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Author Topic: WDFW Response For GMU346  (Read 5350 times)

Offline colockumelk

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WDFW Response For GMU346
« on: March 12, 2010, 03:17:39 PM »
As an archer I am ashamed that the local archery clubs helped the WDFW make this decision.  But here's why they are opening up a general season during the rut in GMU346.  So thoughtfull and unselfish of the local clubs to do that.   >:(

In any case here is what the WDFW emailed me back.

Yakima Elk Recommendations

Question:  Why did WDFW recommend changing the Game Management Units that are open to archers during the early season in 2010?

Answer:  Recruit has been lower than average in recent years and the Yakima elk herd has fallen below population objective.  These trends are most evident in Population Management Unit 35, so we’ve recommended steps to reduce antlerless harvest there and shift pressure to Population Management Unit 33, where more elk are available for harvest.
Population Status:  The Yakima Elk Herd Plan and Game Management Plan call for 9500 elk in the Yakima elk herd.  Recently, the total herd has slipped below 9000 elk.  Within the core Yakima elk herd, there are 3 sub-herds or Population Management Units (PMU’s).  PMU 33 is composed of Game Management Units (GMU) 336, 340, 342, and 346; PMU 35 includes GMUs 352, 356, and 360; and PMU 36 includes GMU’s 364 and 368.  PMU 35’s population is the farthest below objective.  The goal in the Yakima Herd Plan for PMU 35 is 2920 elk, but the current population is only 2220 elk (Figure 1).
Recruitment:  To track population trends, we also use a recruitment index, which is the number of yearling bulls (spikes) harvested each fall plus the number of spikes on the winter range.  For example, the fall 2008 general harvest in PMU 35 was 117 spikes.  An additional 60 spikes were on the winter range, so the recruitment index was 177 for 2008.  Figure 2 shows a long term decline in recruitment that matches the population trend. 
Since PMU 35 produced 177 yearling bulls in 2008, at least 177 (probably 180-200) yearling cows were also recruited into the population that year.  During the Yakima Elk Study, data from radio collared elk indicated that about 7.5% of adult cows die from factors other than reported harvest each year.  For PMU 35, this non-reported loss would be about 120 cow elk per year.  If the female recruitment index is 200, and we lose 120 cows, we’d expect the antlerless population to grow by about 80 elk a year if no harvest occurred.  Any harvest level above 80 antlerless elk, would cause a stable or declining population.  There has been a negative balance been recruitment and harvest for a number of years.  Antlerless permit levels for modern firearm and muzzleloader hunters have been reduced.  Unfortunately, recruitment continues to decline in PMU 35 and more steps need to be taken to reduce antlerless harvest. 
Public Process:  In fall 2009, the problem with the elk population was taken before the local archery clubs in the Yakima area. After much discussion, the local archers agreed that something had to be done.  They preferred closing antlerless harvest in the early season rather than the late season in PMU 35.  However, there was also a need to provide opportunity in some other area, not only to spread hunters out, but also to maintain harvest equity between weapons groups.  PMU 33 has the most elk, best recruitment, and greatest ability to withstand additional harvest. The only GMU’s not already open during early archery season in PMU 33, are 342 and 346.  GMU 342 does not have many elk in the early season and is mostly shrub-steppe or open forest habitats, so the local archers requested GMU 346 in exchange for GMU’s 352 and 356.
The status of the Yakima elk herd and proposal to change archery GMU’s was also presented to the Game Management Advisory Council in December 2009.  No objections were voiced and the proposal carrier forward.  While it is recognized that some hunting quality will be lost for branched bull permit hunters in GMU 346, that same quality should be gained in GMU’s 352 and 356 if this recommendation is approved.               
"We Sleep Safe In Our Beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those that would do us harm."
Author: George Orwell

Offline gasman

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2010, 04:19:55 PM »
I do like the the opening of LN unit for early archery, but not this way.


Why ask only the Yakima Archery club.
I will bet that the archers from out side the Yakima area out number the archers from Yakima.
Why did we not get asked also  :dunno:

Gasman


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Offline colockumelk

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2010, 05:22:21 PM »
Exactly.  Or how about ask the rifle and ML clubs since this will directly affect their Rut tags in the area as well.  For the rifle guys that is the ONLY GMU in the area where you can draw more than 1 rut tag.  This will screw over the rifle and the ML guys.  If I was a rifle or ML guy I would be pissed.  Like I said I'm a bow hunter and this pisses me off.  It's not fair to the other user groups.  Once again the WDFW is issueing a short term fix to a longterm problem. 
"We Sleep Safe In Our Beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those that would do us harm."
Author: George Orwell

Offline gasman

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2010, 05:42:54 PM »
Maybe it is there way of makeing up for taking a day away from the archers and giving it to the riffle guys.
 :dunno:
Gasman


It's 5 O'clock somewhere.......

Offline WDFW-SUX

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2010, 06:29:14 PM »
WDFW is retarded.
THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE SUCKS MORE THAN EVER..........

Offline webster1

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2010, 06:37:27 PM »
the indians are still going to kill the big bulls  :bash: :bash: >:(

Offline gasman

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2010, 09:02:01 PM »
the indians are still going to kill the big bulls  :bash: :bash: >:(


Lets not start this again  :bdid:
Gasman


It's 5 O'clock somewhere.......

Offline Sawbuck

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2010, 07:28:58 AM »
The muzzleloader and rifle boys from 352 and 356 are probably smiling. Whatever happens there are always going to be a group of complainers.
« Last Edit: March 13, 2010, 08:09:01 AM by Sawbuck »

Offline luvtohnt

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2010, 07:42:21 AM »
So would you be more pissed off that 352, and 356 were closed with no where to spread the hunters out? I personally think they should have asked more than just the archery clubs in Yakima as well because there probably are more archers that hunt up there that live outside of the Yakima valley. All I have to say is until people loose the selfish attitude and agree to an even odd system or to go draw only on the eastside, the WDFW will have to manage hunters more so than manage the elk.

Brandon

Offline MIKEXRAY

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #9 on: March 13, 2010, 10:57:28 AM »
After reading the response it sure sounds like more of a done deal than I hoped. I have hunted 356 for 6 years archery & if the regs stay ( which seems almost certain in my mind ) it will be very tuff to figure out where to hunt. What is funny is the last two years in the Bumping unit is the most elk I have ever seen out of the last six. Even my hunting buddy commented last year that " elk are everywhere". Thanks to all for sending emails & going to the meetings. Maybe we can get one unit back ? That would be a victory. Mike

Offline bobcat

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2010, 03:13:10 PM »
What I got from the meeting today, there is no chance that they would consider having 352 or 356 open for antlerless elk during the early archery general season. From what Jerry Nelson (Deer & Elk Section Manager) stated in his report to the commission, elk numbers are down in those units and they want to bring them back up or stabilize them. Don't quote me on that as that is just what I got out of it. They decided Little Naches could take handle the additional pressure.

Offline norsepeak

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2010, 09:10:17 PM »
the reason they say the population is down is because there serveys are flawed.  They are based on the feed station.   The last two winters have been mild, so not very many elk have come down to the feed station.  I have been seeing a lot of elk staying higher up in the mtns. the last two winters, which don't get counted in their surveys.  Makes for scewed results.

Offline bobcat

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #12 on: March 13, 2010, 09:31:50 PM »
They said they realize the winter was different this year and they are taking that into account.

Offline jstone

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #13 on: March 14, 2010, 12:34:30 PM »
In a few years they will say they screwed up or they will give some stupid excuse to try to save face

Offline dreamingbig

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Re: WDFW Response For GMU346
« Reply #14 on: March 16, 2010, 11:49:49 AM »
If they are really worried about the population in GMU 356 then they would also eliminate the 25 muzzleloader and 15 modern firearm permits for 356.  Bowhunters took 40 cows in 2008 and 37 cows in 2007; 2009 is yet to be published.  Why is the user group that hunts with the most restrictive equipment being reduced to zero opportunities to harvest cows while the other two groups have a combined 40 opportunities?  At minimum the archers should have a proportional opportunity to harvest anterless elk.  Of course the answer is MONEY but they will not admit that.

Reduction in anterless opportunities in GMU 356 by user group (2009 to 2010):

Archery 100%
Modern Firearm 80%
Muzzleloader 58%

Bull permits stayed the same across all user groups.  Does this make sense to anyone???  Changing GMU 356 to spike only for archery will bring the success rate of that user group to almost zero for those without a special permit.
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