No cougar hunting during Modern Deer

[saylean]

Dont forget guys and gals...

No cougar hunting during
deer season in six counties



OLYMPIA - Cougar hunting will be closed in six Washington counties during the statewide deer-hunting season that begins Oct. 17, according to a reminder issued today by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

Under a new rule approved earlier this year, no cougars may be taken during the early deer-hunting season in the six counties where a pilot hunt for cougars using dogs is scheduled to begin later this year.

The new rule delays the general cougar hunt with modern firearms until Oct. 31 in Chelan, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille and Klickitat counties. In all other counties, the modern-firearms season for cougar will begin Oct. 17, along with early deer seasons.

Donny Martorello, carnivore manager for WDFW, said delaying the general cougar hunt in the six affected counties is designed to help biologists evaluate the pros and cons of using dogs in hunts designed to manage the state’s cougar population.

"Deer hunters take cougars under different circumstances than hunters specifically pursuing cougars with the use of dogs," Martorello said. "We need clear information on the effects of those strategies on the cougar population as we develop future hunting seasons."

Martorello said the department is taking extra steps to inform hunters of the new rules - including direct email communications with those who have hunted for cougars during deer season in any of the six affected counties.

"This is the first time in a dozen years that the cougar season hasn’t overlapped with the deer season in those counties, so it’s a big change," he said. "We want to do everything we can to make sure hunters know about it."

The pilot hunt for cougars with the use of dogs is scheduled to run from Dec. 19 through March 31 in all six counties affected by the new rule.

Information about all of this year’s big-game hunting seasons is available in WDFW’s Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations pamphlet, available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/hunter.htm.

[washelkhntr]

 

Really..... whats next?

[saylean]

Really..... whats next?

Less deer/elk and more cougars is whats next.

[bearmanric]

guess i wont hunt Republic this year. was kinda thinking on were to go this year. want to get a whitetail. alot of people are going to get tickit's this year. Rick

[Curly]

I think the WDFW biologists are having a love fest with cougars.  And I agree w/ washelkhtr.......they are 

I also believe they limit the # of goat permits like they do so that cougars will have goats to eat.

[Sideswipe]

Aw cut 'em some slack.  I you had their job...........

[Curly]

Not many cougars will be killed by guys while out deer hunting anyway, but I bet a majority of the guys that bought cougar tags bought them so that they could shoot a cougar in case they were presented with the opportunity.....they didn't buy the tag with the intent on going out looking for cougars............now they say that you can't shoot one when you're out deer hunting.......WTF???   I bet they won't give refunds on the cougar tags either........

I guess I just don't understand the reason for not allowing shooting a cougar during deer season.  They should already have plenty of data from previous years. 

[bighorns2bushytails]

wonder if this will stay in effect long.  i agree most people pry buy the cougar tags just for the off chance they see one while deer hunting.  i cant help but think this will cause a decline in revenue and ultimately change again so they can continue to line their pockets. just my 

--bh2bt

[Wenatcheejay]

Just take your cougar tag and drop it off at your local WDFW office. You won't need it this year.

[HuntingFanatic]

So I have never even seen a cougar in the woods before,but, I am one of those guys who bought a tag with the thought of if I did see one I would like to shoot it....but I hunted in the Okanagon. And didnt see one.

But! As we were walking up the trail at o'dark 30, All I had was a wind up flashlight. As I was winding frantically at one point I made the comment to my dad that it sounded like a distressed rabbit call. Later that day, a guy that came up the same trail shortly behind us said that he heard a cougar take down a deer at a certain spot.......the same spot that I had made the comment to my dad. Im thinking maybe we called it in to the area. Sorry guys I know the story is off topic. I just thought it to be interesting.

[eastside boy]

Yeah...I have yet to see one too.   But I think my search image is to fixated on animals with large antlers. 

[wolfbait]

wonder if this will stay in effect long.  i agree most people pry buy the cougar tags just for the off chance they see one while deer hunting.  i cant help but think this will cause a decline in revenue and ultimately change again so they can continue to line their pockets. just my 

--bh2bt

Best chances for people taking cougars is during deer season, more folks in the woods. I talk to a guy the last part of deer season who said him and his dad saw the same cougar twice up the Twisp river. Defenders of wildlife are interested in an all predator west. Remember a while back, the topic of stopping bear season? I highly doubt data has anything to do with No Cougar huntin in deer season.