Got opinions on WA deer management?

[Humptulips]

Over the years there have been several threads similar to this brought up, the overwhelming majority agreeing that the numbers are declining, the hunting is going to hell and people looking for solutions, including limiting hunting.....and then there are those that want to to look the genius and chime in with the obvious....."nothing will change until we address the predators."

 If you are one of those geniuses, how about you come up with a solution to share, rather than simply spewing the obvious!

 Most are willing to discuss options, but not you. You hold steadfast in your belief that predator control must be first, yet you fail to mention how to get past the voters that have tied our hands.

 Lets here your solutions all you predator issue experts....and let's have realistic solutions please, WDFW trapping and relocating is NOT realistic.

 And longtrails, this is not in response to your post.

My idea is to make trapping a legal method of take for cougar. We could catch them if we were turned loose. All it takes is for the F&W Commission to give cougar dual big game/furbearer status. Last year 40% of PMAs never met quota so there is room within the quota system for more harvest. The quotas need to go or be increased but that will only help if we have the tools to harvest them.
I've been pushing this for at least 10 years. I think DFW is getting more used to the idea but they are still resistant. I have been told it will be on the table in the new cougar management plan. Not sure I believe much they say though.

[Skyvalhunter]

It would be nice if there was a consensus and people actually agreed to put that in there during the comment period.

[ribka]

Wasting your time unfortunately and yes that would be a great and cheap solution.

Mitch Friedman at conservation NW would never allow trapping hound hunting etc and his radical anti hunting group has gained a good deal of political clout now at WDFW and has fought any means, especially trapping, to help control exploding predator populations.  ( look at the insane amount of money wasted on that woman wolf moderator lol) I have have asked him and his spokesman that comes on here if they would consider this and has always been no. CNW has helped author and introduce numerous legislation to shutdown cat and wolf hunting and was always seem to have apologists on here that claim CNW is a good organization. Shame large corporations like CNW and not sportsmen are the only ones now with influence at WDFW now.   Every year hunting and fishing opportunities diminish in this state while user fees go up.

If you disagree would love hear otherwise.

Over the years there have been several threads similar to this brought up, the overwhelming majority agreeing that the numbers are declining, the hunting is going to hell and people looking for solutions, including limiting hunting.....and then there are those that want to to look the genius and chime in with the obvious....."nothing will change until we address the predators."

 If you are one of those geniuses, how about you come up with a solution to share, rather than simply spewing the obvious!

 Most are willing to discuss options, but not you. You hold steadfast in your belief that predator control must be first, yet you fail to mention how to get past the voters that have tied our hands.

 Lets here your solutions all you predator issue experts....and let's have realistic solutions please, WDFW trapping and relocating is NOT realistic.

 And longtrails, this is not in response to your post.

My idea is to make trapping a legal method of take for cougar. We could catch them if we were turned loose. All it takes is for the F&W Commission to give cougar dual big game/furbearer status. Last year 40% of PMAs never met quota so there is room within the quota system for more harvest. The quotas need to go or be increased but that will only help if we have the tools to harvest them.
I've been pushing this for at least 10 years. I think DFW is getting more used to the idea but they are still resistant. I have been told it will be on the table in the new cougar management plan. Not sure I believe much they say though.

[KFhunter]

Wasting your time unfortunately ....
If you disagree would love hear otherwise.

nope, no disagreement.  Well known fact that WDFW and CNW are spooning like a couple of young lovers.

[Humptulips]

Well, if you give before you start its a cinch there will be no changes.

[Tinmaniac]

Part of the problem with game management has to do with access.With big timber companies charging for access,the places that are open to those that don't buy keys are getting pounded hard.I am sure the guys that live and hunt in E.Wa have noticed the increase in hunters since the reduced access to hundreds of thousands of acres here in W.Wa.

[Skyvalhunter]

I wouldn't say the pay for access areas are abundant with game animals.

[syoungs]

I could see the state dividing up GMU's into regions.
Buy a region a deer tag, can only hunt region a etc.

The predator points thing could work the same,  taken 10 coyotes a bear and a cougar out of region A the past 4 years, that's x points.

I'm all for seeing the state going to some other method to help control the amount of pressure placed on animals, including better habitat management, which we may be on the road to soon with all the fires lately.

[huntnphool]

Part of the problem with game management has to do with access.With big timber companies charging for access,the places that are open to those that don't buy keys are getting pounded hard.I am sure the guys that live and hunt in E.Wa have noticed the increase in hunters since the reduced access to hundreds of thousands of acres here in W.Wa.

 With all due respect Tin, is the blacktail situation anywhere close to the mule deer situation?

[Tinmaniac]

My point is that many of us westerners would never head East if the gates and hundreds of thousands of acres were still available to hunt as they were 5 years ago.As for game in now gated areas I got my elk and deer in there every year for 25 years.

[Humptulips]

Part of the problem with game management has to do with access.With big timber companies charging for access,the places that are open to those that don't buy keys are getting pounded hard.I am sure the guys that live and hunt in E.Wa have noticed the increase in hunters since the reduced access to hundreds of thousands of acres here in W.Wa.

 With all due respect Tin, is the blacktail situation anywhere close to the mule deer situation?

Worse

[huntnphool]

My point is that many of us westerners would never head East if the gates and hundreds of thousands of acres were still available to hunt as they were 5 years ago.As for game in now gated areas I got my elk and deer in there every year for 25 years.

 I get it, but the diminishing mule deer numbers has nothing to do with that.

[Tinmaniac]

So if say 1000 guys that would hunt blacktail choose to hunt mule deer because of lack of access that will have no impact on mule deer?Thats like saying a lake that had 10 guys fishing a lake would have the same amount of fish left after 100 hit it for 5 years.

[huntnnw]

Permit-only draws for Muleys WTH?

exactly what needs to happen with mule deer in this state

[huntnphool]

So if say 1000 guys that would hunt blacktail choose to hunt mule deer because of lack of access that will have no impact on mule deer?Thats like saying a lake that had 10 guys fishing a lake would have the same amount of fish left after 100 hit it for 5 years.

 Correct.