Introducing turkeys to Whatcom and Skagit counties...

[Bofire]

No Roosevelt elk either.
Carl
How bout Pheasants?

[ICEMAN]

Rocky Mountain Elk... Goat....


Roosevelt have always been on the western slope cascades...

[bobcat]

Far as I know, Rocky Mountain elk and whitetail deer have always been in Washington as well. Maybe not distributed as they are now, but still, they were present in the state somewhere.

[popeshawnpaul]

Weren't goats native? 

Oh yeah, let's get rid of the chuker too...

[bobcat]

Yes mountain goats are native here except for the ones that are/were in the Olympic Mountains.

[MountainWalk]

as far as i know, there have always been sheep, goats, and rocky mt elk in wa.

[ICEMAN]

Rocky mountain elk were introduced into this state in 1913.

Olympic goat herd was established in the 20's.

[bobcat]

Rocky mountain elk were introduced into this state in 1913.

Yes but there is no proof that they weren't already in the state before the introduction. In fact, from what I've read there is no doubt they were already in the Blue Mountains. It's the east slope of the Cascades that is in question.

[Bofire]

Yep, I mixed up Elk names, Teddy brought the Rockys. Iceman nailed it as far as I can find any info. I guess it depends how far back you look. They found a Rhino fossil by Sun lakes state park too.
Carl

[bobcat]

This is an interesting report regarding the historical presence of elk in Washington:  http://www.nps.gov/archive/mora/ncrd/elk_study_84/elkstudy-84.htm

[NWTFhunter]

Good topic. I hope the people who attend have some good things to share with the fish and game about what sub species to get..
I know that the Merriams that were released in La Connor in 05 are still kicking... despite the rain and different weather from the east side.  One of the reasons that they are not affraid to go into town, is because they have never been shot at and dont know what danger is other than the yotes...

[Wacenturion]

Good topic. I hope the people who attend have some good things to share with the fish and game about what sub species to get..
I know that the Merriams that were released in La Connor in 05 are still kicking... despite the rain and different weather from the east side.  One of the reasons that they are not affraid to go into town, is because they have never been shot at and dont know what danger is other than the yotes...

If Merriams were released in LaConner in 05.....they were game farm birds raised and released by someone, which by the way is illegal.  Not wild trapped birds as the only turkeys as such up north were Easterns by the WDFW in late 90'/2000.  Oh and the reason they are not afraid to go into town is because they are .....TAME.  The wrong kind of turkey...they end up being problems.

[yelp]

Hey everyone ....new to the forum hope to contribute to the discussion.  Easterns need to be planted over in Whatcom.  They are the best choice.  Not Merriams.  Also the population issue of people is about 20 times over their and I bet that if Rios or Merriams are released their will be more nuisance issues due to all of the people.  Then the turkey releases will be looked at in a negative way.  Easterns aren't as social as Rios or Merriams, they have smaller home ranges and smaller family groups.  It takes patience to...or we might as well have turkey release sites just like the damn pheasant program.  There is a meeting in Acme on Thursday...Is anyone going?

Yelp

[Shannon]

Did anyone go to the meeting tonight?

[NWTFhunter]

Wa, it seams you have all the answers.  But I will tell you you are incorrect with your assumption.  They were Merriams, and they were not farm birds.