Yakama Nation Sheep Tags

[NOCK NOCK]

I'm sure an adjustment will be made after this season and the quota will likely drop. Again, my opinion.

IMO, this is where a lot of the beef stems from. I don't feel folks are as worried about losing trophy quality, as they are about having an even lesser opportunity at hunting sheep ONCE in their lifetime.
Most cannot afford to buy a hunt, so their only chance is a draw.

This has been #1 on my bucket list for as long as the Swakane herd has been around. I hope to have that chance just ONCE, Some folks get that chance more than once without having to fork out the big bucks.
Personally I would love to have more than one sheep hunt in WA, BUT, my morals also tell me that is not fair to others with the same desires, so I would never hunt them a 2nd time knowing that I am effectively squashing another hunters dream. 

[trophyhunt]

I'm sure an adjustment will be made after this season and the quota will likely drop. Again, my opinion.

IMO, this is where a lot of the beef stems from. I don't feel folks are as worried about losing trophy quality, as they are about having an even lesser opportunity at hunting sheep ONCE in their lifetime.
Most cannot afford to buy a hunt, so their only chance is a draw.

This has been #1 on my bucket list for as long as the Swakane herd has been around. I hope to have that chance just ONCE, Some folks get that chance more than once without having to fork out the big bucks.
Personally I would love to have more than one sheep hunt in WA, BUT, my morals also tell me that is not fair to others with the same desires, so I would never hunt them a 2nd time knowing that I am effectively squashing another hunters dream. 

[Oh Mah]

Great point

[PlateauNDN]

Isn't this the 1st year it went to 2 tags? The state could expand to include the Asotin herd? Or open up other areas?

[Rainier10]

Isn't this the 1st year it went to 2 tags? The state could expand to include the Asotin herd? Or open up other areas?

2016 was the year they changed it to two tags.  So the last two it has been two tags.  This year was going to be two tags until the Yakama introduced two more tags.

The auction tag is the wild card and and up until the world record was shot in Swakane most of the auction tags were filled in the Manson unit I believe.

Again I am not a sheep guy but trying to be.

[MtnMuley]

Isn't this the 1st year it went to 2 tags? The state could expand to include the Asotin herd? Or open up other areas?

2016 was the year they changed it to two tags.  So the last two it has been two tags.  This year was going to be two tags until the Yakama introduced two more tags.

The auction tag is the wild card and and up until the world record was shot in Swakane most of the auction tags were filled in the Manson unit I believe.

Again I am not a sheep guy but trying to be.

Most of the auction tags weren't filled in Manson, but that's a mute point.

[meatwhack]

By looking at the herd count numbers provided the ram population has only marginally increased over the last 20 years so I’m guessing doubling the harvest will not be sustainable.

[Timberstalker]

Isn't this the 1st year it went to 2 tags? The state could expand to include the Asotin herd? Or open up other areas?

The Asotin herd is in shambles, from overharvest.

Haven't had general permit in there for years, maybe 5 now.

[Time Immemorial 1855]

Jesus there wasn't this much controversy over the state killing the entire Tieton herd.

[idahohuntr]

By looking at the herd count numbers provided the ram population has only marginally increased over the last 20 years so I’m guessing doubling the harvest will not be sustainable.

You are not reading the table correctly.  The composition data is not a total estimate of rams. 

[idahohuntr]

Jesus there wasn't this much controversy over the state killing the entire Tieton herd.

I hope the people so terrified of 2 tribal tags are actively fighting domestic sheep grazing on public lands near bighorn habitat...there's a real threat.

[tlbradford]

Jesus there wasn't this much controversy over the state killing the entire Tieton herd.

Yes there was. 

[PlateauNDN]

Isn't this the 1st year it went to 2 tags? The state could expand to include the Asotin herd? Or open up other areas?

The Asotin herd is in shambles, from overharvest.

Haven't had general permit in there for years, maybe 5 now.

Isn't the raffle tag for there?

[tlbradford]

Jesus there wasn't this much controversy over the state killing the entire Tieton herd.

I hope the people so terrified of 2 tribal tags are actively fighting domestic sheep grazing on public lands near bighorn habitat...there's a real threat.

Nobody has answered Bakers question, and it was the best question posed to everyone offering their 

The WDFW biologist set the tag number of 2 based on current data, and WITHOUT knowledge that another user group would be taking Rams out of this unit.  So that means that a biologist with access to more info than all of us here, thought 2 rams was what the herd could lose and still allow for growth and continued health.  If he thought more could be harvested he would have set the tag number at a higher amount.  Since he did not raise the tag numbers, it is not that big of a leap to assume he felt a harvest of 2 rams would meet the wildlife plan for this herd.

So, do I agree that a single year taking 4 to 5 rams is going to hurt the herd.  No, it probably won't.  But, I sure as hell am way less qualified to make that call, and so is everyone else in this chat room, than a wildlife bio who's job is to manage this species.

[Timberstalker]

Isn't this the 1st year it went to 2 tags? The state could expand to include the Asotin herd? Or open up other areas?

The Asotin herd is in shambles, from overharvest.

Haven't had general permit in there for years, maybe 5 now.

Isn't the raffle tag for there?

Raffle is for 169 - Wenaha. Out of the Asotin area.
And Hall Mtn.