Cougar hunting by Mulehunter

[LRP]

Wow, knew I was opening a can of worms. I am not saying anyone stretched the truth.  I just added some facts.  I made a list of the questions but not sure there is enough space in one post.  I am not a biologist, nor a volunteer.  Just love to hunt and boot hunt the area for cougar, bobcat, and coyotes when its open.  Had hounds in the 50's with my dad in PA, for fox and coons.  No dogs now, just go where my feet will take me.  Yes they can collar cougar during the open season.  That area is the project area for this study.  Houndsmen know this is the best time to hunt for cats, locate the track, then turn out the dogs. No the gamewarden did not tell the bio he could not run the cat.  No, volunteers do not drive WDFW vehicles, those were magnetic decals they can stick on, as the season is not always open for hounds, saves getting complaints. Was Mulehunter pressured not to run the cat, was not there at that time, but it sounds like it.  He should have continued on that cat when he turned his dogs out.  He was legal. No harm would have come to him.  To contiue next post.

[rasbo]

I'm sorry fellas, got my panties in a twist, I apologize to those offended.  I am using too broad of a brush when painting a picture and that is wrong, sorry.

your just a little mule headed at times,LOL I havent posted but if I was mulehunter I would be screaming pissed also...

[Houndhunter]

Wow, knew I was opening a can of worms. I am not saying anyone stretched the truth.  I just added some facts.  I made a list of the questions but not sure there is enough space in one post.  I am not a biologist, nor a volunteer.  Just love to hunt and boot hunt the area for cougar, bobcat, and coyotes when its open.  Had hounds in the 50's with my dad in PA, for fox and coons.  No dogs now, just go where my feet will take me.  Yes they can collar cougar during the open season.  That area is the project area for this study.  Houndsmen know this is the best time to hunt for cats, locate the track, then turn out the dogs. No the gamewarden did not tell the bio he could not run the cat.  No, volunteers do not drive WDFW vehicles, those were magnetic decals they can stick on, as the season is not always open for hounds, saves getting complaints. Was Mulehunter pressured not to run the cat, was not there at that time, but it sounds like it.  He should have continued on that cat when he turned his dogs out.  He was legal. No harm would have come to him.  To contiue next post.

so they can run them, and the game warden didnt say that they couldnt. but does he have any right over someone who drew a tag? if the meat can be harmful after they are tagged for a time being, it doesnt make sense that would tag any cats until the quota is met. i would like to know if this cat already had a collar on it, and how you were involved in this incident

[quadrafire]

Was Mulehunter pressured not to run the cat, was not there at that time, but it sounds like it.  He should have continued on that cat when he turned his dogs out.

If you weren't there, where is this other side coming from? 2nd hand from those that were?

[Hornseeker]

I dont think the traquilizer is much of a threat to human health. As long as the animal lives for a while after it recovers from being tranquilized, it will metabolize the chemical and all will be good!

I too am curious where your side is coming from LRP.... and yes, Mule should have stayed on the cat, but I can understand perfectly well how he got intimidated.... I would too...

[Little Dave]

The policy for the elk collaring project here in King County is to attach a note "do not consume if harvested before" on a tag and mark a date six months forward... but that's for a strong agent.  They might be using Xylazine which I believe will metabolize faster than some others.

[Special T]

I want to bring something up... I think many here OTB (on the board) are way to quick to rip guys with opposing views... I have seen this come up with other discussions as well... How are we supposed to get answers if we jump the first guy that wants to give us the other side of the story? I think it is fairly easy to hang a liar with the facts as long as you let them speak... I'm curious what LRP has to say... doesn't mean I'm gona agree with him, hell i might not even believe him... But i do get tired of arguing with everyone that has the same view and opinion as I do... I can think of some pretty good disagreements that i have had with members her and learned a lot... Even IF they were full of BS...

I think because we are so quick to pounce that others don't speak up because they feel no need to subject themselves to the inquisition... I mean it was only 2 hrs in between his first post and second and got called out...    In some ways i can see how the WDFW might think that its not in their self intrest to speak out and answer questions... They are gona get their ass reamed by the bunny huggers and the hunters... (Mind you I'm no WDFW cheerleader.) 

[boneaddict]

Good point


Funny thing is I now know who one of the volunteers was and he is a family friend.  By the way, I could see how he would be intimidating.LOL  I think the communication generated by this thread has been good.

[billythekidrock]

  No, volunteers do not drive WDFW vehicles, those were magnetic decals they can stick on, as the season is not always open for hounds, saves getting complaints.

I was not there so I can not comment on those particular volunteers, but I know for a fact that F&W provides vehicles for volunteers. Some volunteers even get to keep them at their home.

[Houndhunter]

I want to bring something up... I think many here OTB (on the board) are way to quick to rip guys with opposing views... I have seen this come up with other discussions as well... How are we supposed to get answers if we jump the first guy that wants to give us the other side of the story? I think it is fairly easy to hang a liar with the facts as long as you let them speak... I'm curious what LRP has to say... doesn't mean I'm gona agree with him, hell i might not even believe him... But i do get tired of arguing with everyone that has the same view and opinion as I do... I can think of some pretty good disagreements that i have had with members her and learned a lot... Even IF they were full of BS...

I think because we are so quick to pounce that others don't speak up because they feel no need to subject themselves to the inquisition... I mean it was only 2 hrs in between his first post and second and got called out...    In some ways i can see how the WDFW might think that its not in their self intrest to speak out and answer questions... They are gona get their ass reamed by the bunny huggers and the hunters... (Mind you I'm no WDFW cheerleader.) 

no one is slamming him, besides Fred lol, i just want some answers

[Cougeyes]

Good point

Funny thing is I now know who one of the volunteers was and he is a family friend.  By the way, I could see how he would be intimidating.LOL  I think the communication generated by this thread has been good.

Haha looks like you could have helped alleviate some of the tension between mulehunter and the state/volunteers since you know one of them, reason number 4 why you should have been there.

[Houndhunter]

cougeyes dont you help with some of this? i thought you were involved some way with the game dept in lions, or atleast know alot about it?

[billythekidrock]

  In some ways i can see how the WDFW might think that its not in their self intrest to speak out and answer questions... They are gona get their ass reamed by the bunny huggers and the hunters... (Mind you I'm no WDFW cheerleader.) 

I agree, but I also think that it is important that F&W know how their stakeholders feel. We are their customers and they are (in many cases) offering up crappy customer service.

Now that it looks like they will be aligned with Parks you can bet there will be more bunny huggers making decisions for us.

[boneaddict]

We have to be careful when we lump folks together.  Its easy to do, but I am sure there are some quality folks that work and do their jobs accordingly.  Just like a bad apple here or a bad apple there.   Its easy to get frustrated and lump them all into one big pool. 

It might have turned out a lot better Cougeyes if I had been there just for communication purposes.  I know the one gentleman quite well and I am sure things would have been a lot more respectful both ways.  It will all work out in the end as Scott will get a bigger Kitty and will have more hunts under his belt.   This is what he lives for. 

[Cougeyes]

cougeyes dont you help with some of this? i thought you were involved some way with the game dept in lions, or atleast know alot about it?

I used to help out on the project that was done in the cle elum area, not this one.  I dont know exactly what is going on this year as far as the cougar study, permit season, and pursuit season.  I do know WDFW has some houndsman they work with for this project, they are often out running tracks and notify the bio if they cut them. WDFW does provide them with magnetic decals for their trucks so not all those rigs as already mentioned were state rigs they were the houndsman or volunteer rigs with decals. There is probably more info on this study entrenched within the WDFW website, may have to dig for it. I know the WDFW bio that is involved in this study and couldn't imagine he would argue with mulehunter as to whether he could turn lose on those tracks since it seemed perfectly justifiable which makes me think it was one of the volunteers, but i may be wrong.