit more liberal in length and timing in some areas. It would give much better management ability of specific herds and lessen pressure on everything.  You wouldn’t have the guys that hunt general mule deer and then chase late season Whitetail or blacktail if they aren’t successful. Let them choose up front. Sure it would cost some opportunity to chase multiple deer types but shouldn’t have to cut any field days. 

[BULLBLASTER]

Also for permits make that species specific to your tag just like east/west elk

[boneaddict]

Several quick tips.   The survival rate of a buck goes up every year it has under its belt.  If you don’t see that with your own experience, google it. I’m sure you’ll find a stat.    Kill them all at spike or pisscutter, they never make it there....thus few bigger bucks.   

Kill all the bucks or so many that the ratios get out of wack then does aren’t covered or These late-birth fawns typically have a lower body mass come winter, and in northern climates, are much more susceptible to winter mortality during severe winters (Bergman et al., 2014). Secondly, as they mature to a harvestable size, they will typically be smaller than other individuals born in the same year class. A late-season fawn will grow up to be an undersized buck.

I can tell you first hand the difference between no APRs in the Methow and with APRs.

By the way, I don’t think killing doe is the way to fix buck to doe ratios, unless the carrying capacity for the range has been met.  As yes.   Doe equals more deer, more bucks, more harvest.   

[bigmacc]

Several quick tips.   The survival rate of a buck goes up every year it has under its belt.  If you don’t see that with your own experience, google it. I’m sure you’ll find a stat.    Kill them all at spike or pisscutter, they never make it there....thus few bigger bucks.   

Kill all the bucks or so many that the ratios get out of wack then does aren’t covered or These late-birth fawns typically have a lower body mass come winter, and in northern climates, are much more susceptible to winter mortality during severe winters (Bergman et al., 2014). Secondly, as they mature to a harvestable size, they will typically be smaller than other individuals born in the same year class. A late-season fawn will grow up to be an undersized buck.

I can tell you first hand the difference between no APRs in the Methow and with APRs.

By the way, I don’t think killing doe is the way to fix buck to doe ratios, unless the carrying capacity for the range has been met.  As yes.   Doe equals more deer, more bucks, more harvest.

 , there you go, some things just make sense ....Hmmmm, may be thats the problem at the WDFW

[Elkcollector82]

It cracks me up. All these people want to spend more money for suppose spring tags. Yet, they fail to do any predator control as we sit now. You read the regs and their are so many ways to kill a predator legally. It’s not even funny. Eastside guys can run around all night with nightvision on. Find a cougar and stock it tell legal hunting hours. Then even if it’s still dark and you can’t see it with a normal scope. Then you wait. Only animals you can’t hunt with nightvision is deer and elk per page 85. But page 78 says big game. So it’s your call. You can hunt all night long with night vision and shoot every bobcat/coyote you come to. Yea. You can’t run cats with dogs. But with as much money as it cost to own a good set of hounds. You can buy top notch night vision and your success rate goes way up. 

[hunter399]

It cracks me up. All these people want to spend more money for suppose spring tags. Yet, they fail to do any predator control as we sit now. You read the regs and their are so many ways to kill a predator legally. It’s not even funny. Eastside guys can run around all night with nightvision on. Find a cougar and stock it tell legal hunting hours. Then even if it’s still dark and you can’t see it with a normal scope. Then you wait. Only animals you can’t hunt with nightvision is deer and elk per page 85. But page 78 says big game. So it’s your call. You can hunt all night long with night vision and shoot every bobcat/coyote you come to. Yea. You can’t run cats with dogs. But with as much money as it cost to own a good set of hounds. You can buy top notch night vision and your success rate goes way up. 

I don't know how well you read the regs but hunting any big game with night vision is not legal period plus no night hunt till after deer seasons end ,then Jan 1 , quota kicks in so not as easy as it looks on the east side,let me ask you how many coyote and cougar have you killed this year.

[Elkcollector82]

It cracks me up. All these people want to spend more money for suppose spring tags. Yet, they fail to do any predator control as we sit now. You read the regs and their are so many ways to kill a predator legally. It’s not even funny. Eastside guys can run around all night with nightvision on. Find a cougar and stock it tell legal hunting hours. Then even if it’s still dark and you can’t see it with a normal scope. Then you wait. Only animals you can’t hunt with nightvision is deer and elk per page 85. But page 78 says big game. So it’s your call. You can hunt all night long with night vision and shoot every bobcat/coyote you come to. Yea. You can’t run cats with dogs. But with as much money as it cost to own a good set of hounds. You can buy top notch night vision and your success rate goes way up. 

I don't know how well you read the regs but hunting any big game with night vision is not legal period plus no night hunt till after deer seasons end ,then Jan 1 , quota kicks in so not as easy as it looks on the east side,let me ask you how many coyote and cougar have you killed this year.

I read them about as good as they can write them.

Haven’t gotten serious on cougars tell my late archery season is over. But I’m gonna say I’ll punch my tag before deadline. Coyotes. Idk come look at my pelt’s and decide for yourself. Trust me. I’m not one to sit on a site and complain. But yet, still don’t do anything. I’m the one that’s out in woods no matter the weather hunting  pretty much year round.

[hunter399]

It cracks me up. All these people want to spend more money for suppose spring tags. Yet, they fail to do any predator control as we sit now. You read the regs and their are so many ways to kill a predator legally. It’s not even funny. Eastside guys can run around all night with nightvision on. Find a cougar and stock it tell legal hunting hours. Then even if it’s still dark and you can’t see it with a normal scope. Then you wait. Only animals you can’t hunt with nightvision is deer and elk per page 85. But page 78 says big game. So it’s your call. You can hunt all night long with night vision and shoot every bobcat/coyote you come to. Yea. You can’t run cats with dogs. But with as much money as it cost to own a good set of hounds. You can buy top notch night vision and your success rate goes way up. 

I don't know how well you read the regs but hunting any big game with night vision is not legal period plus no night hunt till after deer seasons end ,then Jan 1 , quota kicks in so not as easy as it looks on the east side,let me ask you how many coyote and cougar have you killed this year.

I read them about as good as they can write them.

Haven’t gotten serious on cougars tell my late archery season is over. But I’m gonna say I’ll punch my tag before deadline. Coyotes. Idk come look at my pelt’s and decide for yourself. Trust me. I’m not one to sit on a site and complain. But yet, still don’t do anything. I’m the one that’s out in woods no matter the weather hunting  pretty much year round.

As i do agree more hunters should actively hunt predators a lot more,I just got the impression from your post that is east side guys should stock and track cougar intell shooting light with night vision ,i just wanted to clear up what was legal for some guys that may decide to do this .I have heard a lot of talk from guys lately here and in person ,of tracking game animals in the dark ,basic road hunting ,spoting , then waiting till light to hunt.I always thought that hunting hours in the reg book was to give animals a rest from being hunted all day .Then hunters wonder why animals leave public land to private land bucks go nocturnal etc.I feel going to your stand,walking in the dark to access gated areas ,is ok.But active road hunting,tracking,spotting,at night is shady at best for any big game.

Back on topic of mule deer ,the number 1 predator is hunters,top of the food chain,we need more regs to protect mule deer does,and more regs for harvest of mature animals,no more forkinhorn with 1in kicker or 1in eye guards,4pt min at best.

[NRA4LIFE]

Sorry if this has been brought up.  How about more hunters targeting bears specifically in the late summer and early fall?  More bears killed in that period = less bears in the spring.  Is my math wrong?  Why the fascination with spring bear hunting?  $6 on your D-E-B-C permit and magically you have an OTC bear permit.  No points, no draw, bing bang boom.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Sorry if this has been brought up.  How about more hunters targeting bears specifically in the late summer and early fall?  More bears killed in that period = less bears in the spring.  Is my math wrong?  Why the fascination with spring bear hunting?  $6 on your D-E-B-C permit and magically you have an OTC bear permit.  No points, no draw, bing bang boom.

D-E-B-C permit?

[Blacktail Sniper]

Sorry if this has been brought up.  How about more hunters targeting bears specifically in the late summer and early fall?  More bears killed in that period = less bears in the spring.  Is my math wrong?  Why the fascination with spring bear hunting?  $6 on your D-E-B-C permit and magically you have an OTC bear permit.  No points, no draw, bing bang boom.

D-E-B-C permit?

Guessing D-E-B-C permit = DEER-ELK-BEAR-COUGAR license...

[KFhunter]

Sorry if this has been brought up.  How about more hunters targeting bears specifically in the late summer and early fall?  More bears killed in that period = less bears in the spring.  Is my math wrong?  Why the fascination with spring bear hunting?  $6 on your D-E-B-C permit and magically you have an OTC bear permit.  No points, no draw, bing bang boom.

I wasn't talking about one or the other but both spring and fall bear being OTC. 

I think folks like to hunt bear in the spring because other than turkey its about the only thing going and if early enough the rugs are nice. 
Dropping a bred sow in the fall would be nice though before she cubs out in the winter and can't be shot in the spring hunt.  That's strictly for reducing numbers, which we need.

[ryo]

British Columbia has liberal spring and fall OTC bear seasons, with a season limit of 2. Mule deer numbers are still dropping.

Predators account for a relatively stable deer mortality, and efforts at predator control provide only short-term effects on deer population. It's a nice idea, but habitat control (prescribed fires, wildlife corridors, winter ranges) is the big picture factor.

That said, with contemporary population/weather modelling, biologists can predict fawn recruitment about half a year in advance, and can institute intensive predator control where it might tip the scale.