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

[Whitefoot]

Yep! I agree they don't have anywhere to go but to the river a couple miles away..  The number of 40 bull elk killed a year, that is a prety big number.  It's a lot lower than that..  But I do like the paper..
I have to say a lot of people are finding the Clock now tho.. I can't keep track of all the people that are up there now. ..But nicely done Aaron..
I did notice a lot of archer's.. I mean a lot.. Like 4 times more this last year....

[fremont]

Now, if you'd write a paper on the sorry state of the Colockum mule deer herds. 

[madmack76]

wow thats all i got

[colockumelk]

Yep! I agree they don't have anywhere to go but to the river a couple miles away..  The number of 40 bull elk killed a year, that is a prety big number.  It's a lot lower than that..  But I do like the paper..
I have to say a lot of people are finding the Clock now tho.. I can't keep track of all the people that are up there now. ..But nicely done Aaron..
I did notice a lot of archer's.. I mean a lot.. Like 4 times more this last year....

Thanks Aaron for the kind words.  The WDFW estimates 40 bulls.  They can only estimate since tribal members are not required to document their kills.  Not to get political but at least in the Colockum since year to year bull recruitment is such a razors edge, I wish the Yakama Nation would require their members to document harvests in the Colockum. 

As far as more Tribal Hunters each year....  The one of the biologists I spoke to agrees with your statement.  Its like any good hunting spot, eventually word gets out and soon your not the only one in your honey hole anymore.  I'm sure we can all relate to that scenario.  As far as more archers in that area that's strange.  I would have thought that this year since it was "True Spike" only that there would have been less archers in there.  I hunt it after work with my bow only because I live 10 minutes from my hunting spot but I didn't see anyone.  But then again I never do. 

As far as guys hunting your spot Aaron I'll provide the sugar if you pour it in their tanks

[duckmen1]

indians got it made
and they are the greediest people i have ever seen
this is coming from a west sude perspective
to kill and leave them lay so others can't get a chance to harvest
its rediculus and they need to do something about it

[6x6in6]

indians got it made
and they are the greediest people i have ever seen
this is coming from a west sude perspective
to kill and leave them lay so others can't get a chance to harvest
its rediculus and they need to do something about it

How do they got it made?
Providing some documented proof of this leave them lay wouldn't be a bad idea.
Want to do something about it?  Go ahead, write your lawmakers, tell them to revisit the treaties written many years ago.  Ask them to open up discussion on re-writing.  Let us all know how that works for ya, OK.

Somebody should take your keyboard away from you before you hurt yourself.

[colockumelk]

Now, if you'd write a paper on the sorry state of the Colockum mule deer herds. 

Oh that's simple.  And this applies to Yakima County as well.

1.) Bears and Coyotes eat the fawns.
2.) Cougars eat the weak and old.
3.) Hairloss doesn't discriminate
4.) Poachers kill the big bucks (I know 6 bucks that got poached last year alone)
5.) Hunters kill the 3pts.

Now all your left with are a ton of fawnless does and some 2pts left to do the breeding.  Man WDFW sure knows how to manage game properly

[duckmen1]

thats the problem 6x6in6 its people like you that are afraid to say anything negative about these indians and thats why nothing gets done
have called in on them trustpassing onto properties in satsop unleasing into herds and leaving them for the land owners but the authority is afraid to get a mess on their hands
i know many cops that say its rediculus and say that can't do anything about it

[colockumelk]

Don't worry duck.  Change is a'comin in that department.  Trust Me

[duckmen1]

i hope but at least someone kind of agrees with me
thanks

[bankwalker]

duckman1 i agree...ive sat and watch 5 muckleshoot members pull right up next to me at a pull off and unleash 20+ rounds at a herd of elk that was 200yards away. when the damn road went to within 50 yards of the elk.

we left and on the way back home noticed that they left 3 dead elk just laying on the hillside. all 3 cows...i guess they didnt hit any bulls.

[grundy53]

i totally agree with you duck. it pisses me off

[stewcamp]

A majority of the roads in this area should become red dot roads during hunting season. And you need to talk to the DNR guys up there because they are always up there now. They came across INDIANS witha huge spike bull kill. I don't remember exact numbers but he was pretty pissed off at the number of spikes killed. There is no one solution to this problem other than shutting the bull hunt all together and opening it up for antlerless for a few years. (Permit only) Just my opinion. Colockum is my favorite spot for elk and I would hate to see the season go but we have to do something. There are to many *censored*es up there come general modern season.

[duckmen1]

if it opened up to special permit cow that is one thing, but better not open it to cow general otherwise there won't be a single cow left to make another bull

[colockumelk]

I sent the WDFW my paper when I first wrote it.  I finally got a response.  Here it is.

Dear Mr. Blanchard:

 Thank you for your recent email and report to the Director regarding harvest management of the Colockum elk herd.  The Director asked that I respond to your information.  You did a fairly good job summarizing the issues of this herd in your paper and using the information provided by the Department.  As you describe, the greatest issue for management of bulls is the low yearling bull escapement and the issue of meeting population objectives in excess antlerless harvest.

 While you may not agree with the current management strategies, the issues of low bull recruitment and antlerless harvest are being addressed.  Antlerless harvest has been reduced over time and the total herd is now slightly above the objective of 4,500 elk.  This was accomplished with curtailment of antlerless harvest within the core range, and only taking antlerless animals to address damage situations.

 Historical harvest data shows an average of 34% of Colockum yearling bulls are branched on one side.  Therefore, under the “true-spike” regulation, depending on hunter compliance with the regulations and overall productivity for the elk population, yearling bull survival and recruitment could be even higher than the Yakima elk herd. 

  There are pros and cons to every management action.  While the bull objective could be reached under a permit only system, this would eliminate the majority of Colockum elk hunters.  It is fairly likely that this would result in a shift of hunters into the Yakima area, causing crowding issues and potential problems in achieving population objectives.

 There is no guarantee that the “true-spike” regulation will work, though early indications are good.  Initial harvest and survey data indicate that “true-spike” increased the yearling bull escapement in the Colockum to 25-30% during the first year.  Regulations generally become more effective as their acceptance improves over time, so we think that a 30% yearling bull survival in the Colockum herd is possible and bull ratios similar to the Yakima herd may result over time.

 We appreciate your concern and interest in improving management of the Colockum elk herd and the effort you expended in writing your paper.  If there is no continued improvement in the yearling bull survival and bull ratios, we will consider other strategies for 2012.

 Sincerely,

 Dave Ware, Game Division Manager
Wildlife Program
(360) 902-2509