What We Already Knew About Why We Aren't Seeing Elk

[hunter399]

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.

I know it sounds good,and it may be good for awhile.
But the WDFW is doing you a favor ,they don't want trapping cougar in the public eye. And the damage that could result to trapping. You only have to look at the damage hound permits for bear to lumber company land. Now look at it,now that it in the public eye they don't give them out now.
Basicly you don't want that ball of 💩 and the damage that could come to trapping season when it hits the public view.

[Timberstalker]

We want any and every prudent management practice we can get for predator control that we can get.

[hunter399]

We 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.

[Timberstalker]

We 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.

[hunter399]

We 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.

I do agree kill every predator that we legally can.👍👍
Inslee won't even raise cougar quota ,what do you think he will do to trapping seasons ,if he found out WDFW authorized a cougar trapping season.

[Special T]

We 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.

[pianoman9701]

We 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.

I think we're pushing back as hard as we can. The 10s of millions the animal rights lobby has to send out misinformation over the airwaves far outstrips what our combined efforts by tenfold. In addition, when legislation doesn't go their way, they use taxpayer money to sue the government and place injunctions on management orders. Along with the help they're buying from our governor and other politicians in Olympia, and the woke idiots they're convincing in King Co., it seems unsurmountable for the rest of the state to have reasonable population control on predators..

[sixgun_symphony]

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!

 All of those judges were elected onto the court.

 The real problem here is that most hunters don't vote. Most gun owners don't vote A percentage of those that do vote are yellow dog Democrats that would be happy to surrender hunting and firearms to keep their party in power.

[sixgun_symphony]

 I see where that logic leads, everyone must give up on trapping, give up on hunting, and everyone must give up their guns because the Left will have a hissy-fit if we don't.   

We 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.

[sixgun_symphony]

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.

 

[hunter399]

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.

I agree
Inslee needs voted out,I'd take a homeless bum as governor.

[buglebrush]

Way too many people defending WDFW.  They have done nothing to help at all, and they're not nearly as powerless at people pretend.  They could be running ads showing calves/fawns getting eaten, educating the public, and strongly pushing for a return to hound hunting.  Let's face it, we're doomed without vast increases in predator harvest, and WDFW is doing nothing at all to help and many things to hinder. 

[Taco280AI]

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.

[hunter399]

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.

No at the current moment they take our money,then please the anti-hunters.

[elkchaser54]

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.