Cougar Hunting Closes During General Deer

[huntnphool]

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

October 8, 2009

Contact:  WDFW Wildlife Program, (360) 902-2515

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 . 

[huntnphool]

Seems to me they know how many guys will be in the field those couple weeks and want to minimize the amount of incidental cougars shot.

[halflife65]

Just got the following email from WDFW (like 10 minutes ago):

Dear Hunter,
Cougar hunting will be closed in Chelan, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, and Klickitat counties during the statewide deer-hunting season that begins Oct. 17.   The new rule delays the general cougar hunt with modern firearms until Oct. 31 in the six counties.  In all other counties, the modern-firearms season for cougar will begin Oct. 17, along with early deer seasons.   
Delaying the general cougar hunt in the six affected counties is designed to help biologists evaluate the pros and cons of using hound hunting to manage the state’s cougar population.  The number of cougars allotted for harvest has not changed since last year.  The pilot hunt for cougars with the use of dogs is scheduled to run from Dec. 19 through March 31 in all six counties.  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 .
Sincerely,
Donald Martorello
Carnivore, Furbearer & Special Species Section Manager

[huntnphool]

Delaying the general cougar hunt in the six affected counties is designed to help biologists evaluate the pros and cons of using hound hunting to manage the state’s cougar population.

So if the hound season doesn't start until Dec 19th, how does delaying the general hunt to Oct. 31 help them evaluate pros and cons of hounds?

[carpsniperg2]

 

[Ray]

Is this their way of pitting hound hunters against others?

Stupid.

[Machias]

They are going to have normal law abiding citizens breaking the law.  They couldn't get this much more confused if they tried, IMO.

[blacktailer]

Amen Machias.  What about all the hunters that either don't have email. don't check their email regularly or did not give out the email address to Fish and Wildlife???  Why in the HELL is this just coming out now?  Hell, maybe we'll all get an email on the 16th that deer hunting in the same 6 counties has been suspended indefinately.  Probably be the year that I finally see a big cat while deer hunting.   Very frustrating!!!

[mulehunter]

Interesting, If population of Cougars in Wa would end up KILL 3,000 Deer and some Elk alone in Wa with in two weeks after open day season.   

Even  If there is Bow and muzzler loader were not SUCCESSED filled to ANYONE. Its going to be INTERESTING Change of way WDFW want.

It will be A BIG DIFFERENT next year with many Loss of Fawns and Deer, Oh I forget how many Deer get killed by Wolves pack. 2 night for those three packs in Wa. average 10 to 14 a week X 48 weeks would be BIG DOWN POPULATION!


Mulehunter 

[Wea300mag]

I received that same email and read it 3 times trying to make sense of their logic. Finally I realized it just don't make sense.

[wolfbait]

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.

Love fest for predators. 

[mulehunter]

I personal saw two Cougars already this year and both arent same local! Thats is more than I have seen on public area in whole my life.

Mulehunter 

[wolfbait]

Wolves are driving them out of their hunting grounds, won't be long and the people who live in the country and think so much of the predators will be forming different opinions

[youngchristof]

when they study a certain species like a cougar.  they get very protective of the specie being studied.   I can tell you now that the pros heavily out weigh the cons for using hounds for cougars.  just doesnt make any sence but that is kinda the norm for wdfw

[lewy]

Sounds like bs. If they have a decent reason why dont they just come out and say it?