Hoof Rot. Now they want you to do thier work

[Lumpy Taters]

It appears WDFW now wants you to do the job for them. 

Shoot an elk with hoof rot and get a chance at some new permit for next year.  Not sure I want any of that on my dinner plate no matter what they say.   The infected ones are usually smaller and depending on how bad they are infected you could lose a lot of meat.     

https://www.chronline.com/stories/hoof-rot-pilot-program-set-up-to-target-diseased-elk,271036

[Blacktail Sniper]

Some discussion on it here:

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,262960.msg3567042.html#msg3567042

[hunter399]

Hunters have always been used as a management tool.
With that said.....
They should just make permits for that area with a prefrence to hoof rot. And let everybody apply through the permit process.
If they want to reward people who harvest hoof rot elk give them points for that area or category and let them apply with everyone eles.

[guardian]

WDFW is about 15 yrs to late on this study!!!

[pianoman9701]

WDFW is about 15 yrs to late on this study!!!

Try 33 years.

[guardian]

Agreed!

[Lumpy Taters]

Exactly.  We were seeing limping elk near Cathlamet in the 90's.   Nobody cared then. Not sure they really care now.   

[Bucks2Ducks]

Well we complain we they use other means than hunters to manage game, so what would you prefer? They could start transplanting Canadian wolves? I think its a great idea, too late of course... but at least its something.

Also there is a new permit draw for Master hunters to get hoof rot tags.

[Lumpy Taters]

Honestly  I wanted some sort of action from them 10 years ago.   If the animals are seriously affected by hoof rot then I want nothing to do with the meat from them.  I have been fortunate so far and only one animal my son got in 2013 had some deformed feet.   But clear back in 2010 we were seeing sick animals.  Saw what should have been a beautiful bull wander in circles because he could only use 2 legs.   The guy that shot him threw away almost all the meat because it smelled so bad.     No thanks.