What would you do?

[highcountry_hunter]

I’d go back to 4 point restrictions in the NE.

I’d think real hard on going to a permit system for mule deer where people draw every other year or so. Unit to unit could go up or down as far as permit numbers based on deer herd health.

I’d increase predator harvest but that’s not black and white either.

I’d put restrictions on commission members. Background checks or whatever to determine that they are people who would follow the science and not follow their opinion and feelings on things.

Does anyone know why they took away the antler restrictions in the NE? I loved it, you’d actually see bucks running around even if they weren’t legal. Now some guy in his pickup with a cigarette hanging out of his lip sets his beer in the cup holder and blasts the first forked horn he sees.


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[Humptulips]

I do not think changes to seasons or point restrictions have much effect on deer populations. I would do away with doe seasons or tags. I also do not think poaching is significant enough problem to make a difference in the deer population with more enforcement. Predators are the main issue that needs addressed and I don't see anything DFW can do about it given the makeup of the Commission and Legislature.
On the other hand, I read the comments advocating for some kind of change in the way decision makers are chosen. I would be very careful about taking the power away from the Governor in selecting Commission members. Somebody has to choose and at least now an elected official is that person and there is some bit of accountability. Any change would have to be very carefully thought out or it could end up worse than our present situation.
The one change I would make is to require members of the F&W Commission to have had some kind of fishing and or hunting license for the two years prior to their appointment. In fact, I think rather than members being selected from different parts of the State, they should be chosen based on their representation of a segment of the resource users. Maybe one is a big game hunter, an upland bird hunter, waterfowl hunter, recreational fisherman, commercial fisherman, trapper, small game. Something along those lines. Pipe dream though I imagine.

[boneaddict]

Zero antlerless harvest! Zero.  Would be my first step.   

Spring bear, remove quota on cats, allow trapping, hound hunting.

Regulate tribal hunting

Stop late hunts for now

[Gentrys]

Draw system for all mule deer units until herd numbers are up.
No doe tags.

[baldopepper]

Lots of ideas on here I agree with, but can't help.but wonder how many of them are actually controllable by wdfw. They are the bullseye for most of our criticism, but what things can we do that are actually under just wdfw control?  What major wdfw controllable mismanagement decisions would we change?  I would say I'm very much in favor of splitting fisheries and wildlife management again.  Not really in favor of fisheries oriented people having influence on wildlife programs or visa versa. 

[Jimmy33]

1. Do away with antler point restrictions
2. Open up wolf hunting
3. Open up hound and bait hunting for bears and cougars again
4. Go to the great state of Idahos draw system
5. Make people buy either a blacktail, mule deer, or whitetail tags

…thats where I would start


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[hunter399]

I’d go back to 4 point restrictions in the NE.

I’d think real hard on going to a permit system for mule deer where people draw every other year or so. Unit to unit could go up or down as far as permit numbers based on deer herd health.

I’d increase predator harvest but that’s not black and white either.

I’d put restrictions on commission members. Background checks or whatever to determine that they are people who would follow the science and not follow their opinion and feelings on things.

Does anyone know why they took away the antler restrictions in the NE? I loved it, you’d actually see bucks running around even if they weren’t legal. Now some guy in his pickup with a cigarette hanging out of his lip sets his beer in the cup holder and blasts the first forked horn he sees.


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Hey now,gotta get it right.... First spike I see.
4pt min was the best years we will ever see.
Not sure exactly on the reason to take it away.
Harvest numbers was up higher than previous.
Everyone you talk to will agree,deer numbers, hunting much better.
We did switch biologist at the time,the old biologist was a reason it even happened. Not sure if our new biologist supported it, doesn't seem like it to me.
Then after it was lifted,next few years they have a lot of antlerless permits,even one year OTC archery, muzzleloader doe tags for there entire season,with a few hundred modern antlerless permits.

Which in my opinion,really did our deer herds in.
I suspect a few hunters complained about the 4pt min , along with some revenue loss,and a biologist that didn't support it.
It went in the toilet.
Anyone that hunted will tell ya, best years we will ever see.
And the highest harvest numbers to boot,of mature bucks.
You can look at harvest rates now,that are very low. Look at the years with 4pt min,which are way higher then now. And all mature bucks harvested,not dink spikes and such.

[GASoline71]

Zero antlerless harvest! Zero.  Would be my first step.   

Spring bear, remove quota on cats, allow trapping, hound hunting.

Regulate tribal hunting

Stop late hunts for now

I'd put antlerless harvest on a GMU Specific guideline.  The GMU I live in is overrun with deer.  And that is WITH antlerless harvest during all weapon types general seasons, all weapon types late seasons, and even with about 150 antlerless 2nd deer permits per year.

But for all of your 100, 200 and 300 series GMU's I agree.

Gary

[baldopepper]

How about some land use restrictions?  Geeze. Buy a piece of ground near a possible salmon spawning creek and you've gotta get permits from the feds, the state,, the county, the tribes, the pope might even have a say in it. Then the restrictions can be almost overwhelming.  But, buy some rural acreage in the middle of prime deer habitat, both summer and winter, and you can do pretty much whatever you wanna do. Fence it, pave it, build a big house on it- nobody really cares, but the deer do. Maybe a wdfw director who doesn't have to spend 90% of his time on fisheries issues could push for a few changes like that.

[kramman]

As some have stated mule deer by permit only.
Choose either Westside or dryside like elk. That would make blacktail and whitetail an otc tag.
Do away with most anterless hunts.
Hire more enforcement officers.

[baldopepper]

Another off the wall idea.  Let any two commissioners that object to a decision request a hearing ( or call it a trial) where a non partisan jury weighs the facts presented and makes the decision.
Pick the jury like any court case and do away with the predetermined, non fact based decisions we're getting now.

[kentrek]

I would restrict rifle rut hunts.. stop killing does ..general spring bear... figure out an actual objective that matches the regional needs/wants

It's not rocket science..and Washington hunters are part of the problem as well.. complain about the hunting one day and then show off the spike or doe they shot the next.. just because the state allows it doesn't mean you need to pull the trigger

[Humptulips]

Zero antlerless harvest! Zero.  Would be my first step.   

Spring bear, remove quota on cats, allow trapping, hound hunting.

Regulate tribal hunting

Stop late hunts for now

I'd put antlerless harvest on a GMU Specific guideline.  The GMU I live in is overrun with deer.  And that is WITH antlerless harvest during all weapon types general seasons, all weapon types late seasons, and even with about 150 antlerless 2nd deer permits per year.

But for all of your 100, 200 and 300 series GMU's I agree.

Gary

Good Point!

[baldopepper]

Another little fact the wdfw could make more public.  They estimate there are 3600 mountain lions in the state.  Using the most accepted figure, each lion will kill.48 deer per year. That works out to approximately 173,000 deer per year.  They also estimate a deer population in the state of about 240000 animals. Hunters harvested roughly 60,000. Math doesn't look good for the deer herds.

[Buckjunkie]

Turn the entire fish and game department over to the tribes. They want sustainable populations and they cannot be sued by every animal rights group, because they are a sovereign nation. This would get the governor out of the equation and shut the activists up.

Before you blast me, think about it. Can it really get any worse than it is?