WDFW announces mountain goat removal in Olympic National Park

[kselkhunter]

It seems ironic that for years whenever there has been a need to cull animals and hired groups are used to remove them, the hue and cry of “why don’t they use hunters?” rings loudly.

Now there is an offer to use hunters and many can’t seem to run away fast enough.

I can only speak for myself but in todays political environment and even over the last 25 or so years you would never hear that "hue or cry" from me, back in the day, hell yes, like I said before I would have been first in line for something like this but like everybody always says "this isn't the good ole days". A different time, heck 40,50 years ago hunters who took care of this "business" would have probably be touted as hometown heroes, had articles written in local papers of how the renegade, evasive goats were eradicated out of our national park to keep the trails safe for our citizens. In todays environment of politics, special interest groups, the internet and high-powered animal rights groups with deep pockets and support this is nothing I as a hunter and sportsman would want to be involved in because I see no positives in it for hunters or the health of our hunting heritage, I do see the very likely potential of a lot of negative coming out of this for our hunting community and in this state of Washington especially, thats the last thing we as hunters need, let the government handle this one by themselves, let them have the blood on their hands, not we as hunters, like I said before, this has nothing but bad written all over it for hunters and also like Ive said many times, I truly hope Im wrong. Yes, I'm old enough and fortunate enough to have lived and hunted in those "good ole days" in this state and trust me on this, we are no where close nowadays, especially on how we as hunters are viewed. What Im saying is the truth.....my  .........carry on.

This isn't a program for hunters.  This is volunteer employees of the NPS signing up to assist with the culling operation.  Based on my understanding the priority of team selection will likely be  1) Employees of companies that do this professionally willing to donate their time, 2) Outfitter/Guides with goat/backcountry experience willing to donate their time, 3) Recreational hunters with prior mountain goat/sheep hunting experience, and 4) Recreational hunters with extensive backcountry and mountaineering experience.


You have to detail all information in the application you submit, with dates/success rates/elevation/etc. of past experiences.  Mountaineering/climbing experiences. Etc.  History as a guide/outfitter.  Backpacking experiences, naming wilderness areas and national parks and mileage details.


There are lots of hopeful teams applying.  But most of the 18 teams will be made up of professionals, guides, and very experienced folks (ie Karl's, Shane's, etc. type of teams).   I'm assuming they're going to get well over 30 teams applying.   Many recreational hunt teams applying are not going to get selected.   Folks are so worried about the dead goats images for PETA damaging "hunters"....the NPS is also worried about stories of inexperienced volunteers bodies getting airlifted after falling off a cliff.....they're taking the screening process seriously.   Air gunning from helicopters will be most of the effort, and that is likely to attract much of the PETA heat initially.  They closed sections of the park where goat relocation efforts are happening, and I'm expecting them to close some sections when the volunteer teams go in as well. 


The antis already beat this to death 6 years ago.  Sure there will be plenty of protests and lawsuits again now that the culling part of the program has finally arrived.  And it's possible they succeed in getting it stopped, we'll see.   Part of the application also includes detailing your experiences in personally dealing with public outcry in prior government employment or volunteer roles.   Both the NPS and the volunteers that applied are going into this with eyes wide open.

[bigmacc]

I’m not sure how much of a fair comparison it is, but for several years in the early 2000s I hunted the high buck hunt in one of the Olympic wilderness areas. We were about five miles in from the trailhead. We packed in and out with rifles on our backs, and with deer on our backs coming out when successful. We encountered hikers in limited numbers on most trips and never had a bad experience with any of them. There seemed to be a respect that we got there on our own two feet, the same way they did. We didn’t bother them, and they didn’t bother us.

I hope that whoever takes this opportunity is able to achieve their objectives without a lot of adverse reactions.  Good luck to the hunters.

Its not a fair comparison Bob, and heres the difference, back in my heydays (1950,s,60,s,70,s,) those same hikers would have actually helped pack out your gear and would have wanted pictures taken with your deer! ....times have changed

[Bob33]

I’m not sure how much of a fair comparison it is, but for several years in the early 2000s I hunted the high buck hunt in one of the Olympic wilderness areas. We were about five miles in from the trailhead. We packed in and out with rifles on our backs, and with deer on our backs coming out when successful. We encountered hikers in limited numbers on most trips and never had a bad experience with any of them. There seemed to be a respect that we got there on our own two feet, the same way they did. We didn’t bother them, and they didn’t bother us.

I hope that whoever takes this opportunity is able to achieve their objectives without a lot of adverse reactions.  Good luck to the hunters.

Its not a fair comparison Bob, and heres the difference, back in my heydays (1950,s,60,s,70,s,) those same hikers would have actually helped pack out your gear and would have wanted pictures taken with your deer! ....times have changed

For sure my body agrees with that.

[Karl Blanchard]

It seems ironic that for years whenever there has been a need to cull animals and hired groups are used to remove them, the hue and cry of “why don’t they use hunters?” rings loudly.

Now there is an offer to use hunters and many can’t seem to run away fast enough.

I can only speak for myself but in todays political environment and even over the last 25 or so years you would never hear that "hue or cry" from me, back in the day, hell yes, like I said before I would have been first in line for something like this but like everybody always says "this isn't the good ole days". A different time, heck 40,50 years ago hunters who took care of this "business" would have probably be touted as hometown heroes, had articles written in local papers of how the renegade, evasive goats were eradicated out of our national park to keep the trails safe for our citizens. In todays environment of politics, special interest groups, the internet and high-powered animal rights groups with deep pockets and support this is nothing I as a hunter and sportsman would want to be involved in because I see no positives in it for hunters or the health of our hunting heritage, I do see the very likely potential of a lot of negative coming out of this for our hunting community and in this state of Washington especially, thats the last thing we as hunters need, let the government handle this one by themselves, let them have the blood on their hands, not we as hunters, like I said before, this has nothing but bad written all over it for hunters and also like Ive said many times, I truly hope Im wrong. Yes, I'm old enough and fortunate enough to have lived and hunted in those "good ole days" in this state and trust me on this, we are no where close nowadays, especially on how we as hunters are viewed. What Im saying is the truth.....my  .........carry on.

This isn't a program for hunters.  This is volunteer employees of the NPS signing up to assist with the culling operation.  Based on my understanding the priority of team selection will likely be  1) Employees of companies that do this professionally willing to donate their time, 2) Outfitter/Guides with goat/backcountry experience willing to donate their time, 3) Recreational hunters with prior mountain goat/sheep hunting experience, and 4) Recreational hunters with extensive backcountry and mountaineering experience.


You have to detail all information in the application you submit, with dates/success rates/elevation/etc. of past experiences.  Mountaineering/climbing experiences. Etc.  History as a guide/outfitter.  Backpacking experiences, naming wilderness areas and national parks and mileage details.


There are lots of hopeful teams applying.  But most of the 18 teams will be made up of professionals, guides, and very experienced folks (ie Karl's, Shane's, etc. type of teams).   I'm assuming they're going to get well over 30 teams applying.   Many recreational hunt teams applying are not going to get selected.   Folks are so worried about the dead goats images for PETA damaging "hunters"....the NPS is also worried about stories of inexperienced volunteers bodies getting airlifted after falling off a cliff.....they're taking the screening process seriously.   Air gunning from helicopters will be most of the effort, and that is likely to attract much of the PETA heat initially.  They closed sections of the park where goat relocation efforts are happening, and I'm expecting them to close some sections when the volunteer teams go in as well. 


The antis already beat this to death 6 years ago.  Sure there will be plenty of protests and lawsuits again now that the culling part of the program has finally arrived.  And it's possible they succeed in getting it stopped, we'll see.   Part of the application also includes detailing your experiences in personally dealing with public outcry in prior government employment or volunteer roles.   Both the NPS and the volunteers that applied are going into this with eyes wide open.

  kselk, really appreciate all your insight on this. Lot of hysteria flying around and it's nice to have data that is a bit more focused.


As for the dead bodies everywhere and the wonton waste of game claims, all the guys from groups that actually have a shot at participating in this are all on the same page.....lot of heavy packs will come out of those mountains. Can't speak to others but my 6 man team will be able to move some serious loads. We've got special operations guys, a sniper, lots of medical training, mountaineering qualifications, a competition shooter, sheep and goat hunters, an emt/smoke jumper, and all are well accomplished backpack hunters. Every one of them are as tough as men can get. We are all very serious about being effective, efficient, and are all very aware that we are representing hunters as a whole and will act accordingly.  Then there's me  I shoot stuff and am 100% at not dying on hunts 

[Bob33]

It seems ironic that for years whenever there has been a need to cull animals and hired groups are used to remove them, the hue and cry of “why don’t they use hunters?” rings loudly.

Now there is an offer to use hunters and many can’t seem to run away fast enough.

I can only speak for myself but in todays political environment and even over the last 25 or so years you would never hear that "hue or cry" from me, back in the day, hell yes, like I said before I would have been first in line for something like this but like everybody always says "this isn't the good ole days". A different time, heck 40,50 years ago hunters who took care of this "business" would have probably be touted as hometown heroes, had articles written in local papers of how the renegade, evasive goats were eradicated out of our national park to keep the trails safe for our citizens. In todays environment of politics, special interest groups, the internet and high-powered animal rights groups with deep pockets and support this is nothing I as a hunter and sportsman would want to be involved in because I see no positives in it for hunters or the health of our hunting heritage, I do see the very likely potential of a lot of negative coming out of this for our hunting community and in this state of Washington especially, thats the last thing we as hunters need, let the government handle this one by themselves, let them have the blood on their hands, not we as hunters, like I said before, this has nothing but bad written all over it for hunters and also like Ive said many times, I truly hope Im wrong. Yes, I'm old enough and fortunate enough to have lived and hunted in those "good ole days" in this state and trust me on this, we are no where close nowadays, especially on how we as hunters are viewed. What Im saying is the truth.....my  .........carry on.

This isn't a program for hunters.  This is volunteer employees of the NPS signing up to assist with the culling operation.  Based on my understanding the priority of team selection will likely be  1) Employees of companies that do this professionally willing to donate their time, 2) Outfitter/Guides with goat/backcountry experience willing to donate their time, 3) Recreational hunters with prior mountain goat/sheep hunting experience, and 4) Recreational hunters with extensive backcountry and mountaineering experience.


You have to detail all information in the application you submit, with dates/success rates/elevation/etc. of past experiences.  Mountaineering/climbing experiences. Etc.  History as a guide/outfitter.  Backpacking experiences, naming wilderness areas and national parks and mileage details.


There are lots of hopeful teams applying.  But most of the 18 teams will be made up of professionals, guides, and very experienced folks (ie Karl's, Shane's, etc. type of teams).   I'm assuming they're going to get well over 30 teams applying.   Many recreational hunt teams applying are not going to get selected.   Folks are so worried about the dead goats images for PETA damaging "hunters"....the NPS is also worried about stories of inexperienced volunteers bodies getting airlifted after falling off a cliff.....they're taking the screening process seriously.   Air gunning from helicopters will be most of the effort, and that is likely to attract much of the PETA heat initially.  They closed sections of the park where goat relocation efforts are happening, and I'm expecting them to close some sections when the volunteer teams go in as well. 


The antis already beat this to death 6 years ago.  Sure there will be plenty of protests and lawsuits again now that the culling part of the program has finally arrived.  And it's possible they succeed in getting it stopped, we'll see.   Part of the application also includes detailing your experiences in personally dealing with public outcry in prior government employment or volunteer roles.   Both the NPS and the volunteers that applied are going into this with eyes wide open.

really appreciate all your insight on this. Lot of hysteria flying around and it's nice to have data that is a bit more focused.


As for the dead bodies everywhere and the wonton waste of game claims, all the guys from groups that actually have a shot at participating in this are all on the same page.....lot of heavy packs will come out of those mountains. Can't speak to others but my 6 man team will be able to move some serious loads. We've got special operations guys, a sniper, lots of medical training, mountaineering qualifications, a competition shooter, sheep and goat hunters, an emt/smoke jumper, and all are well accomplished backpack hunters. Every one of them are as tough as men can get. We are all very serious about being effective, efficient, and are all very aware that we are representing hunters as a whole and will act accordingly.  Then there's me  I shoot stuff and am 100% at not dying on hunts 

I will be very surprised if your group doesn't come back with favorably memorable experiences, and mildly surprised if your packs don't have some goats in them.

Go get 'em.

[2MANY]

Nothing is more dangerous than a horny goat.
Keep your head on a swivel and don't stop to tie your boots.

[bigmacc]

It seems ironic that for years whenever there has been a need to cull animals and hired groups are used to remove them, the hue and cry of “why don’t they use hunters?” rings loudly.

Now there is an offer to use hunters and many can’t seem to run away fast enough.

I can only speak for myself but in todays political environment and even over the last 25 or so years you would never hear that "hue or cry" from me, back in the day, hell yes, like I said before I would have been first in line for something like this but like everybody always says "this isn't the good ole days". A different time, heck 40,50 years ago hunters who took care of this "business" would have probably be touted as hometown heroes, had articles written in local papers of how the renegade, evasive goats were eradicated out of our national park to keep the trails safe for our citizens. In todays environment of politics, special interest groups, the internet and high-powered animal rights groups with deep pockets and support this is nothing I as a hunter and sportsman would want to be involved in because I see no positives in it for hunters or the health of our hunting heritage, I do see the very likely potential of a lot of negative coming out of this for our hunting community and in this state of Washington especially, thats the last thing we as hunters need, let the government handle this one by themselves, let them have the blood on their hands, not we as hunters, like I said before, this has nothing but bad written all over it for hunters and also like Ive said many times, I truly hope Im wrong. Yes, I'm old enough and fortunate enough to have lived and hunted in those "good ole days" in this state and trust me on this, we are no where close nowadays, especially on how we as hunters are viewed. What Im saying is the truth.....my  .........carry on.

This isn't a program for hunters.  This is volunteer employees of the NPS signing up to assist with the culling operation.  Based on my understanding the priority of team selection will likely be  1) Employees of companies that do this professionally willing to donate their time, 2) Outfitter/Guides with goat/backcountry experience willing to donate their time, 3) Recreational hunters with prior mountain goat/sheep hunting experience, and 4) Recreational hunters with extensive backcountry and mountaineering experience.


You have to detail all information in the application you submit, with dates/success rates/elevation/etc. of past experiences.  Mountaineering/climbing experiences. Etc.  History as a guide/outfitter.  Backpacking experiences, naming wilderness areas and national parks and mileage details.


There are lots of hopeful teams applying.  But most of the 18 teams will be made up of professionals, guides, and very experienced folks (ie Karl's, Shane's, etc. type of teams).   I'm assuming they're going to get well over 30 teams applying.   Many recreational hunt teams applying are not going to get selected.   Folks are so worried about the dead goats images for PETA damaging "hunters"....the NPS is also worried about stories of inexperienced volunteers bodies getting airlifted after falling off a cliff.....they're taking the screening process seriously.   Air gunning from helicopters will be most of the effort, and that is likely to attract much of the PETA heat initially.  They closed sections of the park where goat relocation efforts are happening, and I'm expecting them to close some sections when the volunteer teams go in as well. 


The antis already beat this to death 6 years ago.  Sure there will be plenty of protests and lawsuits again now that the culling part of the program has finally arrived.  And it's possible they succeed in getting it stopped, we'll see.   Part of the application also includes detailing your experiences in personally dealing with public outcry in prior government employment or volunteer roles.   Both the NPS and the volunteers that applied are going into this with eyes wide open.

With all due respect, I get what your saying and I understand but in todays world those "volunteer employees of the NPS" that are signing up to assist or be selected are, at the end of the day, "hunters", they are not employed by the government, they are hunters and part of the hunting community, they all have other jobs they will go back to after this hunt/cull and unfortunately in the media will be portrayed as hunters, I am old but not oblivious to what the issues we as hunters face daily and how much we have lost over decades and decades at the hands of anti hunting groups, politics and special interests groups. If anyone underestimates theses enemies of Hunting in this country and the fact that this operation won't be blamed on not only the government but also on our hunting community and will bring another negative light to us, then Im afraid your mistaken. Anyway you look at it, bottom line, they are gathering volunteers that are hunters. Thats the problem in this day and time and especially in this state unfortunately, IMHO, we just don't need to give the enemies of our hunting any more cannon fauder to spin and use against us....

[idaho guy]

It seems ironic that for years whenever there has been a need to cull animals and hired groups are used to remove them, the hue and cry of “why don’t they use hunters?” rings loudly.

Now there is an offer to use hunters and many can’t seem to run away fast enough.

The old adage: "Be careful what you wish for"  seems appropriate here.

   

They are ALL going to be killed either by paid (your tax money) sharpshooters who will leave to rot every last goat. Or as has been wished for by many allowing hunters to do it for FREE. and use some or all of the goats.My really last bucket list animal is a mountain goat. I am putting in AGAIN for an Idaho tag and that will be my bucket list goat hunt. I have a team together and this will be an opportunity to yes hunt goats but it is far from my oil goat hunt that I put in for every year in a few state’s. There are parts of this experience that will actually be ugly. If you have hunted for a long time you will experience ugly things that just happened and you wish they wouldn’t have. Part of this cull REQUIRES things that will be messy and frankly for me hard to do and be part of. We will still do everything we can to achieve the park’s objectives and salvage the goats. As far as WDFW using hunters as the sacrificial lamb that is also bull crap. First off this is the nps not your fish and game. Second my team won’t even be from Washington but Idaho Montana and Oregon. So the comment about not doing in in This state(Washington) doesn’t really make sense. We will do our best and I will be back in Idaho and don’t care what greenies freak out over there. I Will do everything in my power to prevent giving anti hunters any kind of ammunition to use this against us. This is an opportunity for me to get together with some great mountain hunters and showcase that hunters should be the first choice for any game management even if it is total eradication. I don’t think they should get rid of the goats but it’s going to HAPPEN regardless. This is our opportunity to prove hunters are the right answer for all game management. This I think could be a grueling hunt physically which is part of the experience and adventure. My favorite hunt was my unlimited Montana sheep hunt because it was so difficult. This is not a dream trophy hunt but it will be a once in a lifetime experience for anyone selected. I hope everyone goes in with the right expectations and attitude of doing the job right. We need to look at the half full glass this is an opportunity to show that hunters should be the first choice. We will not be putting pics on social media half the team doesn’t know what that even means lol. I think some groups will be put right on groups of goats they know the location and others will be put in area they think there might be some. Some teams will have a hard time finding goats I am guessing some will be right on top of them,

[jackelope]

It seems ironic that for years whenever there has been a need to cull animals and hired groups are used to remove them, the hue and cry of “why don’t they use hunters?” rings loudly.

Now there is an offer to use hunters and many can’t seem to run away fast enough.

I can only speak for myself but in todays political environment and even over the last 25 or so years you would never hear that "hue or cry" from me, back in the day, hell yes, like I said before I would have been first in line for something like this but like everybody always says "this isn't the good ole days". A different time, heck 40,50 years ago hunters who took care of this "business" would have probably be touted as hometown heroes, had articles written in local papers of how the renegade, evasive goats were eradicated out of our national park to keep the trails safe for our citizens. In todays environment of politics, special interest groups, the internet and high-powered animal rights groups with deep pockets and support this is nothing I as a hunter and sportsman would want to be involved in because I see no positives in it for hunters or the health of our hunting heritage, I do see the very likely potential of a lot of negative coming out of this for our hunting community and in this state of Washington especially, thats the last thing we as hunters need, let the government handle this one by themselves, let them have the blood on their hands, not we as hunters, like I said before, this has nothing but bad written all over it for hunters and also like Ive said many times, I truly hope Im wrong. Yes, I'm old enough and fortunate enough to have lived and hunted in those "good ole days" in this state and trust me on this, we are no where close nowadays, especially on how we as hunters are viewed. What Im saying is the truth.....my  .........carry on.

This isn't a program for hunters.  This is volunteer employees of the NPS signing up to assist with the culling operation.  Based on my understanding the priority of team selection will likely be  1) Employees of companies that do this professionally willing to donate their time, 2) Outfitter/Guides with goat/backcountry experience willing to donate their time, 3) Recreational hunters with prior mountain goat/sheep hunting experience, and 4) Recreational hunters with extensive backcountry and mountaineering experience.


You have to detail all information in the application you submit, with dates/success rates/elevation/etc. of past experiences.  Mountaineering/climbing experiences. Etc.  History as a guide/outfitter.  Backpacking experiences, naming wilderness areas and national parks and mileage details.


There are lots of hopeful teams applying.  But most of the 18 teams will be made up of professionals, guides, and very experienced folks (ie Karl's, Shane's, etc. type of teams).   I'm assuming they're going to get well over 30 teams applying.   Many recreational hunt teams applying are not going to get selected.   Folks are so worried about the dead goats images for PETA damaging "hunters"....the NPS is also worried about stories of inexperienced volunteers bodies getting airlifted after falling off a cliff.....they're taking the screening process seriously.   Air gunning from helicopters will be most of the effort, and that is likely to attract much of the PETA heat initially.  They closed sections of the park where goat relocation efforts are happening, and I'm expecting them to close some sections when the volunteer teams go in as well. 


The antis already beat this to death 6 years ago.  Sure there will be plenty of protests and lawsuits again now that the culling part of the program has finally arrived.  And it's possible they succeed in getting it stopped, we'll see.   Part of the application also includes detailing your experiences in personally dealing with public outcry in prior government employment or volunteer roles.   Both the NPS and the volunteers that applied are going into this with eyes wide open.

really appreciate all your insight on this. Lot of hysteria flying around and it's nice to have data that is a bit more focused.


As for the dead bodies everywhere and the wonton waste of game claims, all the guys from groups that actually have a shot at participating in this are all on the same page.....lot of heavy packs will come out of those mountains. Can't speak to others but my 6 man team will be able to move some serious loads. We've got special operations guys, a sniper, lots of medical training, mountaineering qualifications, a competition shooter, sheep and goat hunters, an emt/smoke jumper, and all are well accomplished backpack hunters. Every one of them are as tough as men can get. We are all very serious about being effective, efficient, and are all very aware that we are representing hunters as a whole and will act accordingly.  Then there's me  I shoot stuff and am 100% at not dying on hunts 

Do you have a tack driver?

[bigmacc]

It seems ironic that for years whenever there has been a need to cull animals and hired groups are used to remove them, the hue and cry of “why don’t they use hunters?” rings loudly.

Now there is an offer to use hunters and many can’t seem to run away fast enough.

I can only speak for myself but in todays political environment and even over the last 25 or so years you would never hear that "hue or cry" from me, back in the day, hell yes, like I said before I would have been first in line for something like this but like everybody always says "this isn't the good ole days". A different time, heck 40,50 years ago hunters who took care of this "business" would have probably be touted as hometown heroes, had articles written in local papers of how the renegade, evasive goats were eradicated out of our national park to keep the trails safe for our citizens. In todays environment of politics, special interest groups, the internet and high-powered animal rights groups with deep pockets and support this is nothing I as a hunter and sportsman would want to be involved in because I see no positives in it for hunters or the health of our hunting heritage, I do see the very likely potential of a lot of negative coming out of this for our hunting community and in this state of Washington especially, thats the last thing we as hunters need, let the government handle this one by themselves, let them have the blood on their hands, not we as hunters, like I said before, this has nothing but bad written all over it for hunters and also like Ive said many times, I truly hope Im wrong. Yes, I'm old enough and fortunate enough to have lived and hunted in those "good ole days" in this state and trust me on this, we are no where close nowadays, especially on how we as hunters are viewed. What Im saying is the truth.....my  .........carry on.

This isn't a program for hunters.  This is volunteer employees of the NPS signing up to assist with the culling operation.  Based on my understanding the priority of team selection will likely be  1) Employees of companies that do this professionally willing to donate their time, 2) Outfitter/Guides with goat/backcountry experience willing to donate their time, 3) Recreational hunters with prior mountain goat/sheep hunting experience, and 4) Recreational hunters with extensive backcountry and mountaineering experience.


You have to detail all information in the application you submit, with dates/success rates/elevation/etc. of past experiences.  Mountaineering/climbing experiences. Etc.  History as a guide/outfitter.  Backpacking experiences, naming wilderness areas and national parks and mileage details.


There are lots of hopeful teams applying.  But most of the 18 teams will be made up of professionals, guides, and very experienced folks (ie Karl's, Shane's, etc. type of teams).   I'm assuming they're going to get well over 30 teams applying.   Many recreational hunt teams applying are not going to get selected.   Folks are so worried about the dead goats images for PETA damaging "hunters"....the NPS is also worried about stories of inexperienced volunteers bodies getting airlifted after falling off a cliff.....they're taking the screening process seriously.   Air gunning from helicopters will be most of the effort, and that is likely to attract much of the PETA heat initially.  They closed sections of the park where goat relocation efforts are happening, and I'm expecting them to close some sections when the volunteer teams go in as well. 


The antis already beat this to death 6 years ago.  Sure there will be plenty of protests and lawsuits again now that the culling part of the program has finally arrived.  And it's possible they succeed in getting it stopped, we'll see.   Part of the application also includes detailing your experiences in personally dealing with public outcry in prior government employment or volunteer roles.   Both the NPS and the volunteers that applied are going into this with eyes wide open.

really appreciate all your insight on this. Lot of hysteria flying around and it's nice to have data that is a bit more focused.


As for the dead bodies everywhere and the wonton waste of game claims, all the guys from groups that actually have a shot at participating in this are all on the same page.....lot of heavy packs will come out of those mountains. Can't speak to others but my 6 man team will be able to move some serious loads. We've got special operations guys, a sniper, lots of medical training, mountaineering qualifications, a competition shooter, sheep and goat hunters, an emt/smoke jumper, and all are well accomplished backpack hunters. Every one of them are as tough as men can get. We are all very serious about being effective, efficient, and are all very aware that we are representing hunters as a whole and will act accordingly.  Then there's me  I shoot stuff and am 100% at not dying on hunts 

Karl, if there was anybody that I would trust in doing this ethically I would put money on you, from what I know from reading your posts and stories you remind me of myself in my younger years, but my fears in this operation have been the repercussions that will surely be aimed at us as hunters by the organizations that do not want us in the woods as hunters. Being as old as I am and having heard all the stories from family members with rich hunting heritages going back over 100 years I can certainly tell you how much things have changed  concerning hunting and most of it has been negative as far as we as hunters are concerned, my fear is this could turn into more negative that is spun and used against us, thats all. Have a Pepsi day and shoot straight

[Karl Blanchard]

Thank you bigmacc! Those concerns are warranted and for that reason (among others) makes my desire to do this even stronger. Needs to be done as "right" as possible. We shall see what shakes out. I wouldn't be surprised if we get selected but I also wouldnt be surprised if we didn't get selected. They are gonna get an endless amount of applications from guys who have no business trying to do this adventure but they are also gonna get some incredible teams applying.  I'd love to be in on the selection process



Yes Josh we not only have a tack driver but we also have a bug holer

[JimmyHoffa]

Yeah, I'd imagine they are getting an absolute ton of applications.  Even when they have applications to count marmots, they usually get enough applications within the first day to count a whole planet of marmots.

[BULLBLASTER]

Thank you bigmacc! Those concerns are warranted and for that reason (among others) makes my desire to do this even stronger. Needs to be done as "right" as possible. We shall see what shakes out. I wouldn't be surprised if we get selected but I also wouldnt be surprised if we didn't get selected. They are gonna get an endless amount of applications from guys who have no business trying to do this adventure but they are also gonna get some incredible teams applying.  I'd love to be in on the selection process

But what about a “pie plate”er?


Yes Josh we not only have a tack driver but we also have a bug holer

[jackelope]

All you need is an intermittent pie plater.

 

[kselkhunter]

All you need is an intermittent pie plater.

 

Yeah the proficiency test is perplexing given all the other requirements expected in the applications. 8" groups at 200 yards is all the level of marksmanship they require?