Should there be a AHE

[wackmaster]

tmike good discusion

[kirkl]

Not dogging the west side guys but seems like thats the most of the people that are complaining and you want to get rid of it and go to damage permits. You think there actually going to call you on the west side then wait for 2-3 hours while you drive over here to the east side to some farmers field cause there in there "right now" just so they can be "fair" to everyone. Lets use a little common sense. And ya im a AHE card holder and didnt get an elk this year, not from lack of trying. And ya they let us shoot two but how many do you think actually shot two.

[robodad]

Maybe the second one should be donated to the food pantry, It would level the field a little bit and put food in those who would otherwise go hungry !!   

[Crunchy]

I'm an AHE member.  Havent had the chance to use it, but mainly cause of lack of time.  I put in for a few of the permits but havent been drawn.  I, unlike many dont put in for Toutle or Margret but just my AHE tags.  I'd rather hunt with close friends and maybe shot a big bull, then hunt alone in Toutle or Margaret.  I like the program, but it could use change or two. 

[tmike]

Here's an idea. Make it a true Master hunters program. Only people with 40 years experience in the woods and hunting can apply. How many of us can truely say we are Masters at anything. Reward the people that got us into the sport.

[Crunchy]

Just what we need a bunch of gray tops hunting from their trucks.

[ICEMAN]

Surely you jest. Old timers who had an eternity to hunt deer thru October, shoot any bull elk, had a "doe day" every year, cold claim gunny sacks of razor clams, fish for salmon and ling and just about any other species nearly unregulated. No points to earn, minimal tag fees... I am not in the mood to give special priviliges to guys that already had it.

[tmike]

OK so you don't like my last idea. How about the second AHE 3911 cow tag has to be a sponsored tag that goes to a disabled hunter. Who better to shoot an elk off a hay bail in the middle of an Alfalfa field. And please don't say "great, that's all we need, a bunch of disgruntled disabled shooting my elk", or "they get benifits why should we give them that too!" come up with some ideas, get creative.

[Crunchy]

Make 3911 Archery only.  That would make it more of a challenge.  For me if I did fill the 2nd elk tag it'd be for meat.  Half my elk went to the rest of the camp, some to the in-laws doesnt leave alot.  I really dont want to walk out to a field and shoot on 10 minutes later.  No pain no enjoyment.

[tmike]

That would be ok, but the land owners who I know won't allow archery because they want them Killed, Now. Some areas are condusive to archery. Sage and alfalfa aren't. At least for me.

[ICEMAN]

I am always in favor of youth or disabled getting the privileges.

(What ever happened to that blind hunt that wildlife had....? Come to think of it, nevermind, I do not want to know. )

[high country]

howdy guys, sorry I missed this one.....snows been kicking my butt.

OK first and foremost the only people the ahe discriminates against is those who have been caught being dirtbags in the past, and those who have not completed a hunters education.....so to me it is rediculous to say the program is un fair.

youth and disabled hunts are surely a possibilty in some areas, but most areas open to damage hunts are on private land. I am currently in a season that is a damage hunt and MOST of the hunt area is well within 300yds of peoples homes. we are only allowed to use limited range wepons. I would NEVER allow a youth to be shooting his gun that close to my house.....period. I want only people who have gone the extra mile and even then I would be nervous.

there seems to be a bunch of people that think the damage hunts are about hunters getting elk. the fact is the hunt is about elk being kept away from private land. elk are hard on crops and fences. I suppose we could raise the cost of a license and tags to $700 and kill the program off, we could then just pay the farmers for their damage......how does that sound?

coments like mikes about the 40 years to be a master is pretty rediculous, heck old england thought the the world was flat till young columbus proved them wrong, bad expierience equals bad habits....time in the woods might teach you alot, but who's to say it is leagal or applicable to hunting in someones backyard.

the idea of a limited draw.....imagine if you just burned your points on a depred hunt and found that it was cancelled for any number of reasons....how pissed would you be? you would demand your points back....right? that happens to ahe every year.

one thing I would like to see is the 3911 boundrys changed. it seems pretty stupid to have the state park included in the hunt area and then site guys for hunting there. I bet those guys get off in court or the area gets modified.

I would be in favor of increased fines for ahe violations of any blatency. I can understand a guy shooting a critter a couple minutes early/late.....clocks vary, but to shoot an elk on private land w/o permission should be a huge fine/loss of equipment.

[Ironhead]

Surely you jest. Old timers who had an eternity to hunt deer thru October, shoot any bull elk, had a "doe day" every year, cold claim gunny sacks of razor clams, fish for salmon and ling and just about any other species nearly unregulated. No points to earn, minimal tag fees... I am not in the mood to give special priviliges to guys that already had it.

Pretty harsh on the seniors Iceman, You feel your more deserving than a 75 year old man or woman that has a hard time getting around in the hills. Some still have the passion but don't have health on their side, I think they are more entitled than alot of others. I hope your not making the rules when I get old. 
 

[tmike]

Just trying to brainstorm some ideas here high country Sheesh!  Mostly what I've heard in all these AHE threads are whats wrong not how can we fix it. At least you had some ideas. How about the program is so well run that when an alfalfa hunt is available disabled or kids get priority, when it's an urban hunt, hunters that have seriously proven primitive weapon proficiency get priority. On all the other damage type hunts the hunters need to be cycled through. In other words if I shoot a cow, you and everyone else would at least get a call offering the chance, if you can't make it you go to the end of the line. Now I'll go get my bullet proof undies on and wait for the flack! 

[ICEMAN]

Pretty harsh on the seniors Iceman, You feel your more deserving than a 75 year old man or woman that has a hard time getting around in the hills. Some still have the passion but don't have health on their side, I think they are more entitled than alot of others. I hope your not making the rules when I get old. 

To be honest with you, I have seen a few too many elderly folks in the hills who should not even be there. I have seen poor shots taken from guys who could not see very well, trucks in ditches from guys who couldn't negotiate the roads due to poor depth perception and slow reflexes, game not pursued after the shot taken, and game wasted and left behind by guys whos knees or hearts were so bad they gave up.    ***Even young healthy guys who behave like this as well.

Earlier I did not really finish my point, I will try here...My point was; that many of the older generation had great opportunity in the past, and I do not feel that they should continue to reap the benefit of a shrinking state resource, when at the same time we are trying to encourage the youth to begin hunting.

You use the word "entitled" in your reply. No one is entitled to wild game.

Back to the topic, If landowners are really all that concerned about the deer and elk wrecking their places, and if we are going to allow them to be killed "immediatley" maybe wildlife should just do the deed, and donate the meat to charity, keep the hunters out of it all together. Then the hunter groups will stop griping about each other and can focus all of our grief on DOW.