When should you consider “all hope is lost?”

[CarbonHunter]

I hear there's lots of elk jerky being sold in Yakima, I suppose that could have an effect.

Who’s selling it?

[bobcat]

I hear there's lots of elk jerky being sold in Yakima, I suppose that could have an effect.

Who’s selling it?

The people who have the year around deer and elk season over there.

[CarbonHunter]

I hear there's lots of elk jerky being sold in Yakima, I suppose that could have an effect.

Who’s selling it?

The people who have the year around deer and elk season over there.

Honestly, they have been hunting year around for years and it was noticed when their cousins to the west broke the treaty and crossed the crest of the cascades. But I think this is bigger than just tribal hunting, this was the states largest elk herd and the WDFW is supposedly working with the Muckleshoots when it comes to management.

This is a perfect example of failures when it comes to herd management and proactive wildlife planning. I feel we are seeing nothing short of knee jerk reactions and the right hand not talking to the left. If we continue down the road of how the department has been managing over the last 2 decades how can things ever get better?

In the last 2 years this area has finally received a couple fires that will improve habitat. Why are we cutting opportunities when science says we should soon be seeing an increase in herds due to increasing summer range?

[rtspring]

This is not a indian problem. This is no doubt caused by the idiot white man.. 

[bobcat]

This is not a indian problem. This is no doubt caused by the idiot white man..

Are you thinking the excessive cow harvest due to all the special permits?

[SemperFidelis97]

I think we may come to appreciate the predator management the tribes are doing in the next several years since it is very obvious that non-natives are not being used as an effective tool.  Several of the tribes are running dogs, baits, and the Colvilles are shooting wolves I just don't know if it will be enough.  Predators, and loss of habitat is our biggest issue in my opinion.

[rtspring]

that cant be the reason.  A lot of those cow tags were not even filled.  I see great numbers in unit 346 so I dont see the decrease in permits has anything to do with low elk numbers.  Thats why its so hard to understand WDFW thought process when setting numbers.  Pick and day in sept and I can show anyone the elk are fine. That includes, calfs, cows, bulls..  and you won't even need to leave the road. 

[rtspring]

Lots of burnt area so grass will not be an issue, heck they even started new logging.  But, I did find 20 plus bio game cameras.  So something is going on!!!!

[CarbonHunter]

The herds could be better, no question.  The main problem is why are we as hunters suffering the lost of our heritage because of the WDFW’s continued failures to maintain the herd?  They have a documented history of failing to effectively manage our states wildlife.

[PlateauNDN]

that cant be the reason.  A lot of those cow tags were not even filled.  I see great numbers in unit 346 so I dont see the decrease in permits has anything to do with low elk numbers.  Thats why its so hard to understand WDFW thought process when setting numbers.  Pick and day in sept and I can show anyone the elk are fine. That includes, calfs, cows, bulls..  and you won't even need to leave the road. 

   but it's just easy to blame one factor of the equation by some so I guess we can roll with that.

[PlateauNDN]

Lots of burnt area so grass will not be an issue, heck they even started new logging.  But, I did find 20 plus bio game cameras.  So something is going on!!!!

Gonna be some good eating for elk/deer this year up there.

[jmscon]

The cow tags are used to reduce the herds to “objective” size. Just think of all the elk taken away, into the future, from ten cows being harvested, 100, 500! Cows live longer than bulls, produce calves for 10-15 years and then their offsprings offspring and so on.

So, if you want more numbers, reduce cow tags. 

[Naches Sportsman]

Lots of burnt area so grass will not be an issue, heck they even started new logging.  But, I did find 20 plus bio game cameras.  So something is going on!!!!

Gonna be some good eating for elk/deer this year up there.

And good area for the wolves to pick off the elk.

Here's a fact: there were wolves hanging out around the 1901 area last fall. They do know where the burn area is and where the elk went last year.

[jackelope]

I believe I read on here where people went to the feeding stations in February and March and they were already empty. Hard to believe there was a late winter kill.

Was this the trade off for the archery hunters fighting to keep an early cow hunt? 

The elk weren’t there because there wasn’t any snow in the higher country to push them down.

[bearpaw]

It's a perfect storm for the Elk, expect huge losses this is just the beginning.

   even worse for moose...