"Putting a Square Peg in a Round Hole" The fall of the Colockum Elk Herd.

[colockumelk]

So 762 hunters have checked out this forum.  Hopefully all 762 read my paper.  If so that would be a huge step in raising awareness about the plight of the Colockum elk.  Thanks goes out to TheHunt for giving me the idea to send it to newspapers to read.  That is in the works right now.  It is also definately being sent to the RMEF.  If you care about this herd at all and want to see your children hunt this herd please raise awareness and pass this paper on.

As hunters we are very optimistic about things.  (Afterall this is what keeps us coming back year after year; the hope of getting that buck or bull)  But this is one thing we can't be optimistic about.  For the past ten years this herd has steadily declined.  Does anyone think that the WDFW is going to do anything to change this trend.  No one likes to rock the boat and to make waves but sometimes its gotta be done.  Thank you for your time and support. 

[duckmen1]

i do agree that the true spike only will not help
the non true spikes will only go to the indians anyway

[Slamadoo]

Closing roads would definately help with spike recruitment. I think that this option is much more attractive than turning those units into permit only.

[littlemac]

I have hunted the 329 area for most of my life.  I use the term hunt loosely as for many years we walked in the woods on the weekend and spent great time with dad and siblings.  Honestly, dad was a hunter in those days and would stay the entire deer season.

For some reason he never got the bug for elk.  In the last years of the deer and elk season overlap for the 3 days when it was antlerless (as I recall) I would often see elk cows and wonder about hunting elk.

In 1995 I submitted for an antlerless tag that overlapped and drew it.  That year I got my deer and an elk.

We have watched what has been laid out here so well with Colockum's paper happen before our eyes.  Some years we do see many more hunters than others.  I would say that the hunter count was down significantly at least by the number of camps up there this year or lack of camps.  At least on the lower Reecer side above Deer Gulch and Liberty.

For sure something needs to be done with access though, you don't even need to camp up there its so easy to drive in from E'burg and CleElum.  Make it a draw only would be the best in my mind, that way you may be able to control the number of hunters that get an opportunity with the survival of the herd as the goal to achieve the viable spike numbers you need each year.

Otherwise it will be like the opener of 2008 where I saw spikes hanging in camps all over the place, 6 in one camp as I recall and only 8 hunters.  They were tagged out and gone on Sunday afternoon.  I can really see where the access is a critical point.

If it weren't for tradition of hunting there (329) I'd listen to my brother who claims there never were many animals in there and go elsewhere, I know better though because I have had reasonable success over the last 20 years of more serious hunting.

[colockumelk]

Closing roads would definately help with spike recruitment. I think that this option is much more attractive than turning those units into permit only.

I agree I would rather see road closures as well.  The less restrictive we can make it and still make it work the better.  HOWEVER......  as I said in my paper, most of the land in the Colockum is owned by DNR and the Forest Service so the WDFW CAN'T close many of the roads that need to be closed.  Like I always tell my Soldiers "worry about the things that you can control."  The WDFW can't control road closures on land it doesn't own.  They can control the amount of spikes harvested through season lengths or permit only.

 I've heard that the RMEF has bought some land or done something in the Colockum.  Does anybody know anything about this?

littlemac that was a very insightful post thankyou for your input. 

[fremont]

Colockumelk, I appreciate the work you're essentially doing on all of our behalf.  Thanks.  With this information, what, if any, traction do you get from the WDFW?

[Elkaholic daWg]

Closing roads would definately help with spike recruitment. I think that this option is much more attractive than turning those units into permit only.

 But would that qualify as an emergency, and put us on level field with Tribal hunter? It would be good for the young, and the fit (not disabled)



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I have hunted the 329 area for most of my life.  I use the term hunt loosely as for many years we walked in the woods on the weekend and spent great time with dad and siblings.  Honestly, dad was a hunter in those days and would stay the entire deer season.


  I can say that myself Littlemac, except for the weekend part, and also did 328/251

[halflife65]

Last year when I was wandering around 328 I came across a couple of brand new gates on roads that had signs on them that the RMEF was at least partially responsible for putting those in.  I don't know if they've purchased land or not, I just saw the gates.  (More, please!)

[Cougeyes]

It would be nice if your paper got published in RMEF journal as it would create more pressure on WDFW and other organizations to start working on solutions and actually implementing them rather than just discussing them.  Glad you referenced a lot of your facts, they are reliable and show the truth about what is happening.

[Whitefoot]

   Clock.  How often are you in the mountains?  Just curious!

[Skyvalhunter]

Very Well written Aaron. Hopefully with your information and hunters providing feedback to the WDFW something will get done. I remember in the late 70's going out in the evenings while my father was logging up there watching the enormous bulls and hundreds of cows. In my estimation it would truly be more beneficial if the area was closed for a few years. But keeping the Native Americans out would not happen. What hunters need to realize along with WDFW is that if the herd is not managed properly there will be no herd to manage. But the all mighty dollar raises it's face for the WDFW and greed by hunters out weigh any common sense. I do commend you on your efforts!!

[Whitefoot]

I remember in the late 70's going out in the evenings while my father was logging up there watching the enormous bulls and hundreds of cows.

It still is that way!  That's why I was asking how often you guys are in the Clock..?

[6x6in6]

Last year when I was wandering around 328 I came across a couple of brand new gates on roads that had signs on them that the RMEF was at least partially responsible for putting those in.  I don't know if they've purchased land or not, I just saw the gates.  (More, please!)

Been there since the late summer of 2008 IIRC.
They channeled some funds that way to help with enhancement of range with the money primarily earmarked for gates and berms. 

[colockumelk]

Whitefoot I'm up there alot.  Yes there are still a number of bulls up there.  But not nearly what there used to be.  Read my paper or at least look at the population graphs from the last ten years.  In 2008 they only found 72 branch bulls in the entire Colockum.  72 bulls is not all that many bulls if you think about it.  

[grundy53]

great paper