Colockum Elk

[sakoshooter]

Public meeting set Jan. 6 in Ellensburg on
current Colockum elk winter-range closures

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) staff will discuss Colockum elk herd research and current elk winter-range closures at a public meeting Jan. 6 in Ellensburg.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m., at the Hal Holmes Center, 209 N. Ruby St.

For the past three years about 44,000 acres of the Whiskey Dick and Quilomene wildlife areas, northwest of Vantage, have been closed to motor vehicles from February through April to protect wintering elk from disturbance.

"Late winter and early spring recreational use of the area has increased over the past decade, causing elk to abandon their winter range on these wildlife areas as early as mid-February," said Ted Clausing, WDFW’s south-central regional wildlife program manager in Yakima. 

"Elk need to stay on winter range well into April to stay nourished and maintain the health of the herd," Clausing said, noting that the closures are consistent with those on the Oak Creek, Wenas and L.T. Murray wildlife areas, and elsewhere in the state.

When elk leave wildlife areas and move to adjacent private land, they compete with cattle for forage and damage crops and stock fences, said Anthony Novack, WDFW’s elk- and deer-conflict specialist in Ellensburg.

WDFW research on elk use of the area began in 2008 when six adult female elk were captured and equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices to track their movements. Since then a total of 105 elk have been equipped with tracking devices and currently 46 elk are being tracked. The study will continue until May 2012.  Research results will help WDFW biologists assess how closing elk winter range to motor vehicles affects seasonal elk movement.

WDFW has worked with local partners to manage wintering elk through the Kittitas Big Game Management Roundtable, which includes Kittitas Field and Stream Club, Kittitas County Cattlemen’s Association, Wenatchee Sportsmen, Kittitas Audubon, citizen advisory groups for local wildlife areas and others.



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[Skyvalhunter]

I say ticket the ones that are going up there and I don't mean some wimpy $50 fine either. Make an example

[WenHunter]

This may be far off topic but why don't they just close all the gates into the area until April and maybe keep those and other people in my eyes from decimating the herd. Maybe if we had more larger bulls that might help the herd!!!!!! 

[halflife65]

Damn, travelling that week.  Wish I could be there.

[Buckrub]

What they actually meant to say:

The grass is greener on the other side of the fence and we (wdfw) continue to over graze with cattle and lack the ability to manage herd numbers based on our spike only rule. We continue to reduce the herd through cow permits but are unable to achieve our goal of 12 bulls per 100 cows??? What we would like to do now is offer the landowner all the permits need to control the cow elk that cross fences to feed due to our failing policies and lack of revenue. Hunters must now purchase tags from landowners to harvest elk instead of us paying for damages.

 The wdfw is has grown tired of paying for damages but will hold a public meeting to listen to all ideas to achieve our revenue goals... this is just a formality so don't waste your time with proving the state could have the best elk hunting in the west creating demand for out of state hunters and guides... the trickle down effect does nothing for our revenue. We won't close roads or enhance escapement and feed... we feel the permit system is our best revenue source so don't go there...we have no escapement studies or do but won't share... We know best and that's that.

[Bob33]

This may be far off topic but why don't they just close all the gates into the area until April and maybe keep those and other people in my eyes from decimating the herd. Maybe if we had more larger bulls that might help the herd!!!!!! 

That's not off topic as well.  I would encourage anyone that can to attend the meeting and provide input.  The areas in question are currently closed to motor vehicles, but apparently some are violating that.  Putting in gates costs money, and some idiots will drive around them anyway so that's not a perfect solution IMHO.

[halflife65]

I know that gates aren't the perfect solution, however it at least keeps some of the people out.  It's easy to ignore a little red and white sign and say you didn't see it but a little harder to claim ignorance when driving around a gate.

I have seen several gates up in the Colockum (not in the exact area that they are referencing in the article) that have a Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation sign on them.  Say what you will about them but I thought that it was great.  In fact, when I saw those gates and signs I went home and joined...The more gated and, better yet, road abandonment the better up there.  I'm not talking about cutting access for everyone at all times of year, but just closing down a lot of those side roads and spurs that are all over the place up there (it looks like the state is starting to do that in some areas but there are still way too many.)

[Bob33]

Halflife, I don't disagree with you about gates.  I just don't see the state putting out the money right now.  I'm sure it has been considered before, and may be being considered now.  Anyone with an interest should attend the meeting, or at a minimum forward their comments.  Thanks.

[halflife65]

Yeah, you're correct about that Bob.  They're cutting funding all over the place and I can't see them keeping any for gates.  Good point.

[Buckrub]

I don't like being so negative but the state gives me no confidence.

When a farmer feeds cattle and the elk know where the feed is they will come.... only way to stop it is feed them.... hence oak creek feeding station.
 I don't believe it has anything to do with pressure unless they just want to lock out the tribe.