Yakima Canyon Sheep

[WonkyWapiti]

I was out there last Friday and spoke to one of the volunteers.  He told me there was a fed team that was up here doing the shooting which I confirmed via my taxidermist who has some good contacts with the FNAWS folks.  The volunteer I spoke to said the feds were really taking their time and observing the suspected sick animals to make sure they have to be killed.  I was told they watched one ram that was to be targetted for a few hours and determined he didn't actually need to be taken out.

From what I was told by my taxi was that the state wouldn't even negotiate with FNAWS over the issue of having hunters shoot the sheep.  I'm not a biologist and I understand the state has limited resources but I do agree with Norsespeak that it would have been nice to have had a special "emergency draw" or raffle to at least throw a bone to the hunters to at least take a few of the animals. 

[ramslam]

WAFNAWS fully supports the department's Umtanum disease plan and we truly hope the scientific information gleamed from this will be useful in future bighorn die-offs.  This control plan is a controversial approach that is not even widely accepted by everyone in the scientific community. We believe it is a worth risk worth taking as opposed to just letting the disease run its course and hopefully, will result in a quicker recovery of the population.  Euthanizing the sickest animals has proven effective in other areas that have experienced pneumonia outbreaks. 
   
There have been many comments posted about WDFW/WAFNAWS not turning this into a hunting opportunity.  WAFNAWS in no way sees this as a “hunting” opportunity. Pasteurella die-offs are devastating, tragic, and gut-wrenching episodes that turn majestic cliff dwelling wild sheep into snot-nosed, hackers that are too weak and sick to climb a hill.  In no way would placing the cross-hairs on a bighorn in such physical condition resemble a “hunt”.  Since euthanizing diseased animals is not “hunting”, hunting opportunity was not a consideration.  There are rare occasions when the removal of animals should be turned over to professionals such as Wildlife Services; this is one of those situations.

WAFNAWS disagrees that if “hunters” were doing the shooting it would be viewed more positively from the public (both hunters and non-hunters).  Can it be done?  Sure.  Should it be done? No!  If the well-being and conservation of the population is the ultimate goal, who cares who does the shooting?   

WAFNAWS has not “wasted” any money on this project and so far all we were asked to provide is man-power.  As stated in our last newsletter, 98.5% of our expenditures goes to on-the-ground projects.  We’ll put that efficiency record up against any other non-profit organization!  Our dollars hit the ground and are not “wasted” on administrative overhead.  WAFNAWS funded $193,202 in cooperative wildlife projects with an additional $33,470 in direct conservation funding in fiscal year 2008.  Umtanum will be expensive and we support WDFW spending raffle/auction revenue to fund the project.

You want to get involved?  Here’s the list of requests made in our last two newsletters for volunteer help, “website design, securing live/silent auction donations, banquet set up, banquet clean up, working in our booth, sending written comments related to the Payette NF plan, raffle/auction spending, sending comments regarding changes in the raffle/auction program, and lobbying for the Hwy 97A Wildlife Fencing Project.”  The fact is 99% of our time is spent in meetings, on the computer, or on the phone.  The first members we call to help out on the hands-on projects are those that have been giving their time already on those boring but vitally important jobs listed above. 

“It sucks”, “horrible” and “I don’t want to go back” are some of the comments I’ve heard from members who have volunteered thus far on the Umtanum situation.  We have nothing to hide and no top secret information to withhold.  There is a solemn mood in the canyon that challenges our conservation spirit so forgive the guys if they come across as tight-lipped.

[WonkyWapiti]

Thank you Ramslam for taking the time to post that. 

[lokidog]

So what are they doing with the meat?  I don't think a sheep with a cold is unsafe to eat.     It is a shame to have to take out sick animals, but as someone else pointed out, if they were "overpopulated" causing an increase in the risk of disease transmission, why were there not more tags made available?  I am sure some people would be interested in applying for a chance to harvest even a ewe.

[Elkstuffer]

Well said ramslam!

[boonerboy]

I totally agree with you ramslam.

[WonkyWapiti]

I was back out there with my buddy today glassing the sheep.  We had a good day, saw a total of 119 between Oak Creek and Yakima Canyon, almost 70 of which were in the canyon area.  The coolest was a group of 9 big rams that we watched right below us as they came down to the opposite side of the river.  These really are some magnifient animals.  Of course, I left my camera at home again.   

[bearpaw]

I agree with sako and norsepeak.

But first let me say, I am sure FNAWS has the best interest of sheep in mind and I am also sure that the WDFW has the best interest of the sheep in mind. I am not disputing this at all.

However, this unfortunate situation could have resulted in a few folks having an opportunity to take a sheep. I read all the excuses everyone has made for opposing any hunting/shooting/culling opportunity (whatever you want to call it) and I do not believe any of them are unmanageable obstacles.

You guys can argue all you want that there's no way this could be worked out, but the rest of us know that circumstances could have been worked out if wanted by those in charge. There are instances throughout history where the norm has been tested and better methods found. But those better methods were only found by testing the norm.

As stated in another thread, if they had offered the opportunity, I would have gladly paid $5000 to take a ram or a few hundred to take a ewe. Other hunters would gladly use their once in a lifetime opportuntiy to shoot one of the sheep.

The problem here is that no one involved wants to try any other option than using government hunters. But don't feel like this is only happening in Washington, Utah just did the same thing with some sick sheep near Flaming Gorge. Just too sad that these unfortunate situations can not provide a once in a lifetime opportunity for hunters. 

[sako223]

With the reduction in herd size and unknowns of spread or survival, many hunters will now be deprived of any chance to harvest a sheep ever.
This is a risky pay & pray draw system that we have no say in.

[blacktailer]

Sad state of affairs for the bighorn these days.  Same thing is going on in several areas of Montana.  I agree with Bearpaw.  As hard as it is to draw a tag (and is only gonna get much harder now) it would have been nice to some individuals fill their tags and get them out of the drawing pool.  Not saying it is for everybody, but I would be willing to bet that several people would be willing to burn their points for the opportunity at a sheep; ram or ewe, sick or healthy. 

[bearpaw]

Unfortunately it's an uphill battle with sheep, I just wished there was a brighter future for them, everytime the herds are doing well, it seems this pnemonia gets going again. 

[WonkyWapiti]

My buddy and I drove back out this evening to look for sheep in the canyon.  We counted 75.  We also found one dead one just off the road where we had pulled over to look at some deer.

[carpsniperg2]

yeah it sucks.

[bearpaw]

I guess looking on the bright side, at least you saw a few live ones, hopefully the sheep situation will improve again.

[wa.hunter]

Sheep project is still on and I see there is the possibility that some of you would like to volunteer. get back to me as I have been working on the schedule for the volunteers so far. It just might open your eye's as to what has really been happening. This maybe the final week and I am looking for spotters with good optics, bino's and a spotting scope and a cell phone.