Free Cougar Hunts Winter 2011

[WAcoyotehunter]

Fred and Dale... I've been thinking about this for a while and wonder what the WDFW would do if hound hunters could all put our heads together and make an agreement not to run the cats when they call.  Everyone recognizes the need for us when there is a problem animal, but to hell with us when we want to maintain a trained dog by running a cat/bear. 


You guys have been around this stuff for a while, what do you think the chances of getting some attention would be if we got the guys on the call out list to tell the WDFW to push the hound hunting legislation or go run a cat on their own?

Thoughts?

[carpsniperg2]

We used to talk about that a lot, the guy we ran hounds with was one of the people that would get the call for this area. It was cool he got to work his dogs. But to feed them and have them standing around for a couple calls a year isn't worth the time and money to keep them and keep them legged up. I was just old enough to start getting into the hound hunting when it was taken away. I really look forward to the day I can draw a tag and take a cat with hounds.

[jackelope]

EMAIL sent and passed this on to a few friends not on the forum.
JB

[Machias]

Fred and Dale... I've been thinking about this for a while and wonder what the WDFW would do if hound hunters could all put our heads together and make an agreement not to run the cats when they call.  Everyone recognizes the need for us when there is a problem animal, but to hell with us when we want to maintain a trained dog by running a cat/bear. 


You guys have been around this stuff for a while, what do you think the chances of getting some attention would be if we got the guys on the call out list to tell the WDFW to push the hound hunting legislation or go run a cat on their own?

Thoughts?

It's tough, someone would end up being the go to guy and the rest of us would just sit at home all ticked off and no closer to working our dogs.  I just want a pursuit tag, could care less about shooting one.  But running them a few days of the year is not the answer.  Heck try and take one out right now just to get them and keep them in shape for bear over in Idaho and I'm sure they will be trying to give me a ticket.  I don't have the answers, but I have a feeling the boycott would not work.  And pulling dogs off the shelf and dusting them off a couple of times a year is not going to work either.   

[bearpaw]

Fred and Dale... I've been thinking about this for a while and wonder what the WDFW would do if hound hunters could all put our heads together and make an agreement not to run the cats when they call.  Everyone recognizes the need for us when there is a problem animal, but to hell with us when we want to maintain a trained dog by running a cat/bear. 


You guys have been around this stuff for a while, what do you think the chances of getting some attention would be if we got the guys on the call out list to tell the WDFW to push the hound hunting legislation or go run a cat on their own?

Thoughts?

This was talked about after I-655 passed in the 90's but as you know you can never get a room full of any hunters to agree on anything. Actually the WDFW is testifying and asking for hound hunting. The hold up is with legislators who are sympathetic to the huggers who are opposed to hound hunting.

[quadrafire]

Hey guys what are the rules on ID/MT for running dogs in the off season to keep them in shape? I know neither Dale or Fred are far from the ID border. I know this is off the subject somewhat, but was just wondering.

[THunt]

Dale that is a very nice offer.  Thanks for all you do for the sport of hunting.

Tyler

[Machias]

Hey guys what are the rules on ID/MT for running dogs in the off season to keep them in shape? I know neither Dale or Fred are far from the ID border. I know this is off the subject somewhat, but was just wondering.

Well for ID, in order to have your dogs there you must draw one of the 70 non-resident hound permits.  Otherwise you are SOL.  I have one for this year so I'm ok until 31 Dec.  My guys will get plenty of work this year.  Plus their coon season is 365 days a year.     My problem here in WA is I won't unsnap a leash unless my guys are wearing tracking collars, even just roading them through wheat fields to get in shape.  Once I do that well basically I'm breaking the law.  There is no easy way to keep your dogs in shape in this state.  I have thought about building a treadmill for them or daily swimming might work. Not as convenient or as easy as roading them though.

[quadrafire]

Hey guys what are the rules on ID/MT for running dogs in the off season to keep them in shape? I know neither Dale or Fred are far from the ID border. I know this is off the subject somewhat, but was just wondering.

Well for ID, in order to have your dogs there you must draw one of the 70 non-resident hound permits.  Otherwise you are SOL.  I have one for this year so I'm ok until 31 Dec.  My guys will get plenty of work this year.  Plus their coon season is 365 days a year.     My problem here in WA is I won't unsnap a leash unless my guys are wearing tracking collars, even just roading them through wheat fields to get in shape.  Once I do that well basically I'm breaking the law.  There is no easy way to keep your dogs in shape in this state.  I have thought about building a treadmill for them or daily swimming might work. Not as convenient or as easy as roading them though.

Become an ultra-marathoner and run the hell out of them Do they make PX90 for dogs, or Ty-bo

I can see where keeping a dog in working shape is so dang difficult. The problem with just swimming is that their feet would never toughen up.

[grundy53]

Great offer Dale. I understand you couldn't be paid out right because this bill but could they really say anything if you  offered your clients the hunt for free then charge them (whatever the going rate for a cougar hunt is) for lodging? Might not be staying true to the intent of the law but the law is B.S.

[Machias]

Hey guys what are the rules on ID/MT for running dogs in the off season to keep them in shape? I know neither Dale or Fred are far from the ID border. I know this is off the subject somewhat, but was just wondering.

Well for ID, in order to have your dogs there you must draw one of the 70 non-resident hound permits.  Otherwise you are SOL.  I have one for this year so I'm ok until 31 Dec.  My guys will get plenty of work this year.  Plus their coon season is 365 days a year.     My problem here in WA is I won't unsnap a leash unless my guys are wearing tracking collars, even just roading them through wheat fields to get in shape.  Once I do that well basically I'm breaking the law.  There is no easy way to keep your dogs in shape in this state.  I have thought about building a treadmill for them or daily swimming might work. Not as convenient or as easy as roading them though.

Become an ultra-marathoner and run the hell out of them Do they make PX90 for dogs, or Ty-bo

I can see where keeping a dog in working shape is so dang difficult. The problem with just swimming is that their feet would never toughen up.

VERY true!

[bearpaw]

Great offer Dale. I understand you couldn't be paid out right because this bill but could they really say anything if you  offered your clients the hunt for free then charge them (whatever the going rate for a cougar hunt is) for lodging? Might not be staying true to the intent of the law but the law is B.S.

Grundy, I appreciate you trying to help with ideas and completely agree that this language is BS. Essentually the huggers are trying to keep the average guy from being able to go cougar hunting. The legislator who sponsored the bill is a great guy and had to add the language only so he could get the bill passed. But it is still better than no cougar bill. 

There will be ways to circumvent the law but I don't like gray area, it has a way of biting you in the posterior and getting you in trouble. I do currently offer lodging, but if I charged someone more for lodging than our current lodging fee, it would be a pretty obvious what I was doing.

If the law passes as currently written, I will probably continue to offer lodging to any cougar permit holder (including other dog hunters) just like I do now. If it's against the law to charge for hounds, I will not charge anything for helping someone hunt a cougar with my dogs or it would be asking for trouble and destroy my reputation. I also will not require that anyone purchases lodging for me to help them on a cougar hunt. If a hunter would rather stay at a friend or stay in town at the motel that is fine. If my fellow hound hunters machias, mulehunter, Wacoyote, or some other local hound friends want to get their hounds in on some dog hunting and don't have tags of their own, they are invited to come along. This year we had numerous other friends who came along to hunt their dogs since I had some hunters who drew tags.

I'll make necessary changes after the law passes and ask WDFW to scrutinize my cougar page so I know I'm following the law: http://bearpawoutfitters.com/washington_cougar_hunting.html

Here's a video for those who haven't been involved in hound hunting before.

Cougar Hunting In Washington

[mulehunter]

Bearpaw,  thanks soo much. I will keep eye on tags. If nothin. I definely will like come up help find.cut and enjoy time.with ya.

Mulehunter.   

[WAcoyotehunter]

Bearpaw,  thanks soo much. I will keep eye on tags. If nothin. I definely will like come up help find.cut and enjoy time.with ya.

Mulehunter.   

+1  Of course, I'm pretty likely to get a tag this year. 

Thanks!

[rasbo]

sweet deal I have some points for stevens