Free Cougar Hunts Winter 2011

[bearpaw]

I was planning on giving away another cougar hunt here on H-W this year. Because they have changed the language in the bill to satisfy opposition to sport hunting, it will be illegal to pay for help while hound hunting cougars, so in order to keep my dogs trained I will be offering free hunts to anyone who draws that I have time to hunt.

However, for this to happen this bill does need to pass the legislature. If it will pass, I think the governor will sign it, she has signed it in the past.
Thanks In advance for helping, Dale

If the law passes and you draw, just PM me and we'll try to go hunting.

______________________________


To help out with passage copy and paste the following email adresses and send the following message or a message of your own:
 
frank.chopp@leg.wa.gov; richard.debolt@leg.wa.gov; jan.angel@leg.wa.gov; mike.armstrong@leg.wa.gov; cathy.dahlquist@leg.wa.gov; deborah.eddy@leg.wa.gov; david.frockt@leg.wa.gov; roger.goodman@leg.wa.gov; tami.green@leg.wa.gov; norm.johnson@leg.wa.gov; troy.kelley@leg.wa.gov; joel.kretz@leg.wa.gov; marcie.maxwell@leg.wa.gov; jim.moeller@leg.wa.gov; tina.orwall@leg.wa.gov; eric.pettigrew@leg.wa.gov; tim.probst@leg.wa.gov; ann.rivers@leg.wa.gov; cindy.ryu@leg.wa.gov; joe.schmick@leg.wa.gov; shelly.short@leg.wa.gov; larry.springer@leg.wa.gov; pat.sullivan@leg.wa.gov; kevin.vandewege@leg.wa.gov; judy.warnick@leg.wa.gov


Dear Representative,
Please pass SB5356 Cougar Hound Hunting. Since the Pilot Cougar program was started, cougar attacks on humans, pets, and livestock have decreased significantly. Please pass SB5356 so that residents can continue to live and recreate safely and ranchers can continue to enjoy a safer environment for raising their livestock in rural Washington.
THANK YOU,
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APRIL UPDATE:
Well my friends I'm sorry to report, it looks like all hound hunting of cougars has been cancelled by Democratic leadership in the House, by failing to bring the measure up for a vote.

[bowhunterforever]

When will we know if the bill passes and what units do you hound hunt? I would love to hound hunt cougs

[7mag.]

When will we know if the bill passes and what units do you hound hunt? I would love to hound hunt cougs

 

[carpsniperg2]

Emails sent to everyone on the list, with a little extra spice added in

[mulehunter]

   can't wait......   I hope my wife will pull a nice one down with 6 pt applying this year.   

Mulehunter.   

[JackOfAllTrades]

Not touchin this one with a ten foot pole. 

[fair-chase]

Keeping an eye on this one. Great offer Bearpaw.

[bearpaw]

I realize it's hard for some people to imagine why I made this offer, and no there are no hidden guiding fees. I just figure I am better off hunting than not hunting. Just to take any skepticism out of the air, the same offer applies to anyone that I have time to hunt with, including WDFW employees. No bias here, just want to hunt my dogs. Be aware the tags are pretty tough to get, I would assume 3 or 4 people off here who apply will get drawn.

Remember, it hasn't passed yet, but in the substitute bill language, they added that you can't pay for hounds. Essentially if it doesn't pass I can't hunt my dogs in Washington unless the WDFW calls with a problem cat, if it passes I can't charge anything to use my dogs, but, if I want to hunt my dogs in Washington I need the bill to pass and I need someone who draws a tag to hunt with.

I obviously can't afford to go too far from home, so if you want to come hunt with me, apply for the the Northeast corner. Ferry or Stevens. Be aware that this is pretty hard core hunting if you want to be successful, long hours and determination are needed and I'm not interested in hunting any way but the most effective way. If you have a snowmobile to bring, that will help too in case the snow is deep. When it gets closer, we'll know by the weather if snowmobiles are needed.

I've had some questions about this. Yes, I wished they didn't add on that language, but they did add the language to get it out of committee and if it passes that's probably the way it will be. So it's pure and simple to me, if I want to hunt my dogs in Washington, I should throw out this offer. I will have to work around my business commitments, but I am always home for at least part of the winter.

[rtspring]

Bearpaw,

Awesome offer. I have never done any hound hunting like this, I bet it is a kick in the pants.  I will for sure put in for it.........

[buckhorn2]

When do you apply for the permit.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I never was really interested in hound hunting, but an offer like this is too good to pass up...
I will do my part. 

[machine]

Great offer,would make my year if I draw a tag.

[Machias]

What else can we do Dale, BUT take folks who have drawn a tag?  I can't remember, does the hound handler also have to have a hunting license?  I think they do, don't they?  I'll have to check.  I'm not participating anymore in the drawings, so I won't be getting another cougar tag in WA.  The only way I'll be going is tagging along with someone else as well.  I'll be hunting my dogs hard in Dec for a lion in Idaho.

[bearpaw]

What else can we do Dale, BUT take folks who have drawn a tag?  I can't remember, does the hound handler also have to have a hunting license?  I think they do, don't they?  I'll have to check.  I'm not participating anymore in the drawings, so I won't be getting another cougar tag in WA.  The only way I'll be going is tagging along with someone else as well.  I'll be hunting my dogs hard in Dec for a lion in Idaho.

Hi Fred, I am pretty sure you must have at least the combo bear/cougar over-the-counter tags. Then you can accompany a limited-entry cougar tag holder as a hound handler.

By guiding it has helped me cover the costs of owning hounds. But as I said, it seems to me that if the bill passes (and the bill is better than nothing), I can either offer to help others for free or not plan on hunting my dogs in Washington unless the WDFW calls, (they may never call me again as much as I have rocked the boat lately). But, I would much rather hunt my dogs as much as I can afford, so that is why I made the offer to take anyone for free.

BTW - If I get lucky and draw or if I have another tag holder, and you don't draw again in Idaho, you are welcome to come up and hunt with me.
That's good for you too mulehunter....

[Machias]

   Would love to hunt with you someday!