Letter to the Editor: One less bull in the Tieton Dr. herd...

[JimmyHoffa]

Cougar are classifed as big game.  If there are ever surplus wolves, they would most likely fall under big game.  Still think all big game should end by December?

[colockumelk]

A lot of people on here do not know how much time I 've put into these issues at first I thought I wasting time but seems like the tribe is finally going to step to the plate and punish the guys that r giving the yakamas a bad name.  I have even talked to the tribal game warden supervisor about a lot of issues that happen off reservation. He told me their is a lot of dissrespect towards them when their off reservation patrolling, I just hope everyone knows u a little bit of respect goes along ways. P. S. I hope the tribe keeps prosecuting these guys. Now maybe some of the dumb people will think twice before doing illegal stuff.

Thank you!

 

Thankyou.  Its people like you who make a differene.  Policing your own is the first step.  I've always said that before you point fingers at others you should look in the mirror first.  As for disrespect to a law enforcement oficer some people are stupid.  What's that saying.  "You'll catch more bees with honey than with vinegar."    Just saying people.


In the Colockum they do not feed the elk.  Also unlike every other elk herd there is not a game fence so they come down and "damage" crops.  Although the hay farmers allow cattle on the hay fields during the winter and somehow 1500lb cattle don't hurt the hay fields but a 500lb elk does.    Don't get me started on the Master Hunter program in the Kittitas valley I'll go off on a never ending rant on that one.   

[muleyguy]

In the Colockum they do not feed the elk.  Also unlike every other elk herd there is not a game fence so they come down and "damage" crops.  Although the hay farmers allow cattle on the hay fields during the winter and somehow 1500lb cattle don't hurt the hay fields but a 500lb elk does.

the Yakima herd has to be handled differently because of the nature of the agricultural crops grown here;  modern apple and cherry orchards can cost upwards of $20,000 per acre to establish and can generate an additional $10,000 to $20,000 a year in gross revenues;

if the Yakima herd was not fenced, and fed, and was allowed to roam wherever they wanted, the WDFW would literally be on the hook for millions of dollars of crop damage every year;  the difference with alfalfa, and other open land type of crops, is that the revenue and cost to establish per acre is in the hundreds of dollars and not the tens of thousands of dollars.

the fencing and feeding allow the Yakima herd to be much larger then would otherwise be the case;  there is no doubt that the feeding station creates a "welfare" kind of mentality in the elk herd, but, that is exactly what is needed in this situation because it concentrates the animals in an area where they will do little if any crop damage.  If they suddenly drastically reduced the feeding program to try and "train" the elk to forage on their own, they would quickly be in the middle of these orchards.

So, all in all, what they are doing with feeding the Yakima herd is what is needed to maintain the size of the herd so that we can all enjoy the opportunities that this herd provides.

[whiteeyes]

In the Kittitas Valley The Master Hunters have a free ticket they do NOT have to be called from the chief master hunter. Last year I had to go sit  in the middle of our field to keep them from chasing the elk into the sage brush so they could kill them. Will start getting pictures when I can . Wish I would have took one last week in the bottom of Coleman when they were dragging one of there kills to there truck with a snowmobile.
Good to see the Yakamas taking action against the few renegades that are making the rest of the Tribe look bad. Its a positive direction for all.   

[b23]

They claim the poachers are going to be tried within the "yakimas" system.  What's that really mean?  Let me guess.  NOTHING!!!

[kirkl]

I will jump in since im a master hunter. Master hunters do not need to be called to shoot a cow up to December 31st. there is now a draw only hunt going on where you have to be called but there is only like 20 tags for the kittitas area. it amazes me that everyone will bitch about stuff but give kudos to all the guys that have been killing bulls and cows in the teanaway with there late tags. is that not the same thing? killing elk in december?

[Cougeyes]

I will jump in since im a master hunter. Master hunters do not need to be called to shoot a cow up to December 31st. there is now a draw only hunt going on where you have to be called but there is only like 20 tags for the kittitas area. it amazes me that everyone will bitch about stuff but give kudos to all the guys that have been killing bulls and cows in the teanaway with there late tags. is that not the same thing? killing elk in december?

I dont agree with elk harvest past November permit or MHE unless absolutely warranted due to land owner damage.  Although members on here have harvested several nice teanaway bulls I do not agree with that hunt.  I wish that state would change the season of that hunt to coincide with the seasons of Peaches ridge. The teanaway season is the way it is due to the bulls wintering on private ground and getting into hay, knocking down fences etc... the hunt is a way to keep pressure on them and keep them off private ground.  I dont feel that the amount of harvest is such that it would have an effect on population size but i dont like the fact that we are able to hunt elk on their wintering grounds. 

[Practical Approach]

They claim the poachers are going to be tried within the "yakimas" system.  What's that really mean?  Let me guess.  NOTHING!!!

How about you follow up with the tribe and report back to all of us, so that all of us know what happens?

[buckmaster_wa]

KIMA News had me meet them at the Oak Creek feeding station today. They interviewed me regarding the tribal hunting issue. Watch the news tonight at 5pm.

[norsepeak]

hopefully you made it abundantly clear that this is a major problem and something needs to be done.  Good job on staying with this and helping out our whole hunting community.

[ICEMAN]

Good job Buckmaster!

[Cougeyes]

Good job Buckmaster!

Good job Buckmaster!

[boneaddict]

NICE Buckmaster.  Way to keep on this!

I agree Kirkl.  I'm not a big fan of the gov/raffle tags hunting in December either.  (Its a double standard as I admit it would be fun as hell, but I don't agree with it)    I haven't been real popular speaking out against that.   Same with that Teanaway hunt. 

[jager]

I'm sure someone will post a link tonight....right?

[gasman]

KIMA News had me meet them at the Oak Creek feeding station today. They interviewed me regarding the tribal hunting issue. Watch the news tonight at 5pm.

Someone record it, or post a link for us west siders that don't get the local news over there.