Speed Goats in Washington

[canyelk48]

Took a trip through S. Dakota, WY and MT last April and after losing count of the numbers of Antelope I saw I got to wondering why WA doesn't have any speed goats?  The terrain in Central WA appears to be ideal habitat for them; maybe it's time to transplant some to WA.

[billythekidrock]

At my son's hunter ed class they said that there are some in WA, just not huntable numbers. 

[saylean]

At my son's hunter ed class they said that there are some in WA, just not huntable numbers. 

I've heard that there are some too. I would think they would flourish in the Palouse area.

[runamuk]

weren't there some planted on the base in yakima?  I've seen about 2 ever one was roadkill and the other was all alone in a field of cows...we were in a part of Oregon and Idaho where there supposedly are lots  

[PolarBear]

I heard from a WDFW officer that there are a few on the Hanford and Yakima rez, but only a handful.

[bobcat]

This is good reading:


http://www.working4wildlife.com/Pronghorn_Antelope_Reintroduction.htm

[agchawk]

  There was a prior re-introduction years ago but they were unable to sustain numbers. I know there is an article out there somewhere on it. I'll see if I can find it and paste the link.

[agchawk]

 Here you go. Apparently it all started way back in the 1930s.

http://www.campusecology.wsu.edu/page_045.htm

[steen]

It would be really cool to hunt them in our own state instead of going outside to shoot one.  I'm sure poaching will be the biggest problem reintroducing them back, unfortunetly.

[Bob33]

I doubt there are more than a handful if any in Washington.  I've spent hundreds of hours in places like the Yakima Training Center. I have never seen one, seen any sign, nor heard of anyone seeing one. They are my favorite big game animal, so I am always looking and asking.  Pronghorn are active during the day, are easy to spot at long distances, and live in open terrain.

Naturally just because I haven't seen any, nor heard of any being seen does not prove they aren't here, but if there are any more than a very scattered few, I think there would be more credible sighting reports.

There have been a few efforts to reintroduce them.  Safari Club had plans to do so a few years ago but got frustrated with delays in Olympia.
http://www.seattlepi.com/getaways/390312_pronghorn04.html
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2008/11/15/384860/state-looks-at-reintroducing-pronghorn.html

[carpsniperg2]

they were supposed to be bringing some more over here and releasing them i think there might have been a tread on here i kinda remember it

[WDFW-SUX]

there are some on the hanford reach.

[benhuntin]

I heard they put them in the training center back in the day and the military boys shot them out

[Elkstuffer]

There was a fairly good number of them on the YTC back in the 50's. They were wipped out by the military.

The Central Washington chapter of SCI spearheaded a reintrodution into the state 2 years ago. WDFW was on board at first. After they backed out SCI went to the Yakama tribe and they were all for it.
There would already be 100 pronghorn on the ground but the lack of weather hampered the capturing of them. They are coming from an area outside of Winnimucca NV. They needed more snow than they had for a safe capture. Then it got too late into the winter and they were worried about fawn survival. They will try again this winter.

[rb2506]

At my son's hunter ed class they said that there are some in WA, just not huntable numbers. 

My mom said she saw some west of Spokane (I thought she was crazy but maybe she was right, right kind of country)