New Cougar Season

[sako223]

The WDFW has proudly mismanaged all of the game seasons. They conveniently blame the other guy, usually biologists. With tags lumped together it is difficult to protest by not purchasing. Tags and license only support about 20% of the budget anyway.
Of all the seasons to dink with, this is the one that should have remained open til spring. I believe Oregon has actually gone longer to year round.

[Axle]

I believe Oregon has actually gone longer to year round.

I think Oregon is actually getting smart. I read in the regs how they removed a lot of cougars to increase hunting for deer and elk. Very smart move!

I quit buying an Oregon tag (last year was 2002) because the cougars were eating up the elk where we hunted and it was getting difficult to even find an elk. However, after reading about the cougar removal, I am planning on going there next year to hunt. I might boycot this state now. This state has far more liberals who don't hunt and don't like hunters. Oregon needs the income generated from hunters and even though a lot of hunters there are liberals (and stupid drones), they spend money on hunting.

The only way this state will make through is if they open up cougar and wolf hunting and the best way to do that is............oh ya baby!.....bounty payments! But what are the odds of that happening?

[bearpaw]

There are a few units where cougar numbers are down, but I think they over reacted.  (I am a hound dogger, but I beleive other hunters should not be left out of the picture.)   

We all need to support each other.

[boneaddict]

tell me about it, I drew a special boot permit, when I was after a hound permit in an area that I could already boot hunt in. and.......I am fairly savy on game regs and permits since I do it in about 12 different states, but I sure blew this one big time

[bearpaw]

Sorry to hear, better get out the boot grease....

[sako223]

Throwing the numbers around.

The upshot is that, according to a 2006 study by Washington State University's Large Carnivore Conservation Laboratory, Washington's cougar population -- estimated as anywhere from 1,900 to 4,000 -- has actually declined since I-655. WDFW biologists agree, and are reducing harvest limits (especially those involving female cougars) and dropping the annual bag limit back from one to two.

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2008/07/31/cougar-conundrum



http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2008/reports/cougar.php

[boneaddict]

    Helps that I used most of my vaca in November so I didn't have to get in shape chasing cats all December.  The last time I ran one down there was about 4 feet of snow and I thought I was going to die.  When Idabooner picked me up I think he thought I was already dead.

[mulehunter]

  Bone, u better be careful! Ur family needs u! Wish u draw hound tag. I would like take ya and treed first day Open!

But....Dang....

Mulehunter 

[bucklucky]

Hey guys, better think about that for a second about this being a bone thrown to the hound guys. They are trying to prove that the hound guys are not doing as the game department wants. Too many females being killed because guys will shoot the females so the male quota doesnt get met. They are trying to prove that the hound season need to be scrapped. Is this a bone to the hound hunters or is it the last year we will have hounds in washington. Washington does not like the hound guys, and they have proven that again to me. They see hound hunting as a tool and that is it. Sounds like they think it is a tool they dont need or want to me......So is it a Bone thrown to the hound guys???

[boneaddict]

Charlie is throwing me to the hounds.......................

Not sure.  I jsut chaulked it up to more politics, and greed. 

[bucklucky]

Ahh Bone, mine will just lick ya to death 

The way it was explained to me is they are trying to prove that the hound hunters arent being picky and killing whatever is up the tree. So basically no different than a boot hunter shooting a cougar on the ground with out knowing whether it is male or female. So there really is no point to have the hound permits anymore. Thats what they are trying to prove . They want more Toms killed , not females.

[Machias]

It's an easy fix, NO FEMALES.  Make the houndsmen ID their cats before they pull the trigger.  It really is that dang easy.

[mulehunter]

First of all, I Personal Houndman, I have Run Cougars in past on my permits and my frineds Permits who invited me to run lions with.

I have NEVER SHOT ONE DOWN OR I RUN WITH BUDDY THAT NEVER SHOT ONE DOWN TOO ALL TRUE, Because ONE RULE We all want to find BIG TOM to make Our day happy for ever and REMEMBER FOR LONG TIME!!

I have always can tell what female or male when they are up tree. Best thing is sit under tree and watch them how beauitful they are. Talk about what size and story! Release them all the times is best feeling and know that we want BEST FOR ALL HUNTERS who filled tag that will THANK ME for what I have done.

Mulehunter