Free: Contests & Raffles.
Yes, due to several years of high nanny kills and the population declining significantly based off annual surveys the season is shut down on Baker. I suspect the overall population decline played a larger role in the closure.
Native harvest doesn't help
Quote from: Meathunter06 on May 01, 2025, 02:22:20 PMNative harvest doesn't help If this was a factor, I would bet my left ... that @shanevg would know.
It's a shame as my Mt Baker goat tag was one of the most memorable hunts I've been on.I think nanny harvest may have played a minor roll in in the reduction of the goat herd, but it was not the main factor. In that short time of me being there in 2020 and now there is something way bigger at play. We saw goats EVERYWHERE!!!! I don't claim to know what is causing the reduction though but it would have to be an increase in predation, poaching, disease, winters or a combination of all of those. The data below shows that 3 females were killed since 2020. I'm unsure of what was killed in 2024 but if it was females combined with the reduction in herd size it may have been a preemptive decision to "do something".6006 - Avalanche Gorge (4-7) - Mountain Goat Unit 4-72017- 2 males killed2018 - 2 males killed2019- 0 killed2020 - 3 males killed2021 - 1 female killed2022 - 0 killed2023- 1 male and 2 females killed
Lots of factors going on here but one thing that is worth mentioning that has not been mentioned is that WA is the MOST conservative state in the West when it comes to mountain goat seasons and quotas. I'm not saying that the population is in decline but with the very conservative guidelines(and getting more conservative) and the lack of data the state is very quick to reduce tags. I'm not sure how other states are able to offer more tags with smaller populations of goats and not have the same issues that we have here.
A couple Nannie’s shot isn’t gonna cause this much of an issue. Hasn’t been any hunting in the area just north of there that shut down in the late 90’s I believe. It had 10 tags in there in 1994. More going on here then what wdfw knows or is telling
Quote from: bear on May 07, 2025, 07:42:16 AMA couple Nannie’s shot isn’t gonna cause this much of an issue. Hasn’t been any hunting in the area just north of there that shut down in the late 90’s I believe. It had 10 tags in there in 1994. More going on here then what wdfw knows or is telling They know who's been hunting in there but their liberal agenda won't allow them to do anything about it.
Coincidentally the deer population in the high country has taken a massive hit due to the burgeoning lion population. I believe that they have begun targeting goats as the deer population shrinks.
The state issued tags is not what caused the drop in population. Both the tribes and state were trying to figure out how all the transplanted goats died as well. I’m sure they know but their findings conflict with their agendas or they would have published the results.
Quote from: CarbonHunter on May 07, 2025, 05:58:11 PMThe state issued tags is not what caused the drop in population. Both the tribes and state were trying to figure out how all the transplanted goats died as well. I’m sure they know but their findings conflict with their agendas or they would have published the results.Not true but speak as if you know. The criticism lies in the fact that there was zero funding to do investigations. Actually very little funding to collar. The ones that were investigated were a mix of cougar kills and several undetermined but were in avalanche chutes.
Not sure how many of the goats from the Olympics were transplanted up there, but has there been any new #s on how many of the goats transplanted survived? And that is across the state. My folks live near Coles Corner/Leavenworth area and they had a goat above them for a month or so. Haven't seen it since.
