Methow Wildlife Area Winter Closure

[Okano-gun]

https://wdfw.wa.gov/newsroom/news-release/wdfw-seeks-public-input-proposed-methow-wildlife-area-temporary-winter-closures-protect-mule-deer

Glad to see this may finally happen.

[timberfaller]

Sad thing is they created the problem years ago!  They will blame everything other then themselves.  Had discussions already with them years ago, fell on deaf ears.  Climate change  became the topic!  Not wolves, bears or not purchasing "winter range" when they could have.  Ya can't fix stupid!  Especially when its government!

[boneaddict]

My tinfoil hat thinks its more for wolf protection than muledeer but......     I guess now that my Dad is dead, I likely wont be going to the valley nearly as much as I used to anyway.   I sure have alot of good memories in all of those areas before the people came.

[highcountry_hunter]

It irritates me to no end when they attribute higher intensity wildfires to climate change.
Even the god damn forest service admits that the leading cause of these giant, high intensity fires is because of 100+ years of forest mismanagement.
Lack of logging and putting out every fire as quickly as you can leads to an astronomical load of fuels on the landscape that are ready to burn so hot they nuke the soil.


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[Skyvalhunter]

I am for the access limits put on in this area. The deer herd is already hurting and the constant harassment by the different user groups there when deer are at a critical point in the winter. Same goes for the Entiat and snowmobiles. The population of deer coming out of the Pasayten is extremely low and anything that can be done to help the herd out I am for.

[2MANY]

They should bring in a philosophy major to fix it.

[JakeLand]

It’s complete *censored* that it’s for the mule deer and you all know that , they don’t care one bit about the deer it’s more they don’t want you in there hunting and trapping period . Start December through April then ends up year round being a “safe haven” for animals
Don’t buy into it

[boneaddict]

Back in the 80s they shut down hunting in Alta for three years so no one shot their precious wolves that weren’t here yet. 😂

There was also a period in which they shut down coyote hunting during modern.   Do you really think it was about the coyotes? 

They obviously will do what they want, but it would sure be cool if they were upfront about it.

[Mtnwalker]

I'm confused here. I seem to remember a whole bunch of complaining about all of the recreational pressure from the spandex crowd in these wintering areas back when these discussions and surveys first started taking place. Now that they actually appear to be doing something about it, and they even proposed dates that would still accommodate the late hunts, we still don't like it?

[LDennis24]

Doesn't the Unlawful Inclosures Act apply here? 

[knighttime25]

Don't need to look much further than page 22 in the regs to realize they don't give a *censored* about the deer herds in this area when they open it for general season Archery Mule Deer doe harvest in 10 days....

[Mtnwalker]

Don't need to look much further than page 22 in the regs to realize they don't give a *censored* about the deer herds in this area when they open it for general season Archery Mule Deer doe harvest in 10 days....

Very true. I just emailed them about this, curious if they'll provide an answer

[salt n sage90]

Don't need to look much further than page 22 in the regs to realize they don't give a *censored* about the deer herds in this area when they open it for general season Archery Mule Deer doe harvest in 10 days....

That is definitely pretty backwards. If protecting the population was really the goal why would they put a target on potential breeding does?
Very strange.

[GOcougsHunter]

Don't need to look much further than page 22 in the regs to realize they don't give a *censored* about the deer herds in this area when they open it for general season Archery Mule Deer doe harvest in 10 days....

 


That is definitely pretty backwards. If protecting the population was really the goal why would they put a target on potential breeding does?
Very strange.

I am just spitballing here and am only a rudimentary arm chair you tube biologist.  But, could the liberal early archery seasons in the Methow be designed to simply clear out resident animals and keep the valley at low resident deer densities to avoid car accidents, hobby farm damage, etc?  And also to make room for wintering migratory deer in late fall?  I am always intrigued by the math of the seasons and would like to at least believe that there is some method to the madness...  I am not advocating for or against... just curious.

[Special T]

Don't need to look much further than page 22 in the regs to realize they don't give a *censored* about the deer herds in this area when they open it for general season Archery Mule Deer doe harvest in 10 days....

Possibly, however we know that deer seek the protection of homes from predators. So is this really going to help?

 


That is definitely pretty backwards. If protecting the population was really the goal why would they put a target on potential breeding does?
Very strange.

I am just spitballing here and am only a rudimentary arm chair you tube biologist.  But, could the liberal early archery seasons in the Methow be designed to simply clear out resident animals and keep the valley at low resident deer densities to avoid car accidents, hobby farm damage, etc?  And also to make room for wintering migratory deer in late fall?  I am always intrigued by the math of the seasons and would like to at least believe that there is some method to the madness...  I am not advocating for or against... just curious.