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https://www.fieldandstream.com/conservation/cougars-decimate-washington-elk-calves/When will WDFW get to the base of the problem and bring back hound hunting?
Quote from: Browndawg on January 11, 2022, 10:44:31 AMhttps://www.fieldandstream.com/conservation/cougars-decimate-washington-elk-calves/When will WDFW get to the base of the problem and bring back hound hunting?This comes up every time. They can't just "bring back" hound hunting. It was an initiative that was passed by the people, so it will take an act of the legislature or another initiative to bring it back. Next in line is the Governor, who last year I believe wouldn't authorize an increase in the cougar quota despite WDFW saying it was advisable. We also have a game commission who, while currently under fire, has made it clear that they do not care what the WDFW biologists have to say and will make their decisions on seasons and quotas based on feelings. My guess is the WDFW has known this for a while and would probably like to do something about it, but they literally have all the cards stacked against them, with very few meaningful options available to them that could make a difference. Right now, all GMU's in the state are still open for cougar hunting. Get out there and track one down.
You can thank the WA Supreme court jesters for not overturning the Initiative!! They couldn't count! Our state claims to have "single" issue Initiative system. To bad the court jesters couldn't count past ONE! But then the WDFW didn't fight very hard either!
Quote from: timberfaller on January 11, 2022, 10:57:30 AMYou can thank the WA Supreme court jesters for not overturning the Initiative!! They couldn't count! Our state claims to have "single" issue Initiative system. To bad the court jesters couldn't count past ONE! But then the WDFW didn't fight very hard either! Yeah that. The initiative was bogus, as it dealt with banning hound hunting, and banning baiting at the same time. Should have been thrown out as it deals with 2 issues on one initiative.
What WDFW could do though, for bears in addition to cougars, is expand seasons and bag limits for boot hunting methods recognizing that the lack of hound hunting has led to massive population increases having a detrimental effect on ungulates. Bear and cougar populations we sustainable with long season, baiting, trapping, etc. before the initiative. There could be unlimited bag limits and year around hunting and the boot hunting harvest would never reach those pre-initiative levels.Falling populations are a function of take outpacing growth. The predator population has increased to a point that there needs to be a some take removed from the system, either in the form of predator removal, or hunting reduction in order to maintain the healthy populations we've historically had. This is why the enviro's fight for no predator control, because it will eventually lead to a reduction in hunting. Restrict hunting enough and the sport will continue to fade out of existence. The more hunter numbers shrink, the higher the proportion of anti-hunting input. It's a snowball effect in the wrong direction.
An idea I have talked up with the Department for a number of years, trapping season on Cougar. The Commission has the power to do this without going to the Legislature. All they would need to do is reclassify cougar with the dual classification of big game/ furbearer and set a season. It would be cage traps only, but I believe it would be possible to catch cougar in a cage trap. Many units never reach their target harvest. Why not open those units to trapping? I had thought in the past if the Department would give a nod to it the Commission might listen. I have pretty much gotten the cold shoulder from the Department. With the current makeup of the Commission, I would have less hope. I think the idea still has merit though. Personally, I think anything that would increase the harvest of cougar would be a good thing. I'm not sure how many cougar might be taken this way but it is worth a try IMO.
We want any and every prudent management practice we can get for predator control that we can get.
Quote from: Timberstalker on January 11, 2022, 07:56:36 PMWe want any and every prudent management practice we can get for predator control that we can get.So you want trapping of cougar,even though you may lose all trapping seasons later on.When all the anti-hunters throw a big fit,protest,email,and convince governor inslee to do so.All I'm saying is ,you have to think things through a bit.And this is the reason WDFW won't support trapping of cougar, are you willing to risk a whole user groups season over a few cougar.
Quote from: hunter399 on January 11, 2022, 08:13:23 PMQuote from: Timberstalker on January 11, 2022, 07:56:36 PMWe want any and every prudent management practice we can get for predator control that we can get.So you want trapping of cougar,even though you may lose all trapping seasons later on.When all the anti-hunters throw a big fit,protest,email,and convince governor inslee to do so.All I'm saying is ,you have to think things through a bit.And this is the reason WDFW won't support trapping of cougar, are you willing to risk a whole user groups season over a few cougar.Did you ever witness the elk herds in the Blues in the early 2000’s?Kill every rotten predator we legally can.
Quote from: hunter399 on January 11, 2022, 08:13:23 PMQuote from: Timberstalker on January 11, 2022, 07:56:36 PMWe want any and every prudent management practice we can get for predator control that we can get.So you want trapping of cougar,even though you may lose all trapping seasons later on.When all the anti-hunters throw a big fit,protest,email,and convince governor inslee to do so.All I'm saying is ,you have to think things through a bit.And this is the reason WDFW won't support trapping of cougar, are you willing to risk a whole user groups season over a few cougar.The Antis are more organized in Wa now. What makes you think that they are not intent on banning live cage traps now? How would live cage trapping cats as a season change that?The antis are coming for ALL hunting. Boot hunting cats is not effective, we arnt getting hounds back. Perhaps thenproblem is we just arnt pushing back enougj.
We need to win some elections if we are going to turn things around. That many are not aware that voter initiatives against hunting and trapping had passed, I know that they have not voted as they have not been paying attention to politics. That most of our people don't vote is why the Left has put restrictions on hunting/trapping, while introducing wolves to eliminate hunting as a management tool for populations of ungulates.
WDFW is doing a great job and are headed exactly where they want to be - no hunting. It's full of leftist, anti hunting activists.
Hunters are only about 2% of the population. Thinking we can organize in to a voting block is crazy talk. We have to use the organizations that we have set up to try and influence the WDFW in a meaningful way. We will see what the 21st brings about the spring Bear to see if these organizations hold any sway with the department. The spring Bear cancel got a lot of attention online so let's hope this works or we will keep losing.
Quote from: sixgun_symphony on January 15, 2022, 09:54:49 PMWe need to win some elections if we are going to turn things around. That many are not aware that voter initiatives against hunting and trapping had passed, I know that they have not voted as they have not been paying attention to politics. That most of our people don't vote is why the Left has put restrictions on hunting/trapping, while introducing wolves to eliminate hunting as a management tool for populations of ungulates.I agree Inslee needs voted out,I'd take a homeless bum as governor.
Quote from: Browndawg on January 11, 2022, 10:44:31 AMhttps://www.fieldandstream.com/conservation/cougars-decimate-washington-elk-calves/When will WDFW get to the base of the problem and bring back hound hunting?Browndawg: Why don't you go out there and try to call them in? I know some spots!
Tried calling w an expensive caller, in areas w lots of predators, 0-3 the past 2 weeks. I thought yotes would be easy, tried cats too. It just isn’t that easy even when in an area w lots of predators.