Cougar harvest reports.

[Kain]

Billythekidrock asked about how the new cougar regs would effect the harvest numbers at the WWPHA meeting. Looks like the new regulation have really reduced the number of lions harvested.  The harvest went down from and average of 199/yr to a 142 last year.  That is a pretty severe drop.  If we have a similar year this year we could really see a boom in cougar population.


Year   Female   Total cats            Source
2009     72          142            http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2009/reports/cougar.php
2008    106          188            http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2008/reports/cougar.php
2007    100          201            http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2007/cougar.php
2006     96          200            http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2006/cougar.php
2005     78          202            http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2005/cougar.php
2004    102          208            http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2004/cougar.pdf


  

[Uplandbum]

Not looking for an argument Jimmy but if you find a real source i.e. Journal Article instead of some town paper, you will find that there is a positive correlation between increased cougar hunting and increased cougar complaints.  If interested PM me.

[Kain]

Not looking for an argument Jimmy but if you find a real source i.e. Journal Article instead of some town paper, you will find that there is a positive correlation between increased cougar hunting and increased cougar complaints.  If interested PM me.

Im interested in what your sources are on that.  More hunting=more complaints?     Not arguing just want to see the source for that.

[billythekidrock]

Billythekidrock asked about how the new cougar regs would effect the harvest numbers at the WWPHA meeting. Looks like the new regulation have really reduced the number of lions harvested.  The harvest went down from and average of 199/yr to a 142 last year.  That is a pretty severe drop.  If we have a similar year this year we could really see a boom in cougar population.


Year   Female   Total cats            Source
2009     72          142            http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2009/reports/cougar.php
2008    106          188            http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2008/reports/cougar.php
2007    100          201            http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2007/cougar.php
2006     96          200            http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2006/cougar.php
2005     78          202            http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2005/cougar.php
2004    102          208            http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2004/cougar.pdf

Great work Kain.
It will be interesting to see the results over the next couple years.

[bobcat]

Do these numbers include the cats killed outside of the general seasons, with the special permits?

[Houndhunter]

Do these numbers include the cats killed outside of the general seasons, with the special permits?

they should

i would also like to here what you have to say uplandbum, are you saying when more cats are killed theres more complaints?

[Kain]

What do you guys think is the biggest factor in reduced harvest numbers?  Weapon specific seasons, one tag, or removing four months from the general season?  Or do you believe it has to do with fewer cats or fewer females?    

I would say its the reduced season, more specifically the last three months but that is just my guess.  

[billythekidrock]

I feel that the shorter rifle season and changing some units permit has a lot to do with it.

[Special T]

Tag specification for sure... I bet most of those harvested without special permits are on accident.  Aside from some of you dedicated predator hunters, who in the hell wants to go out cougar hunting when its bow season and you have a rifle tag? or visa verse.. 

[Kain]

I feel that the shorter rifle season and changing some units permit has a lot to do with it.

I think you are right.  The units that still have a season that goes until March 31.

          Total cats taken
2009    45
2008    46
2007    48
2006    54
2005    36
2004    36

Seems like the numbers are right in line with past years.  Those units didnt seem too effected by the weapon specific seasons and loosing a month off the beginning of the season.  Of course this only based off one year so who knows.
  

[Machias]

Not looking for an argument Jimmy but if you find a real source i.e. Journal Article instead of some town paper, you will find that there is a positive correlation between increased cougar hunting and increased cougar complaints.  If interested PM me.

I sure hope your not going to cite the paper written by the lady claiming  the increase in harvest of adults cats leads to increase in complaints because the adult cats are keeping the juvenile cats in line and teaching them manners.  Talk about a study bought and paid for by the environmental wack jobs.  You get increase in complaints when the young have no where else to go because the mature toms do not share their territories.  The young who are not efficient hunters yet get into trouble when they move into marginal areas, not because of increased hunting pressure.  That study is Disney at it's worst.

[Houndhunter]

  thats where i thought he was headed 

[BushMonster]

We surely aren't driving them into town by hunting them. 
Hopefully I can add another tick mark to the harvest report this year.

[blacktailer]

Kind of what I was thinking also Machias.  I saw a show some years back where they did the same thing with a herd of elephants where they had a problem with juvenile males tormenting the locals and were killing off a lot of the white Rhinos.  They had no adult supervision and were all jacked up on testosterone.   They brought in some adults and most of the problem went away.  They kept the sub-adults in check.  Totally different than predators and establishing/protecting their home ranges.  I am just wondering if that lady saw the same show and thought she could apply it to all wildlife populations???.

[quadrafire]

It would be interesting to be able to document whether the weapons issue is affecting this. Are hunters in the field seeing them and unable to harvest b/c of weapon, ie. archery only and shot was  too long. Are the folks bear hunting with rifle in the early season seeing them and can't shoot etc.
I have only seen one and it was just a glimpse. Would have no way to even had a shot with rifle if it had been legal.
I'd say if you aren't hound hunting it is just luck. Maybe everyones luck is down this year.

[MADMAX]

I have seen 4
called one in and shot her a few years back.
The regs are not only confusing but counterproductive, we were seeing cats up in Mazama /Harts pass area while deer hunting modern and could not shoot them

[Kain]

I think, from the numbers I posted, the reduced season has far more effect than the weapon specific seasons.  Since weapon specific season didnt seem to have an effect in harvest numbers they should just get rid of it. 

You guys have to remember they wanted less cats harvested.  That is why they changed the regs in the first place.  They are looking at these numbers and think its a good thing.  Of course they are basing their opinions off bogus population numbers in the first place.

[Machias]

  Of course they are basing their opinions off bogus population numbers in the first place.

AMEN!

[Ridgeratt]

Not sure if any one has seen this link but seems intresting

http://nrs.wsu.edu/Research/Carnivore/current.html

[CAMPMEAT]

I agree with Kain. We have a real problem with cats here. Not eating kids, but sightings all the time. They're as common as house cats.
I don't know why the WDFW has taken away 5 months of hunting them here. WTF ? Most of all the houndsman, that get drawn, seem to be from the coast and can only take a few cats per year. I don't understand the liberal thinking of this.

[Kain]

Just look at the link posted above.  Those studies set out to prove that hunting is bad and will find the facts to back that up.  The spineless WDFW will swallow it all up to.

We all know that there are more human/cougar conflicts because there are more cougars that are looking for territory not already occupied by older males.