Why is it spike only for Eastside Elk

[338_Thumper]

When they first started the Spike only rule I ask a friend who was a bio for the dept. and he said there was so many clearcuts back then that the big bull escapement was really low - there was like only 4 big bulls per 100 cows for breeding and they wanted at least 12 bulls per 100 cows  - it was only supposed to be in force for like 5 years - Now fast forward and I think it was like 6 or 7 years ago and now all the clearcuts are grown up and I asked him again about the bull count - He said they did a aerial survey and had at least 25 bulls per 100 cows ! They took their findings to Olympia and said that it could be opened back up to any bull again and the Powers to be down there said no. I know a lot of Bio's that have given up and they now are hunting out of state.

[Woodchuck]

Soooooo if I understand you Charlie, by hunting spike only for the most part we are in fact culling the "inferior" young bulls from the herd. That leads me to believe that if only the "superior" bulls are left we are hunting ourselves out of spikes as well based on genetics that are passed down. 

[bucklucky]

Soooooo if I understand you Charlie, by hunting spike only for the most part we are in fact culling the "inferior" young bulls from the herd. That leads me to believe that if only the "superior" bulls are left we are hunting ourselves out of spikes as well based on genetics that are passed down. 

Theres no way you can kill every spike out there, escapement is too great. There will always be spikes to kill!

[Woodchuck]

But wouldn't our be decreasing by culling the spikes little by little?

[Elkstuffer]

Anyone that visited the Oak Creek feeding area about 15 years ago will agree that the spike only rule has greatly increased the number of mature branch bulls in the Yakima herd. Before that if a 5x5 walked into the station it would make the front page of the paper. I'd like to see them go to an all draw system and forgo the general.

[bucklucky]

Look at the harvest reports and see what the trends are and let me know. Good Question. Seems to mee that there are less spikes in certain areas than others. If you compare the east side to the west side, I see a *censored* ton more spikes over here then over there and I think it is because they do not get "kulled" over here like they need to be. See alot of older bulls that are just giant spikes over here.

Id like to see a spike only season on the west side and more opportunity for quality bull permist but at a greatter number of tags so more people could draw and kill some great bulls.

[KopperBuck]

Our resource is too limited. Not enough animals/acreage vs number of hunters/population. You pull a general season out of the equation, folks are going to go nuts. I for one would like to move to Oregon's system, but doubt that will happen anytime soon.

[Woodchuck]

That is kind of what I was getting at. Maybe a draw season for "any bull" is not such a bad plan as much as I hate to admit it. I just get frustrated with these folks that get paid darn good money to "manage" our wildlife and it doesnt seem to be any happy medium. I also so realize you will never please everyone but you are right, look at harvest #'s. The areas I knock around in are at about 9% 

[Tbar]

I agree spike only wetside wouldn't be bad. I watched a spike from about age three to age eight he just kept getting bigger until his main beams were in the high forties(they looked even longer). He only grew one small eye guard one year. I think we would harvest some massive bulls, they only get mass with age.

[brianmtsinc]

And for those wishing we would go to a draw to hunt type deal, I am totally 100 percent against that crap. I want to hunt each and every year..

 

Im with you rt ..... and can't really understand why others are willing to even discuss this option.  My step son lives in NM and he only gets to hunt when he draws a tag.  It has now been 4 years without drawing a deer or elk tag ... The truth is, he is now losing interest.... sad

[boneaddict]

Prior to spike only, you could see ONE branch antler bull at the feeding stations and VERY FEW in the woods.  Now you have a chance to see MANY branch antlered bulls, AND there are spikes.   YOU CHOOSE

[rtspring]

Didn't qoute it but, I will repsond to some of the people that wrote about the needs of me getting an animal every year. That is the farthest thing from the truth for me, I go up to "HUNTING CAMP" and sure I hunt but there is a heck of alot more to it..  Its the talk aroud a camp fire, the being away from all the BS you have to put up with at home, and to visit with the old boys that have passed and are no longer around.  If you pull into the meadow right before you go up fifes ridge there are about 8 grave stones of people that I have known thru the years. I awlays stop and give them a shot of whiskey and say hi. I also go to spots where I know people have actually took there last breath, like to sit there and think about life.

The area I hunt I can tall you a story about this and that about every 100 yds or so, this happened here in what year and how big the animal was.. and so on and so on..  Sure i could just drive up there and camp and do the same thing, but thats not the same..

So no I don't go just to shoot an animal every year. I go because it is a privledge to walk in the footsteps of those that have gone before me and taught me about our great sport.....and I want to do it every year. and not hope that I get drawn

sorry for the thread jack

[6x6in6]

I think keeping the general season the way it is presently drawn up was a brilliant move back in the day.  Maybe some slight tweaks could be warranted but certainly not a draw only situation.
It provides us the opportunity to pick a spike, 3 pt min or an Any bull place to hunt.  It keeps the revenue from it here in this state to support the enhancement effort what's left of those funds the General Fund does not pilfer.  Otherwise, the licensing dollars could go out of our state to support their enhancement.  Have to think of the businesses too that also rely on the hunting dollars spent and those livelihoods it would affect.

[MtnMuley]

The elk on the eastside of this state would be depleted in a few years if it went to any bull........unless there was a draw system.

[Wenatcheejay]

Prior to spike only, you could see ONE branch antler bull at the feeding stations and VERY FEW in the woods.  Now you have a chance to see MANY branch antlered bulls, AND there are spikes.   YOU CHOOSE

Feeding stations are rather a highjackable issue imo. Those that support Wolves want them ended.

I think the question is if "spike" and "true spike" work? To get me to stop hunting the Eastside, yes it works. It seems to manage hunters. 

If they move to five point on the Westside it will work to make me no longer need WDFW to hunt Washington at all.