Moose units

[bornhunter]

15 bull moose points. Hunt alone. Dont know NE very well. Have hunted WT once in unit 105. Any suggestions on best unit for access to moose areas? Any info on the parker lake ML unit. Have to apply soon. Any info appreciated.

[Eli346]

Bearpaw has some maps for sale that are cheap compared to the money you would be spending on gas for scouting. There's also a guy on here that posts every year volunteering to help and he seems to know what he's talking about. I don't think he charges. Either research on here and try to find the post or keep your eyes open as he seems to pop up with his posts every year.

[TomT]

 We hunted the Parker Lake unit for 11 days last October.   Saw grand total of two bulls and one cow.   We did fill the tag, but according to the statistics on WDFW we were the only ones of four tag holders to be successful. I don’t know what’s going on up there, but clearly the population is down.

[NRA4LIFE]

I drew the Mt. Spokane North antlerless tag in 2016.  I seen a cow and a calf on one of four scouting missions.  Hunted a total of 13 days and seen one small bull and the cow I killed. I wouldn't suggest that unit as there is no National Forest land.  Mostly walk in on state and timber lands or IEP which you need to buy a permit for.

[bornhunter]

Ok thanks everyone. I will keep my eyes open for that post. I will get back on here if I get selected.

[Ridgeratt]

So when you are chasing the "bear" snoop around.

[benhuntin]

Not that I know anything about moose but it makes sense that in units they give out more tags there is probably more moose.


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[CAMPMEAT]

Keep an eye out on the flooding. The entire Curlew area lowlands is just about ready to put in ferry service, it's bad.

[greenhead_killer]

Not that I know anything about moose but it makes sense that in units they give out more tags there is probably more moose.


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come on, you think that’s really the case lol

[bornhunter]

So when you are chasing the "bear" snoop around.

Leaving Wednesday. Will stay till saturday then home. Then leave on the 21st hopefully staying till the end of the month.

[bearpaw]

We hunted the Parker Lake unit for 11 days last October.   Saw grand total of two bulls and one cow.   We did fill the tag, but according to the statistics on WDFW we were the only ones of four tag holders to be successful. I don’t know what’s going on up there, but clearly the population is down.

Sadly your story is typical of what is going on with our moose. I've been raving for several years now how the moose are disappearing. I know some hunters are hunting almost every day of the season to fill their tag. I've discussed this with other knowledgeable local hunters, including friends who used to shed hunt primarily for moose sheds, they have mostly quit focusing on moose sheds because there are so few to be found now. I would say moose are maybe 30% of the population we had 5 to 10 years ago.

I hunted an area last fall for moose with a hunter that in past years I would average seeing 5 to 10 bulls a day. last fall we hunted 7 days and you can count the bulls we saw on one hand. 

TICKS & WOLVES
Some people will try to blame it all on ticks but that doesn't explain the moose hair in the wolf turds and the fact that there are very few moose calves and mostly adult moose which are harder for wolves to kill? Most moose units have been hit by both ticks and wolves. This is nothing new, all the other states with wolves had their moose disappear when wolves multiplied. Now that Idaho is killing wolves for several years now we are actually seeing more moose again in several units, killing wolves is helping moose recover in Idaho.

But, don't hold your breath for WA to manage wolves! I expect WA moose to get fewer in numbers every year as wolves climb in numbers! Moose are almost non-existent in Yellowstone today!

ELK & DEER
Elk are still increasing in most areas of NE WA, I don't think the wolves are impacting elk nearly as bad as the moose, we are still seeing as many or more elk every year in most areas. Whitetail are rebounding from the blue tongue and bad winter too, better in some areas than others, especially increasing around private land. Mule Deer just keep disappearing, cougar focus on mule deer and there are simply way too many cats plus wolves now!

[Ridgerunner]

Stay away from hangman, that unit fell off the cliff too.  WA moose is definitely in decline I’m afraid.


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[CAMPMEAT]

We hunted the Parker Lake unit for 11 days last October.   Saw grand total of two bulls and one cow.   We did fill the tag, but according to the statistics on WDFW we were the only ones of four tag holders to be successful. I don’t know what’s going on up there, but clearly the population is down.

Your story is typical of what is going on with our moose. I've been raving for several years now how the moose are disappearing. I know some hunters are hunting almost every day of the season to fill their tag. I've discussed this with other knowledgeable local hunters, including friends who used to shed hunt primarily for moose sheds, they have mostly quit focusing on moose sheds because there are so few to be found now. I would say moose are maybe 30% of the population we had 5 to 10 years ago.

TICKS & WOLVES
Some people will try to blame it all on ticks but that doesn't explain the moose hair in the wolf turds and the fact that there are very few moose calves? Most moose units have been hit by both ticks and wolves. This is nothing new, all the other states with wolves had their moose disappear when wolves multiplied. Now that Idaho is killing wolves for several years now we are actually seeing more moose again, it's making a difference.

But, don't hold your breath for WA to manage wolves! I expect WA moose to get fewer in numbers every year as wolves climb in numbers!

Total B.S. Something needs to be done about the leftist WDFW. Why can't hunting groups file lawsuits against them and the conservation groups, or has it been done ?

[RB]

Keep an eye out on the flooding. The entire Curlew area lowlands is just about ready to put in ferry service, it's bad.

Don't get east side news on the west side whats going on around Curlew/Republic?? And yes Moose sign has been down from what I have seen.

[bornhunter]

Any reason why the problem can be taken care of without the state's help?

[Timberstalker]

Any reason why the problem can be taken care of without the state's help?

You’d get less time in prison for shooting a Homo Sapien.

[sagerat]

Is there anything at all that can be done about the ticks? I’d donate to the cause if there was one.

[bornhunter]

Any reason why the problem can be taken care of without the state's help?

You’d get less time in prison for shooting a Homo Sapien.

Its all about keeping quiet. Loose lips sinks ships!

[bearpaw]

Is there anything at all that can be done about the ticks? I’d donate to the cause if there was one.

That's a good question! Moose numbers might quit dropping if one of the big problems was solved. We can't do much about wolves but ticks are not an endangered specie. It seems I heard that dogs treated with Ivermectin would become tick free. I wonder if moose could be darted with Ivermectin? 

@WAcoyotehunter

[B4noon]

Absolutely ivomec will work on moose only gray area is a 28 day withdrawal on the meat for consumption but if they did it post hunting season not an issue

[bearpaw]

Next, I'm wondering why volunteers couldn't be trained and allowed to dart moose at a good time of the year for doing that?

[sagerat]

Next, I'm wondering why volunteers couldn't be trained and allowed to dart moose at a good time of the year for doing that?

Great idea

[vandeman17]

Next, I'm wondering why volunteers couldn't be trained and allowed to dart moose at a good time of the year for doing that?

Sign me up!

[B4noon]

Volunteers could be utilized however before it can get under way the wdfw tick biologist would probably have to conduct a ten year study to determine if the ivomec humanly killed the tick or if the tick suffered then there would be the impact to the other native plant life and red toed tree frogs and since where running out of carbou and other snacks in the northeast corner we would have to  enroll the wolf population into the meals on wheels program to make sure they had a healthy free and reduced lunch over the course of the 28 day withdrawal period on the meat before they could start eating moose again if I had to guess 20 years from now when were down to less moose then caribou they will have an ah ha moment and come up with a brilliant idea after a liberating round table discussion that they now think we should control ticks and predators to save the few moose we have left for the wilderness watchers who are also getting meals on wheels and contribute nothing to the resource

[NOCK NOCK]

 

[WAcoyotehunter]

Is there anything at all that can be done about the ticks? I’d donate to the cause if there was one.

That's a good question! Moose numbers might quit dropping if one of the big problems was solved. We can't do much about wolves but ticks are not an endangered specie. It seems I heard that dogs treated with Ivermectin would become tick free. I wonder if moose could be darted with Ivermectin? 

@WAcoyotehunter

I will look into it.  that would be great!

[bearpaw]

Is there anything at all that can be done about the ticks? I’d donate to the cause if there was one.

That's a good question! Moose numbers might quit dropping if one of the big problems was solved. We can't do much about wolves but ticks are not an endangered specie. It seems I heard that dogs treated with Ivermectin would become tick free. I wonder if moose could be darted with Ivermectin? 

@WAcoyotehunter

I will look into it.  that would be great!

 

[sagerat]

Is there anything at all that can be done about the ticks? I’d donate to the cause if there was one.

That's a good question! Moose numbers might quit dropping if one of the big problems was solved. We can't do much about wolves but ticks are not an endangered specie. It seems I heard that dogs treated with Ivermectin would become tick free. I wonder if moose could be darted with Ivermectin? 

@WAcoyotehunter

I will look into it.  that would be great!

 

[jackelope]

We use ivermectin as a wormer.

Is it effective against ticks? 

[KFhunter]

We use ivermectin as a wormer.

Is it effective against ticks?

Ya, they suck poisoned blood and drop off in a few days.  Ticks don't have a blood brain barrier like mammals do, ivomec doesn't penetrate that blood brain barrier very well so mammals are safer with it their system. 

Some mammals have a sensitivity (think allergy) to it so they get less of a dose.  Pigs can nearly drink the stuff.

[KFhunter]

@bearpaw

I'm more interested in iversalt now instead of darting moose, just put out a salt lick laced with ivomec.  The Russian's are testing it with good results. 

Abstract
As test objects served elks and dappled deer infested with helminths. The purpose of this work is to study the efficacy of a new antiparasitic drug «Ivirsalt» used for prevention of helminth infection in wild hoofed animals. The therapeutic efficacy of new anthelmintic drug «Ivirsalt» for nematodosis of wild hoofed animals was tested on 120 dappled deer, 7 elks and 1 roe deeron the territory of Losiny Ostrov National Park (Elk Island), Moscow. «Ivirsalt» is provided in form of salt lick briquettes with a mass of 5 kg containing the active ingredient ivermectin and sodium chloride in the proportion 0, 1: 99, and 9. We put salt lick briquettes to the feed-troughs on feeding places and saline soils based on the average daily salt consumption. The preparation was given within 14 days taking into account that animals approach salt lick briquettes not less than once a week. To determine the efficacy of preparation by the method of coproscopy the fecal samples were collected before and every 10 days after distribution of salt lick briquettes. Materials and methods: Standard lifetime and post-mortem helminthological examinations of animals (coproovoscopy, K.I. Skryabin method of full postmortem helminthological examination, 1928). The research results showed that the intensity of gastrointestinal nematode infestations of dappled deer aged 1,5 to 3 years has decreased by 5,4 times, in deer older than 3 years-by 3,1 times.

Use of Salt lick Briquettes «Ivirsalt» on... (PDF Download Available). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304809183_Use_of_Salt_lick_Briquettes_Ivirsalt_on_Natural_Areas_of_Preferential_Protection_in_Russia_for_the_Prevention_of_Parasitic_Diseases_in_Wild_Hoofed_Animals [accessed May 21 2018].

[KFhunter]

from New Hampshire fish and wildlife
https://wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/moose/index.html

The best ways to reduce the impacts of winter ticks would be to add back the three weeks of winter we have lost due to climate change, or reduce moose density. That said, we don’t know, given the current weather parameters, what moose density may be most effective for balancing the reduction of tick impacts, while maintaining a viable moose population. Barring the longer winters or fewer moose scenarios, there is no viable way to reduce ticks on the landscape. Many people have written in suggesting we:

 

put tick collars on moose;
hunt the animals with paintballs filled with insecticide;
put up cattle rollers that would automatically apply insecticide to moose that walked under them;
place insecticide-laced salt licks out for moose;
spray the woods to eliminate ticks;
burn the woods to eliminate ticks; or
release robots that would apply insecticide to the ground;
stock guinea fowl to eat the ticks.
 

Let’s address these suggestions individually:

Ivermectin, when ingested in the proper dose, does eliminate ticks from moose. Getting the right dose into the moose on a monthly basis is the problem. This has been used with some success in Texas on deer using corn as bait, but they are now finding that the ticks of concern are developing immunity to both ingested and applied acaricides.  In addition, the time of year when ticks are infesting moose is the time of year when moose are least likely to come to any bait.

[KFhunter]

Wolves haven't got them all yet 

Here's a big old pregger cow I came across today, she was bagged up and had a droopy vulva, so she's ready to drop soon.

[W_Ellison2011]

I really want to see our Moose population keep going. I'm finally putting in for some of the tags lol! If they need volunteers for darting the moose. They could just post it up like they did for the counting elk with hoof rot. Only difference would be to train the people to use dart guns, which wouldn't be hard, or if they went the salt lick route I'm sure a LOT of us hunters wouldn't mind placing the licks and putting cams up so we could verify the licks being used by the moose on a regular basis.

[bearpaw]

Thanks for the info KF, the iversalt sounds interesting, but the way it sounds Ivermectin has to be given in repeated doses in the proper quantity to be effective, that sort of shoots that option out the window if the moose need it mostly in the winter.

We have found two dead moose this spring so far, wasn't sure what killed them, most likely ticks or wolves.

[Axle]

Good info here! 

One thing to keep in mind: over in euroland, elk are what we call moose.
Some folks don't know that.
It's an interesting story as to why we call them moose but that's for another thread.

[trophyhunt]

Wolves haven't got them all yet 

Here's a big old pregger cow I came across today, she was bagged up and had a droopy vulva, so she's ready to drop soon.

Is it just me or does she look horrible?

[W_Ellison2011]

Wolves haven't got them all yet 

Here's a big old pregger cow I came across today, she was bagged up and had a droopy vulva, so she's ready to drop soon.

Is it just me or does she look horrible?

Ribs showing and hair loss on front quarters. That's what she looks like to me. Lets hope he has that baby and recovers back to being fat and happy.

[KFhunter]

She didn't look to bad for just coming out of winter in the wolf epicenter of WA, she blew her winter coat and she was an older cow, but all in all didn't look to bad.   The bino's showed a lot more than the crappy cell picture.

[W_Ellison2011]

She didn't look to bad for just coming out of winter in the wolf epicenter of WA, she blew her winter coat and she was an older cow, but all in all didn't look to bad.   The bino's showed a lot more than the crappy cell picture.

I believe you. As I said though, lets hope she drops a good healthy calf and fattens herself and that baby up for future generations!

[acnewman55]

“The ticks were here first”


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