Any Moose Gone

[Elkaholic daWg]

 Maybe due to a heavy workload this year I wasn't paying attention that I was uninformed but at friend pointed out a BIG change to the OIL Moose permits this year....
 What has been any moose  for the 20 plus years we've be  worshiping the "Not Selected" gods in June..................... this years Game regulations  in big RED letters says "any ANTLERED BULL" moose...

 
 Does anyone have any input on the reasoning (or lack of) behind this change that removes immense opportunities from anyone who draws this tag going forward? I would much rather shoot a bull but Would  consider a antlerless in the waning days of the season.
They whine about their budget and pull things like this. I will respond the only way I can

This little stunt they pulled this year  by changing ANY moose to any "Antlered bull moose" after 20 years just cost them my SP application $$ for Antlerless moose

 Now to figure out what to spend that $13.70 on   that is unless there's a "good, logical, reason for them to have removed MORE opportunity from us

 My first guess is the greentards needed more groceries for their pet wolves.........
And lets not forget over abundant cats too due to the loss of hound hunting ages ago..
Thanks to all for responding  and educating me on the issue
 Seems I need to think this over before I buy my SP apps...

[jackelope]

Management.

[Alan K]

Struggling moose population.

[hunterofelk]

Heard something about ticks killing moose.

[bearpaw]

wolves and ticks have greatly reduced moose numbers, if the trend continues there will be fewer moose permits as years go by

[Miles]

Washington has had their head buried in the sand for too long.   I predicted a struggling moose herd in Washington years ago when they thought moose were doing great.  I’m sure I have posts on here from several years ago stating the same, and I remember hearing something to the effect of “ticks aren’t the problem, we’ve always had them”.   Hate to say it.... no I don’t,  told you so.  Blame wolves all you want, but ticks will kill more.   I’ve seen firsthand what they can do and that’s in areas of the US with no wolves.


I saw similarities (in Washington)to what has happened in eastern states way back in the 2006-2008 timeframe.  Ticks were starting back then.   Those who spent any time in the woods around heavily populated moose areas should have seen signs.

[sagerat]

Washington has had their head buried in the sand for too long.   I predicted a struggling moose herd in Washington years ago when they thought moose were doing great.  I’m sure I have posts on here from several years ago stating the same, and I remember hearing something to the effect of “ticks aren’t the problem, we’ve always had them”.   Hate to say it.... no I don’t,  told you so.  Blame wolves all you want, but ticks will kill more.   I’ve seen firsthand what they can do and that’s in areas of the US with no wolves.


I saw similarities (in Washington)to what has happened in eastern states way back in the 2006-2008 timeframe.  Ticks were starting back then.   Those who spent any time in the woods around heavily populated moose areas should have seen signs.

This is depressing. Seems sort of like CWD and hoof rot, what can you do about it? Probably not much.

[jackelope]

Washington has had their head buried in the sand for too long.   I predicted a struggling moose herd in Washington years ago when they thought moose were doing great.  I’m sure I have posts on here from several years ago stating the same, and I remember hearing something to the effect of “ticks aren’t the problem, we’ve always had them”.   Hate to say it.... no I don’t,  told you so.  Blame wolves all you want, but ticks will kill more.   I’ve seen firsthand what they can do and that’s in areas of the US with no wolves.


I saw similarities (in Washington)to what has happened in eastern states way back in the 2006-2008 timeframe.  Ticks were starting back then.   Those who spent any time in the woods around heavily populated moose areas should have seen signs.

Its crazy. The most recent moose studies done by WDFW says they’re doing great, yet they’re dropping tag numbers like mad. It’d be sweet if they make up their minds.

[lewy]

Why have the ticks taken such a toll in the last ten years, not just locally but across the country? What’s changed?

[dreamunelk]

Why have the ticks taken such a toll in the last ten years, not just locally but across the country? What’s changed?

Change in weather is one hypothesis. 

[257 Wby Mag]

Ummmmm, ya, we have wolves now, wolves eat moose. Wdfw should do away with cow tags as well. You'll slowly start to see permits dwindle, more than they have. A moose permit will become as difficult to draw as a goat tag, then a Washington moose permit will be like drawing a desert sheep tag..... it's coming....

[JL]

Just finished spending a couple days scouting/camping in 113 and 111. Pretty smoked when I got home, so I decided I'd nap. Pulled 2 ticks off of me crawling up my leg. I can't recall ever finding ticks on me in those units before?

I can't offer much as a reference historically, as I am relatively new to these parts, but I have not observed what I'd consider a lack of moose in the NE yet, to what I can compare/reference to Northern New England. We seemed to frequently encounter nice specimens all of last elk season, actually. The ticks, as stated earlier, will eventually hurt/demolish them and the Mulies too, imo, if they're not doing so already. They are too good at transferring the diseases which whitetails are often immune to, or that they can still propagate with, even while hosting.

I've been successful at trying to spend about a day a week, on average, hunting or scouting in the NE over the past 2 years. Imo, ticks would be an absolute death sentence for the Moose. In addition, and this may actually be a more concerning issue, I absolutely can't escape the wolves. They are everywhere in the 113, 111, 108, etc... I am blown away by how prevalent they are. Even if they don't directly kill, they indirectly do so by displacing animals from seasonal habitats. I located an area with good moose/deer/elk sign 5 weeks ago and returned to it this weekend. I found no more fresh elk or moose sign but did find (3) deer carcasses and fresh slimey wolf scat, not to mention all of the wolves on my cam.

Vermont is supposedly only offering 14 moose permits this year. That's really bad. I spoke to one of my closest friends who has a camp there, in the Northern Kingdom, as well as family in the Allagash of ME. He feels they are faring better in ME, at least. NH seems to be in the middle.

[JL]

Could someone please let me know if these provide coordinates? I'd enjoy sharing more photos assuming location's masked. Thank you.

Someone's watching...

[257 Wby Mag]

First one is a coyote, rest are good wolf pics.. people need to start humpin em up....

[JL]

Agreed! I just included that pic for perspective and time context.

[sagerat]

Those pics creep me out. I need to draw moose this year...

[trophyhunt]

Ummmmm, ya, we have wolves now, wolves eat moose. Wdfw should do away with cow tags as well. You'll slowly start to see permits dwindle, more than they have. A moose permit will become as difficult to draw as a goat tag, then a Washington moose permit will be like drawing a desert sheep tag..... it's coming....

and that is Wdfw won’t address the problem, that would be admitting the wolves are involved.

[JL]

Sagerat, it's funny you say that because that's the exact way I felt... creeped out. Just like the yote and the deer, you could see it in their eyes.

Like the others I've came across, this one wouldn't even show up in one of those WA "pack maps." I spotted tracks, of maybe a "pack" of 3 walking smackout some miles away 5 weeks prior. Doubting it's the same ones, because if they were so rare, then why do I pick them up everywhere I go?