SB 5892 hoof rot

[time2hunt]

Washington Cattlemen's Association
Our Mission:
Provide a unified voice for beef producers, promote innovative rangeland and livestock management, protect and preserve the cattle industry in the State of Washington.

Action Needed – Support SB 5892

 
Dear Washington Cattlemen's Association Members,
 
Please support Senate Bill 5892 which allows for the harvest of elk out of season and without a tag if they have diseased hooves.
 
In seventeen Washington counties, elk populations suffer from treponeme-associated hoof disease, impacting not only the elk but also the health of our livestock’s hooves.
 
SB 5892 recognizes the challenges in managing this disease and emphasizes the role of private individuals in humane treatment and disease control. With proper documentation and reporting, private citizens would be allowed to harvest affected elk out of season and without a tag. This is a three-year pilot program which could provide valuable insights for future management efforts.
 
The Public Hearing is on MONDAY, January 15, 2024, at 1:30 PM – Please come in person to testify or sign in to testify live over zoom (see below):
 
Sign in as “Pro” on the senate website. Follow the instructions below, no later than 1 hour before the hearing at 1:30 PM:
 
1.     Click HERE
2.     Under the Meetings Drop Down, select 1/15/2024 1:30 PM
3.     Click SB 5892 Diseased elk, then select type of testimony (there are zoom instructions on the same page)
4.     Choose Position (Pro) then fill in your name, address, etc., and ‘submit’.
 
If you are not able to testify, you can use the steps above to have your position (Pro) noted for the record, just choose that option.
 
Your involvement is crucial in making an impact.
 
Thank you for all you do!
 
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[HntnFsh]

I think the heart is in the right place on this. But as bad as hoof rot is, and as much as I hate seeing our elk suffer from it. I think in southwest Washington, this would wipe out entire herds. Then I dont know how they would ever recover. I'm not so sure this is the answer. That said, I dont know what the answer is. But I can think of a few places to start. Unfortunately those that would be affected by my ideas have deep enough pockets that results would never be a reality.

[Wanttohuntmore]

The answer is they,  the wdfw biologists, need to come clean and explain what is causing this,  then fix the problem.   Most people probably know what the issue is but the $$$ from the lobbyists prevent action and also prevent the INDEPENDENT studies from being released.   Shooting all the elk won't help.

[Tbar]

This is a terrible bill,  ripe for abuse.  In addition to that there is a long history of inefficiency of identification of limping elk by multiple groups(aphis, landowners, master hunters). Another interesting question is why? I've talked to many dairy farmers who are generationally familiar with hoof disease and treatment.  They see little threat to cattle and actually acknowledge the opposite, that the disease may be rooted in ag. I've been on multiple dairies where they have a recessed walkway for a copper bath.
T2H- Can you give any specifics why this seems like a good bill? I can give you many real world examples of why it isn't. This is no different than Islees wolf policy positions, an overreach and poorly thought out.

[HntnFsh]

You guys said it better than I did!

[medic6]

Shooting just the limpers doesn’t mediate the exposure risk. Wdfw tried shooting just the limpers, they tried shooting whole herds (toutle).New elk move in and limpers start to appear.  If the affected elk are on the property you may have contaminated soil already.  No documented elk/cattle hoof rot cross yet, but if it continues it will.  I support ranchers and finding a solution but shooting select ones isn’t a viable solution.  If science says only elk that limp can spread it, maybe.   Sucks for all involved.

[Tbar]

Shooting just the limpers doesn’t mediate the exposure risk. Wdfw tried shooting just the limpers, they tried shooting whole herds (toutle).New elk move in and limpers start to appear.  If the affected elk are on the property you may have contaminated soil already.  No documented elk/cattle hoof rot cross yet, but if it continues it will.  I support ranchers and finding a solution but shooting select ones isn’t a viable solution.  If science says only elk that limp can spread it, maybe.   Sucks for all involved.

Cattlemen are well versed in hoof ailments and the treatment.  In the industry is a known issue that's been treated for half a century and not cured.  There is treatment for domestic stock though.

[time2hunt]

I’m not sure why this bill came up it’s the first I’ve seen it. Being from Eastern Washington and not having to deal with foot rot yet it’s new territory for us.


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[Lumpy Taters]

Managing hoof rot in a farming or ranching situation is a completely different situation to doing the same for a wild species.  Especially on the westside where the terrain and cover make it near impossible to find all of the affected animals. Just allowing the harvest of limping animals would mean the extinction of the herds. Especially around St Helen's.  Good intentions.  Bad idea. 

[CarbonHunter]

This smells like a play by cattlemen to reduce elk populations so they can have more grazing for cattle. Looks like something you might see in Montana by the cattlemen.

This is a horrible idea to let private citizens kill elk with no regulations. Every poacher on the planet will claim the elk was limping if they get caught.

[cem3434]

This is a horrible piece of legislation. Just another way to avoid the real issue of understanding why its happening and fixing that problem. WDFW is supposed to manage the herds, so all this would do is give WDFW a free pass on never having to explain the cause and why this has happened. This would be the nail in the coffin for any hope of recovery for the already decimated herds in western Washington.

[Fishmaker57]

Just another ploy to not deal with the real issue. My guess is this was brought about by the timber industry. Spraying clear cuts has not only caused this issue, but has all but destroyed the Blacktail population. Growing up, finding Blacktail was easy, just go sit on any clear cut. Defy anyone to do that now; nothing but dead grey vegetation as far as you can see!

[HntnFsh]

Just another ploy to not deal with the real issue. My guess is this was brought about by the timber industry. Spraying clear cuts has not only caused this issue, but has all but destroyed the Blacktail population. Growing up, finding Blacktail was easy, just go sit on any clear cut. Defy anyone to do that now; nothing but dead grey vegetation as far as you can see!

This is a huge part of the problem.

[Ghost Hunter]

This smells like a play by cattlemen to reduce elk populations so they can have more grazing for cattle. Looks like something you might see in Montana by the cattlemen.

This is a horrible idea to let private citizens kill elk with no regulations. Every poacher on the planet will claim the elk was limping if they get caught.

Sounds like an argument that could flip to support taking cattle off elk range.     I agree it would have no benefit in getting back to healthy elk herds.

[Tbar]

This smells like a play by cattlemen to reduce elk populations so they can have more grazing for cattle. Looks like something you might see in Montana by the cattlemen.

This is a horrible idea to let private citizens kill elk with no regulations. Every poacher on the planet will claim the elk was limping if they get caught.

Sounds like an argument that could flip to support taking cattle off elk range.     I agree it would have no benefit in getting back to healthy elk herds.

This is an interesting thought.  I think the cattlemen would frown on the shoe on the other foot. Could you imaging shooting range cattle that appeared lame or sick? Makes little sense either way.