Is Eastern Washington Elk Hunting dying?

[buglebrush]

The fault is 100% WDFW's.  Their refusal to aggressively manage predators has brought us to this point, and will soon take us over the edge of no return.  I am absolutely sickened by what they've done to us, and especially future generations.  My Son will never experience the magic of September like he could've if WDFW didn't believe in over protecting predators at the cost of all other wildlife. 

[dreamingbig]

The fault is 100% WDFW's.  Their refusal to aggressively manage predators has brought us to this point, and will soon take us over the edge of no return.  I am absolutely sickened by what they've done to us, and especially future generations.  My Son will never experience the magic of September like he could've if WDFW didn't believe in over protecting predators at the cost of all other wildlife.

Can’t disagree but you also have to blame the citizens and their love for furry predators.  The states hands are tied a bit when it comes to effective management of lions and bears.  And we have had a governor who loves wolves.  All those are hard to overcome even if the commission only followed science instead of politics.


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[dreamingbig]

I think a radical but effective approach to keep hunting around longer would be to go to 100% bowhunting for ungulates.  It would reduce harvest rates without limiting opportunities afield.  They could still give out the same amount of tags.

You could still offer rifle hunts for youth and elderly to help offset the Hunter recruitment issue.

And I will say it again it is radical but not without merit.  After all the proposal to ban all sales of fossil fuel vehicles keeps getting traction.


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[buglebrush]

The fault is 100% WDFW's.  Their refusal to aggressively manage predators has brought us to this point, and will soon take us over the edge of no return.  I am absolutely sickened by what they've done to us, and especially future generations.  My Son will never experience the magic of September like he could've if WDFW didn't believe in over protecting predators at the cost of all other wildlife.

Can’t disagree but you also have to blame the citizens and their love for furry predators.  The states hands are tied a bit when it comes to effective management of lions and bears.  And we have had a governor who loves wolves.  All those are hard to overcome even if the commission only followed science instead of politics.


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By this logic we shouldn't blame the SS officers who exterminated people at Auschwitz.  ( Only slightly kidding) When gave you heard the WDFW telling the truth about predators in this state?  When's the last time they got on Television and begged the state to allow hounds for cats, OTC spring bear, bear baiting, etc... For the most part it's obvious that the Biologists, etc care more for their jobs than telling the truth.

[Mr Mykiss]

Of course it's not dying!! Did you see the proposed regs?? There will be several draw tags available this year!!!

[Rainier10]

Of course it's not dying!! Did you see the proposed regs?? There will be several draw tags available this year!!!

If it were dying they would have said "There will be a couple of draw tags available this year!!!"

Clearly we are in good shape with several tags available. 

[dreamingbig]

By this logic we shouldn't blame the SS officers who exterminated people at Auschwitz.  ( Only slightly kidding) When gave you heard the WDFW telling the truth about predators in this state?  When's the last time they got on Television and begged the state to allow hounds for cats, OTC spring bear, bear baiting, etc... For the most part it's obvious that the Biologists, etc care more for their jobs than telling the truth.

My point was it was much better when hound hunting and baiting was allowed.  You are correct though in that they didn’t fight and haven’t fought.  We need a commission that is pro hunting.  The governor appointed group certainly is not.

[Karl Blanchard]

I can only speak to yakima GMU's but this last year was one of the best calf crops I've seen in years and overall elk numbers are robust. I said it last year as well. The drastic permit cuts were not warranted and a knee jerk reaction by fish and feathers. This year will be the same with their counts. Elk are scattered this year due to no snow so if they fly the "winter range" for their counts they will say there's no elk. Elk are coming out of our ears around here. It's the only game animal we have in yak county because are deer are just a shell of what they once were. Its sad.

[dreamingbig]

I can only speak to yakima GMU's but this last year was one of the best calf crops I've seen in years and overall elk numbers are robust. I said it last year as well. The drastic permit cuts were not warranted and a knee jerk reaction by fish and feathers. This year will be the same with their counts. Elk are scattered this year due to no snow so if they fly the "winter range" for their counts they will say there's no elk. Elk are coming out of our ears around here. It's the only game animal we have in yak county because are deer are just a shell of what they once were. Its sad.

I hope you are right.  The pathetic quality elk permits are being proposed again and they will not even consider archery antlerless until after their counts.  So as of right now the only thing you can hunt for elk in 356 in archery season is a spike or draw one of 7 bull tags.


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[Karl Blanchard]

I can only speak to yakima GMU's but this last year was one of the best calf crops I've seen in years and overall elk numbers are robust. I said it last year as well. The drastic permit cuts were not warranted and a knee jerk reaction by fish and feathers. This year will be the same with their counts. Elk are scattered this year due to no snow so if they fly the "winter range" for their counts they will say there's no elk. Elk are coming out of our ears around here. It's the only game animal we have in yak county because are deer are just a shell of what they once were. Its sad.

I hope you are right.  The pathetic quality elk permits are being proposed again and they will not even consider archery antlerless until after their counts.  So as of right now the only thing you can hunt for elk in 356 in archery season is a spike or draw one of 7 bull tags.


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we do not have an elk population problem. Are we down from the 100 YEAR ALL TIME HIGH of 2013 or 14 or whatever year it was, absolutely. Populations will always rise and fall. You can't look at a 3 year window and scream that the sky is falling. That logic is silly (not saying that's what you're doing).

I spend a lot of days in these hills. In almost every gmu. If there is a low elk population then the only elk left must be following me around 

[dreamingbig]

I captured some great trail cam footage this year.  There were plenty of elk running past my one camera!


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[buglebrush]

I can only speak to yakima GMU's but this last year was one of the best calf crops I've seen in years and overall elk numbers are robust. I said it last year as well. The drastic permit cuts were not warranted and a knee jerk reaction by fish and feathers. This year will be the same with their counts. Elk are scattered this year due to no snow so if they fly the "winter range" for their counts they will say there's no elk. Elk are coming out of our ears around here. It's the only game animal we have in yak county because are deer are just a shell of what they once were. Its sad.

I hope you are right.  The pathetic quality elk permits are being proposed again and they will not even consider archery antlerless until after their counts.  So as of right now the only thing you can hunt for elk in 356 in archery season is a spike or draw one of 7 bull tags.


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we do not have an elk population problem. Are we down from the 100 YEAR ALL TIME HIGH of 2013 or 14 or whatever year it was, absolutely. Populations will always rise and fall. You can't look at a 3 year window and scream that the sky is falling. That logic is silly (not saying that's what you're doing).

I spend a lot of days in these hills. In almost every gmu. If there is a low elk population then the only elk left must be following me around 

Great to hear!  My comments and experiences are totally related to the NE Corner, and it's a different story up here.   

[buglebrush]

Just another example of why we desperately need OTC spring bear.   

[Karl Blanchard]

 We also need more logging and forest fires. I've said it a million times, its easiest to just blame predation but loss of USABLE habitat is a pandemic across the west. Just because a forest hasn't been turned into condo's doesn't mean it hasn't been lost as productive habitat

[2MANY]

Guy should have been shooting a gun instead of a video camera.