Washington Wolf Plan Poll

[KillBilly]

Washington has the smallest area and largest population of all of the western states.  We absolutely cannot support that many wolves and hunters as well.  Why can't wdfw learn from Idaho and Montana, why do they have to do things the hard way all the time.  Absolutely against the wolf plan.

I think it is the bios.  They used a method of overlays to determine suitable wolf habitat.  They mostly copied the model used by the feds for Idaho and Montana, but changed a few things.  The one the feds used included sheep grazing land.  WDFW assumes that sheep grazing is negligible in WA, so they omitted that overlay.  The result if I remember correctly is that they used forested land and major population areas.  They might have included major hiways too (don't recall).  In the end they came up with WA having more suitable wolf habitat than ID or even more than WY and MT combined.   The chart they had said WA had the most of all the western states.

The Wolf Group chose to use only 4 of 8 indicators included in the Oakleaf model.

The model showed that sheep have a negative impact because they are more closely watched but sheep are a very small portion of the livestock industry in WA.

They did not have a good scientific explanation for why but we do know that we have wolves currently inhabiting traditional cattle grazing areas  and that has not proven to be a very successful strategy in other states.

After studying the model, it is a fact that Washington does have more Suitable and Sustainable Wolf Habitat than the other states. The Olympic Peninsula was not included in the model even though it offers less conflict because it contains large tracts of Federal land including Olympic National Park.

The most contiguous wolf habitat is on the peninsula, no cattle, no sheep, and less people. One of the Commissioners stated that there was no scientific basis for not including the coastal area in the model. The WDFW response was in regard to connectivity. They are unsure how wolves would get across the I-5 corridor.

[gaddy]

only 163 ?

[KillBilly]

only 163 ?

pathetic isn't it.

[gaddy]

must not be an important topic for the general hunting public ??

[nwwanderer]

I 5 corridor?  Walk I suppose.  Where did we find these folks?

[Justin7mm]

We have quite an uphill battle here. The wolf advocates out there are passionate and active. Just read the letters to the WDFW on this page
http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_wolf/comments.html
Most of them are from the pro-wolf groups. Most of them are long on opinions and short on facts.
They want us to think that 15 breeding pairs is no where near enough to have a self sustaining population with genetic diversity.

The facts:   News flash folks, idaho released 15 wolves in 1995 and 20 in 1996 for a grand total of 35. in 2 years this turned into 120 wolves, 6 more years put the number around 500.  Now Idaho has so many wolves that they can only estimate the number. That seems pretty self sustaining to me.

They want us to think that wolves will complete the ecosystem, killing the old and the sick members of the herds.

The facts:   "Jason Husseman, Salmon Region wolf biologist, conducted a winter wolf and mountain lion predation study in Unit 28 from 1999 - 2001 for his Master's thesis. During that period, Husseman examined 120 wolf kills, comprised of elk (77%) and deer (23%). Wolves selected for elk calves (60%) but also killed cows (32%) and bulls (8%). Deer taken by wolves were mostly fawns (65%)."   This passage was from an essay written by Jim Lukens, IDFG salmon region supervisor.  I think the point here is clear enough, young animals die too, the future of the herd.

They want us to think that wolves will bring great benefit to the state in the form of tourist dollars.

The facts:  While there is no hard fast evidence on this subject. When was the last time you heard about Idaho and Montana's booming wolf tourism industry.  I hunt in Idaho and Montana. I spend $1000 dollars for out of state tags before i even step foot into the state.  Add in food, gear, gas, hotel, etc. and you have a huge loss of money. Idaho sold every single out of state elk tag a few years ago...this year to date there are 6,024 tags left in their quota at $417/per. That works out to over 2.5million in out of state money that they aren't getting on tags alone. Did I mention that there are 10,718 non-resident deer tags left too? ..only 3.25 million left on the table with those.

I am getting tired of writing for now, but one other thing that i think we need in the plan is to have the ability to defend our dogs and animals from wolf attacks without being persecuted for basic self defense. The information is hard to find but many, many wolves were killed for "control" in idaho over the years, including entire problem packs, and that didn't seem to slow their growth at all.

[KillBilly]

I 5 corridor?  Walk I suppose.  Where did we find these folks?

Yes that is pretty funny... all the other predators cross the I-5 corridor all the time.

[KillBilly]

According to WAC 232-12-297 “Recovery and management of listed species”
11.1.3 An implementation plan for reaching population objectives which will promote cooperative management and be sensitive
to landowner needs and property rights. The plan will specify resources needed from and impacts to the department, other
agencies (including federal, state, and local), tribes, landowners, and other interest groups. The plan shall consider various
approaches to meeting recovery objectives including, but not limited to regulation, mitigation, acquisition, incentive, and compensation
mechanisms.

They don't even follow the rules of the state.

[mulehunter]

169 votes.      I wish it would show 6,000 voted.     I feel bad for most hunters. They spend most of time in wood and get nothing but burn 300-1,000 dollar one weekend.  Bio tell u all B.S.  Like they said wolves are good to manage Sick Herd. Larry lost two cows,  We lost two hounds, friend of guy lost two Great pygrene. Thats fine if you dont believe it.
We want your vote to make better for all hunters and Ranchers.
This picture show me a Beauitful bull. I dont see him being sick. But being stuck in  lake, thats why wolves are killer machine. Wolves have always plow them in to death no matter what. Wolves kill 6 Cows pull out pregency stomach and leave just one day
This bull wont be here for any tag. Choice are yours.

Join with us Vote for our future. SAVE ELK for your future hunting and coming children to hunting. 

Three years later just remember that Bearpaw, killbilly, all people 169 who involed done everything to save our hunting tradation.  More vote the better.   

Mulehunter.

[scoyoc5]

voted.

[high country]

Doesn't that look "sick"?

[runamuk]

169 votes.      I wish it would show 6,000 voted.     I feel bad for most hunters. They spend most of time in wood and get nothing but burn 300-1,000 dollar one weekend.  Bio tell u all B.S.  Like they said wolves are good to manage Sick Herd. Larry lost two cows,  We lost two hounds, friend of guy lost two Great pygrene. Thats fine if you dont believe it.
We want your vote to make better for all hunters and Ranchers.
This picture show me a Beauitful bull. I dont see him being sick. But being stuck in  lake, thats why wolves are killer machine. Wolves have always plow them in to death no matter what. Wolves kill 6 Cows pull out pregency stomach and leave just one day
This bull wont be here for any tag. Choice are yours.

Join with us Vote for our future. SAVE ELK for your future hunting and coming children to hunting. 

Three years later just remember that Bearpaw, killbilly, all people 169 who involed done everything to save our hunting tradation.  More vote the better.   

Mulehunter.

hold it that is heresy wolves kill sick and weak only...your picture must be photoshopped it shows a bull being taken down  note immense sarcasm in vocal tone

and a HUGE thing being left out of this equation in the past wolves were only eradicated from select areas using trapping and poison there is no way man can exterminate wolves by just hunting if it was possible there would be no coyotes left since they have an open season year round and yet we still have healthy populations of coyotes.  Heck big cities like LA and San Diego can't control their feral dog populations, canines are extremely adept survivors and they are smart the people currently trying to manage them seem to be rather inept.

[bow_hunter44]

I spent the last ten years in Idaho...  it was not pretty.  I'm not really in the position to recommend a management plan, but the one used in Idaho is most certainly NOT a good idea.  If that plan is mirrored in Washington...   

[Skyvalhunter]

Well then it's good you cast your vote and sent an e-mail into the WDFW telling them how you felt. Thanks for doing your part and preserving hunting for the future generation!!

[Sumpnneedskillin]

hold it that is heresy wolves kill sick and weak only...your picture must be photoshopped it shows a bull being taken down  note immense sarcasm in vocal tone

and a HUGE thing being left out of this equation in the past wolves were only eradicated from select areas using trapping and poison there is no way man can exterminate wolves by just hunting if it was possible there would be no coyotes left since they have an open season year round and yet we still have healthy populations of coyotes.  Heck big cities like LA and San Diego can't control their feral dog populations, canines are extremely adept survivors and they are smart the people currently trying to manage them seem to be rather inept.

Not just feral dogs.  Coyotes too.  When I was stationed in San Diego they had several incidents where they called in exterminators to take care of agressive coyotes in neighborhoods.