Advanced Hunters your thoughts on them.

[CP]

We don’t all chase cows around the Kittitas valley.  I’ve checked out that area and decided it wasn’t for me.  Went there to hunt elk and ended up hunting quail instead.  I agree with those that believe that hunt should be more tightly controlled.   

Unfortunately the program is turning the MH into another user group.  You got your archery, muzzle loader, modern rifle and MH.  That adds permit revenue and gives free labor to the WDFW.

[wackmaster]

I don't like it

[Dan-o]

I've been in the program for 8-9 years now.   I've enjoyed meeting some very good people and getting out a little extra.

It's not really in me to go knock on doors and ask for permission to hunt private land (and it REALLY isn't in me to trespass) so I don't do too much with the Kittitas hunt.   But, I do have one friend who's fence sometimes gets knocked down by elk tearing into his hay stack over there, and I'm not ashamed to take a cow from there to help save his hay stack.   He needs to make a living too.

The problem is, you can't target those elk in October... because they could be anywhere.   It think the goal was to only target problem animals, and the folks that run it do about as good a job as they can.  So, in some cases, I don't know how you can target them except in the winter.    I know that's not everyone's cup of tea, but I think there's a legitimate use for the program that way.   

It's my opinion (worth just what you paid for it) that the program helps "train" some elk to not get in trouble and without the progrm the state would be forced to pay higher damage or (more likely) cut the herd size.   I don't know many hunters who want the herd size cut.

   As previously mentioned, there was a major revamp a couple years ago.  They made it very easy to kick someone out of the program (good for them).   

P.S.  Besides, when I passed the test I got this cool shoulder patch               

[Lowedog]

Unfortunately the program is turning the MH into another user group.  You got your archery, muzzle loader, modern rifle and MH.  That adds permit revenue and gives free labor to the WDFW.

That is my problem with it.  We "regular" hunters have lost opportunities to the MH's.  We used to have some killer elk hunts in the Peshastin and Malaga units that anyone with an east side elk tag could apply for.  We have lost both of those units to the MH program and I think that is a farce.  

I don't know much about the Kittitas MH elk hunt but from things I have heard and been told that go on there with what are supposed to be the cream of the crop it really makes me have my doubts about the whole program and the reasoning behind some of those those who are in the program.  

[high country]

Unfortunately the program is turning the MH into another user group.  You got your archery, muzzle loader, modern rifle and MH.  That adds permit revenue and gives free labor to the WDFW.

That is my problem with it.  We "regular" hunters have lost opportunities to the MH's.  We used to have some killer elk hunts in the Peshastin and Malaga units that anyone with an east side elk tag could apply for.  We have lost both of those units to the MH program and I think that is a farce. 

I don't know much about the Kittitas MH elk hunt but from things I have heard and been told that go on there with what are supposed to be the cream of the crop it really makes me have my doubts about the whole program and the reasoning behind some of those those who are in the program. 

the only thing that stops any hunter from being part of the program is having been convicted of wildlife crimes and or lack of ambition. lack ambition also is had by many who apply for a tag and don't want to hunt because of any number of reasons. the MH program shows that the people want to apply them selves.

it seems many are unaware of the MH influence beyond kittias. there are many problem areas that arise and they call from people that want to participate to help. some times is peaches, some times just plain work. I am current ly rebuilding gates for some fed land that was destroyed....but I am just another lazy slob hunter who should stop my labor for free when I hit my hour mark, but I wont.

[Lowedog]

It's great that some want to donate their time to WDFW but I don't believe that you should be awarded with special privileges that take away from other user groups because you do that.   

High Country, would you be in the program if you weren't given the opportunity to shoot extra deer and elk? 

I have no desire to be in this program and I shouldn't have to be in order to have an opportunity to hunt elk on public land. 

[luvtohnt]

It's great that some want to donate their time to WDFW but I don't believe that you should be awarded with special privileges that take away from other user groups because you do that.   

High Country, would you be in the program if you weren't given the opportunity to shoot extra deer and elk? 

I have no desire to be in this program and I shouldn't have to be in order to have an opportunity to hunt elk on public land. 

Have you or anyone you know volunteered for the WDFW just because? In today's world it requires a little incentive for the average person to give up their valuable time. There are some that do it for the simple fact that they are giving back. As far as I see it it is a good program that works to reduce damage to crops and get some quality work for free. That last statement is one we should all smile about as it cost us nothing!!

Brandon

[Weatherbyfan]

I VOLUNTEERED , 7 winters in a row to feed the elk at the west valley feed station and never did i once ask for any privalges i think its our duty as hunters to be stewards of the wildlife without having to be rewarded. like all things theres bad apples that ruin the box . i know some very dedicated master hunters that dont take advantage of the program and i know some real slob master hunters , it just seems that theres not alot of other hunters saying good things about the master hunters or the program . when this happens either the program needs to change or the wdfw needs to step in to give master hunters a better reputation or dump program.because in the big picture it still gives all hunters a bad name and that we dont need.   

[kirkl]

ha ha ha, people must be getting tired of talking about the indians so lets round up the posse and go whine about the next group. go to the WDFW meetings and get the program shut down or things changed if ya dont like it.  

[luvtohnt]

it just seems that theres not alot of other hunters saying good things about the master hunters or the program .

Pure jealousy. My friends always bitch and complain about the program and the ADVANTAGES they get. But I tell them to sign up and do some volunteering its easy, and they always have an excuse!!

Brandon

[whiteeyes]

Pure jealousy, wow I think you are on to something there Brandon, thats the problem with another group that gets beat like a dead horse on here as well.   

[tbrady]

I've been in it for 6 years and in my opinion everyone should have to go through the program to be able to hunt (yeah, go ahead and flame away).  Hunting is a privilege and the more we can do to improve the public's perception of us, the better.

I've not received any benefit from being in the program other than what I learned in preparation for the exam.  When I signed up for it I wanted to learn as much as I could about hunting in WA since I had just moved here from the southeast.

I think it's perfectly legit for MHs to get extra hunting opportunities.  Heck, how is that different from being a Senior, a youth, a special permit holder a raffle winner except that you have to put in a little extra work for it?

Again, if'n it was up to me, everyone would have to pass it to be able to hunt.

[Ray]

Some of the master hunters I have interacted with seem to always look down their nose at others. I have had one boast to me on at least a dozen occasions how much more skilled, ethical and knowledgable he is than I. Maybe the master hunter group attracts this type of person.

A few days ago I heard a fellow talking about how he is going to enter the master hunter program. The guy doesn't even know the hunting regulations as I have explained at least a dozen of them to him in the past year. He has never harvested a game animal and his hunting exposure and experience is nearly nil. He is only seeking the master hunter badge so that he can get access to harvest animals on the special hunts as he stated.

Other master hunters have expressed to me that they are basically a user group in so many words, and that "user groups" who have committed organizations like muzzleloaders and archery, have little to no credibility when it comes to recommendations to the WDFW. It was insisted to me one time that the master hunters are really the ones who the WDFW and Game Comission is listening to.

It seems to me that there is no way to get rid of all the problems regarding master hunter groups other than just getting rid of the privileges and perks associated with the "not a user group" that is a "user group". I make bows with kids every year and I share time with people to expose them to hunting, and I don't believe one could say that some person who wants to clock their hours is doing a service to the hunting society any more than I am. Some guys are out at the local range teaching classes to kids just because they like giving back to society what they believe in without any thought or expectation of payment or perk. So I guess the master hunters clock for the WDFW and that's an official paycheck. I believe there is some sense of selfishness for some master hunters. You can call my remarks jealous, I don't care. As far as their opportunities - a lot of those hunts I don't want anything to do with though there are some opportunities which would probably be better served back into the public pool of opportunity.  

To say that everyone should go through master hunters is a stretch. I say everyone should go in the Army Infantry 4 years minimum as an enlisted man. The fact is, a lot of people have the know how, sense and exposure to make sound decisions and are respecting their opportunities, game and pay back to the hunting community without such programs.

A final note: There are a lot of damn good guys who do the master hunter program too. I've got to tip my hat for those guys who run hunter education as one example.

[Dan-o]

Hey White eyes,

I think you are at least partially right about it being jealousy.    If I were born with tribal hunting rights, I'm sure I'd want to use them (but I'd like to think that I wouldn't pop elk off the side of the road and leave gut piles for families to drive by).

For that matter, I'm pretty jealous of Bill Gate's kids because they could buy great access to hunting.   

I don't begrudge someone their inheritance, and I don't blame indians for hunting when/where legal, but I am jealous and I would like to see it legally abolished..... I know.....   Never happen.

[rotty33]

I became a master hunter 2 years ago. I admit I did it to get an easier opportunity to harvest an elk. I found out it is just as hard, if not harder to do so. Sofar I have tried to gain permission in the 3911 area with no luck. Seems the landowners still look at us as normal hunters. On another note, I thought the process to become a master hunter was too easy and felt it should have been a lot harder in hopes to weed out more people.  Not sure how many master hunters there are, but the list looks very big!