Master Hunters VOICE LOUD AND CLEAR!!!

[KillBilly]

I have spoken what I feel about the program and I did not join the site to fight over the internet becuase we all have the same passion and hobbies but I do feel I need to respond to this:

I'm just curious, where is it us Master Hunters get to ride quads into places others must walk into?  I've never noticed that in any of the "special" hunts we get.  Where is that stated?  Not that I intend to ride my quad in any of those locations.  I'll walk in like everyone else has too.

Now I know for a fact in one MH hunt in Aug and Dec Weyco gives the MH combos to the gates to drive in and hunt?  The rest of the year everyone else is required to follow the non motorized access rule.  I know this is not quads, but would you walk or drive?  Just curious.

Be fair, in the winston unit, late elk. non MH hunting, if you harvest an animal behind one of their locked gates, you can call in and get the combo over the phone and drive in to get your animal... NO MH required so you get the same

[bearhunter59]

As a Master Hunter, I would be fine with us being used by the WDFW for problem animals, and getting to keep the meat from one harvested animal, and notch my tag.  Any other additional problem/damage hunts, I should have to donate the harvested animal to a food bank or something.  I think that would be more fair, and demonstrate to the non-hunting public or the non-Master Hunters, that it really is about herd/damage control, and not about the hunt.

The 3911 hunt is about the only hunt that a Master Hunter doesn't have to apply for and get drawn for.  The majority of the MH hunts are Hunt Master hunts, which mean you must apply for it and get drawn.  Then you must wait until the Hunt Master calls you.  (Just becuase there may be 10 or 15 permits drawn, does not mean that each and everyone of those will get a call and a shot at an animal.)  In most cases, you will then be escorted to the hunt location by the Hunt Master, (and maybe even the property owner), and told by the Hunt Master not only which animal to shoot, but from what location/direction you must shoot the animal, to cause the rest of the animals to depart the area in the right direction.  Most of these hunts will take place in locations that are clearly visible to the public, and where houses and people may be near by.  The WDFW and land owners want to make sure the individual they are using for this purpose is of a higher caliber and standing than the average joe smoe hunter.  Now many of you may feel that you are of the higher caliber and ethical standing than others, including some of the Master Hunters, but you have not proven it, like the Master Hunters that have completed all the requirements to get into the program.

[huntnphool]

Well since you are trying to justify it by numbers how about adding the number of moose applicants each year for 10+ years and multiply that times the amount they charge for the application....................................seems to me its a whole lot more than your $96,000.00.

Are you trying to tell me that its compensation for labor hours now?

[RyanD]

Be fair, in the winston unit, late elk. non MH hunting, if you harvest an animal behind one of their locked gates, you can call in and get the combo over the phone and drive in to get your animal... NO MH required so you get the same

There is a difference in driving in miles to hunt and biking in miles to hunt.

Now many of you may feel that you are of the higher caliber and ethical standing than others, including some of the Master Hunters, but you have not proven it, like the Master Hunters that have completed all the requirements to get into the program.

Are you telling me since you completed all of the requirements to get into the program that makes you of higher caliber and have higher ethics than others?

[goiamo]

I have yet to see the MH on this site justify the moose tag situation, I really would like to hear your thoughts on this guys.

Some folks would not be satisfied by a revelation from God as the basis to support a special hunt.  After all, if God wants the animals dead, use a bolt of lightning.

I did not plan, promote, or advocate for the Master Hunter draw tags for Moose in Spokane County.  The reason for putting this in the MH lap is the private property, rural residential areas, and proximity to (a historically hostile) Turnbull Wildlife Refuge nature of the hunting areas.  As I have mentioned previously, WDFW had as many as 5 moose a day to coax, haze, or trap/transfer out of Spokane residential areas this winter.  (Come talk to our local enforcement officers to see if 20 would have been enough tags in this record breaking snowy winter!)  That is why the hunt starts in December and continues through the heavy snow months here in Spokane.  

This is not a "fair chase" hunt.  It is intended to put city moms and dads at ease that their children can go outside at recess (Yes, in Spokane we have school and recess even with 3-4 feet of snow.  And moose!) or walk home without worrying their child will be stomped by an agitated moose.  There is an exemption from the OIL rule because the hunter does not choose when or where the "hunt" will occur, nor which animal to take, in most circumstances.  I imagine you would not want to squander your OIL on a yearling cow that happens to return to the same spot where the cow was hit by a car, no matter how far it is trapped and transferred away.

If a moose is considered enough of a threat, the hunt master will call a tag recipient and direct that individual when and where to take the animal.  This is to save the WDFW money on complaints and precious employee time and replace it with a tag purchasing member of the public.  You can bet the WDFW is going to try a lot of other options before calling a MH to shoot a "trophy" bull moose.  Most likely, some of the tag purchasers will never get a call.

Interestingly enough, by the time this hunt was firmly placed in the regulations, there was not much time to apply to be a MH.  The good MHs, in my opinion, did not apply to get in on special hunts.  They apply to take a leading role in working to benefit WDFW as a wildlife management tool.  This include habitat enhancement, scientific research, and control of nuisance animals.  I believe that a moose on my porch, or in my basement, or just over the fence from the neighborhood elementary school, would be a nuisance.

Thus is my understanding of the justification.  Whether that is satisfactory to you is out of my control.

--Richard

[bearhunter59]

Are you telling me since you completed all of the requirements to get into the program that makes you of higher caliber and have higher ethics than others?

I'm saying I have proven that I am...you haven't.  If you feel you are, then enroll in the program and prove it...    

[huntnphool]

The majority of the MH hunts are Hunt Master hunts, which mean you must apply for it and get drawn.

   You say this as if its a big deal to draw, aren't you only applying against other MH's?

not only which animal to shoot, but from what location/direction you must shoot the animal, to cause the rest of the animals to depart the area in the right direction.

  Now that's one of the funniest things I've heard on here yet. Are you honestly trying to tell me that the moose realize the difference between a gun being fired in the air or a gun being fired directly at one of the ones in the group. If you or the land owner simply shoot the gun over their heads they are going to stand there until they realize one of their own has been hit? LMAO, that's a good one.

Now many of you may feel that you are of the higher caliber and ethical standing than others, including some of the Master Hunters, but you have not proven it, like the Master Hunters that have completed all the requirements to get into the program.

   Because I haven't read a book and taken a test? If you truly believe your MH's to be "higher caliber" than myself and so many others on this site and around the state simply because of some "program" then you truly are an ignorant fool.

[Ray]

Oh wow. There's only one program and way to prove your worth and ethics I guess. Way to go. Alienate people. Well done.

[rasbo]

Oh wow. There's only one program and way to prove your worth and ethics I guess. Way to go. Alienate people. Well done.

thanks Ray I was just thinking that.bearhunter! are you trying to hurt the image of the master hunting program 

[buck470]

Well since you are trying to justify it by numbers how about adding the number of moose applicants each year for 10+ years and multiply that times the amount they charge for the application....................................seems to me its a whole lot more than your $96,000.00.

Are you trying to tell me that its compensation for labor hours now?

Well look at it from a Managers stand point, your still gonna collect on the Applications, now you've thrown out this huge carrot, " look master hunters get 10 tag's ANY Moose"
So joe schmoe runs out pay's 20 bucks for his materials, get's his 20 hours in completes the coarse and apply's for the hunt, only to find out he may never get a call.

Now they have accomplished a few things:
They Educated this guy a little more (hopefully it sticks)(probally the most important thing)
Gotten 20 hours of labor out of him.
He still paid his application fee.

Has he gotten a moose yet?

I'm just thinking out loud here, maybe thats not how they are looking at it.

[jackelope]

Quote
The majority of the MH hunts are Hunt Master hunts, which mean you must apply for it and get drawn.

   You say this as if its a big deal to draw, aren't you only applying against other MH's?

i think he's saying that it's a different method of deciding who gets to hunt.

[huntnphool]

I hear what your saying buck470 I just think it very unfair to those that have been trying to get a moose tag for years, most of which will never draw. There are thousands of applicants out there that would love to get that call and be okay with using their OIL points for the chance.

[Bob33]

The significance of "Hunt Master" hunts is that a tag holder may not get a chance to hunt.  The Hunt Master will typically contact a tag holder only when there is a need to remove a nuisance animal, which may be never during the season.

[jackelope]

I hear what your saying buck470 I just think it very unfair to those that have been trying to get a moose tag for years, most of which will never draw. There are thousands of applicants out there that would love to get that call and be okay with using their OIL points for the chance.

do you really think there's some guy out there with  8-10 moose points who's interested in burning his points to go kill a downtown nuisance moose out of somebody's back yard?
i realize i'm exxagerating the scenario a bit, but that is not too far off.

[huntnphool]

The Hunt Master will typically contact a tag holder only when there is a need to remove a nuisance animal, which may be never during the season.

By Goiamo's own admission it doesnt sound as though filling the tags is going to be a problem.

WDFW had as many as 5 moose a day to coax, haze, or trap/transfer out of Spokane residential areas this winter.  (Come talk to our local enforcement officers to see if 20 would have been enough tags in this record breaking snowy winter!)