Changes to small game season.

[Kain]

Well, according to the poll, it seems the majority of hunters DO want to hunt them so we will be asking for a season on them.  Not sure why you guys see that as a "fight".  If some guy wants to go out and shoot a few for a stew why should he not be able to.     If the WDFW does turn it down I will be very interested in the reason for it.

Imagine if they managed animals based on how cute they are?   

[bobcat]

I bet they'll get a good laugh out of it, at least. 

[Curly]

Well, according to the poll, it seems the majority of hunters DO want to hunt them so we will be asking for a season on them.  Not sure why you guys see that as a "fight".  If some guy wants to go out and shoot a few for a stew why should he not be able to.     If the WDFW does turn it down I will be very interested in the reason for it.

Imagine if they managed animals based on how cute they are?   

There will be a fight with the bunny hugger types if they see people out shooting the "cute" little squirrels.  I would bet the reason they come up with would have to do with the possibility of mis-identification of the type of squirrel; they'll say that the endangered squirrels may accidentally get shot.  Lame excuse I know, but that's what I think they'll come up with.

As far as being cute, how else do you explain the protection of Sealions?   They are the coyotes of the sea and are far exceeding the amount that the fisheries can handle in the Columbia, but yet the environmentalist types are fighting removal........

[runamuk]

well we can hunt tree squirrels but the only species we can lives predominantly in Seattle and you cant hunt there....I see no reason to not have skirrel hunting if people wanna eat them they should be able to just like all the other things we can hunt that the majority wont eat like crows and coons and chucks and coyotes 

[Kain]

Well, according to the poll, it seems the majority of hunters DO want to hunt them so we will be asking for a season on them.  Not sure why you guys see that as a "fight".  If some guy wants to go out and shoot a few for a stew why should he not be able to.     If the WDFW does turn it down I will be very interested in the reason for it.

Imagine if they managed animals based on how cute they are?   

There will be a fight with the bunny hugger types if they see people out shooting the "cute" little squirrels.  I would bet the reason they come up with would have to do with the possibility of mis-identification of the type of squirrel; they'll say that the endangered squirrels may accidentally get shot.  Lame excuse I know, but that's what I think they'll come up with.

As far as being cute, how else do you explain the protection of Sealions?   They are the coyotes of the sea and are far exceeding the amount that the fisheries can handle in the Columbia, but yet the environmentalist types are fighting removal........

I know the bunny huggers think management should be based on cuteness but I would be very surprised if the WDFW would deny a squirrel season based on that.  As far as the Western Grey Squirrel being misidentified that is a real concern and I would have no problem with no squirrel hunting in those areas.  That still leaves most of the state to hunt them. 

[Curly]

Well, as said earlier, hunting squirrels would also leave less prey for hawks, owls, raccoons, coyotes, and.........wolves.

[runamuk]

Well, as said earlier, hunting squirrels would also leave less prey for hawks, owls, raccoons, coyotes, and.........wolves.

on that theory so does rock chuck and rabbit and dove hunting and ......on and on.....maybe we need to just not hunt rodents or any species that might feed another species 

[Kain]

  Or grouse pheasants turkeys deer elk.....The predators that eat squirrels already eat as many as they are going to and there is still one in almost every other tree.  It is something to keep in mind when developing a season and/or limits though.  Nobody wants to damage their populations below a sustainable level.  It would be up to the WDFW to tell us what that is and although I personally have trust issues with what they put out sometimes they should still look at it if that is what the hunters want.

Who knows thinning them out in areas adjacent to Western Grays may help improve their recovery. 

[bobcat]

Is this the kind of squirrel you're wanting to hunt? I don't think they could be mistaken for a gray squirrel.
 
 

[Kain]

I think it would be Douglas and Red Squirrels.  Yes very hard to mistake a big gray squirrel with a douglas or red.

Here is all the information on the various squirrels in WA.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_squirrel/

[ouchfoss]

Ive always been curious why bobcat isnt open until September 1st rather than August 1st like bear. I would think there is alot of bobcats that are called in during the month of August when people are bear hunting and Im sure that bugs people to have to leave them be. Seems to me from what Ive noticed over the last few years, there is tons of bobcats out there so I dont understand it. Is it based on the mating season of them? I always figured they were like cougars and dont have a real set time of year they mate.

[Kain]

Ive always been curious why bobcat isnt open until September 1st rather than August 1st like bear. I would think there is alot of bobcats that are called in during the month of August when people are bear hunting and Im sure that bugs people to have to leave them be. Seems to me from what Ive noticed over the last few years, there is tons of bobcats out there so I dont understand it. Is it based on the mating season of them? I always figured they were like cougars and dont have a real set time of year they mate.

There does seem to be plenty of bobcats and you are right that there is not really a set mating season.  I dont think you would get much support for extending the season into summer months though.  The season is already pretty generous and most people that hunt and trap them want the furs and they are not prime in the summer.  A 7 month season and no limit is plenty IMO.

If you call one in in Aug just go back later and try to call it again.  According to most guys cats dont really get educated like coyotes and can be called multiple times.  Just knowing where to call is really the hard part so if you see a bobcat you know one or more are in the area.

[ouchfoss]

That makes sense. I forgot about the fur quality aspect of it. The month of august is probably when they are changing from summer coats to winter coats like most other animals.

[Kain]

That makes sense. I forgot about the fur quality aspect of it. The month of august is probably when they are changing from summer coats to winter coats like most other animals.

I shot one in Sept a few years back and it still had a summer coat.  Still a trophy for me because I was not planning to sell it.  The meat was tasty and the skull looks awesome on my mantle too.   

[ouchfoss]

Selling the hide doesnt really bother me either. Last year I called one in August 30th and didnt have a shot but it kinda bugged me that I would have to let him walk even if I did have a shot. Thats kinda why I was whining about the season.