Free: Contests & Raffles.
Sorry, but I have to disagree withn you on this one Dave. I think it's nearly 100% economy. People can't afford to go hunting. I am seeing fewer hunters in every state, Idaho, Utah, and I am expecting it in Montana when it opens. In Idaho on the elk opener there is an area where I usually see 25 to 40 camps, this year I counted 8 camps, that was it. In Utah I saw the fewest hunters I have ever saw when out elk hunting. I was on the whitetail working group that recommended the 4pt rule and I voted for it to reduce the harvest. So I am happy to hear that the harvest is down, even though I credit the majority of the reduction in harvest to the economy and a depressed deer herd. For example, hunters hunting in 3 other units with no antler restriction still have to pass the check station on their way back to Spokane, guess what, those hunters had no deer either. PLEASE EXPLAIN THAT!The NE deer herd is way down and it needs a break, I think the check station report confirms that. That's the only good thing I see from this depression. I am the last person in the world who wants to keep out other hunters, I think that is the wrong idea you have there. The county commissioners want more outsdide people too, but they recognize our herds are down and also voted for the restriction. My concern is to rebuild the herd by reducing harvest. In our meetings we were pretty much told by the WDFW that predator management wasn't much of an option, we discussed other options too, but the only readily available method to reduce pressure was to reduce human harvest.I think the WDFW would like to get rid of Douvia because he questions their faulty wolf plan. So I think you are right about the WDFW wanting the wolves, but I think you are on the wrong track with your 4pt reasoning. One thing is for sure, Douvia is a hunter, I hope Washington's hunters don't want to lose an avid hunter from the commission. Especially a commissioner who seems willing to make the hard decisions to help a deer herd recover.There is science both ways on the 4 pt restriction, only time will tell us if it works or don't work in NE WA.
Why is predator management not an option?
QuoteWhy is predator management not an option?To put it in as few of words as possible:The WDFW claims they are afraid of the iniative process.
Yeah I really don't understand and why the WDFW and the state is so protective of predators. The WDFW is okay with a 3:100 bull to cow ratio or buck ratio in a GMU and does nothing to further protect or fix a particular herd but... on the flip side when it comes to predators they wont do anything to reduce a population even when they are above carrying capacity. I really don't understand. It makes no sense to me. More spring bear permits would equal more revenue so you think that the WDFW would jump on that in a heart beat. But nooooooooooo.
Quote from: bearpaw on October 24, 2011, 07:16:55 AMQuoteWhy is predator management not an option?To put it in as few of words as possible:The WDFW claims they are afraid of the iniative process. Dale, I was told this year, "We are happy with all predator levels in Washington in all units right now." That is word for word when discussing this issue.
Quote from: Wenatcheejay on October 24, 2011, 07:57:12 AMQuote from: bearpaw on October 24, 2011, 07:16:55 AMQuoteWhy is predator management not an option?To put it in as few of words as possible:The WDFW claims they are afraid of the iniative process. Dale, I was told this year, "We are happy with all predator levels in Washington in all units right now." That is word for word when discussing this issue.That's not what I heard from the Cougar biologist in Chehalis in Aug. He recognizes the need for increased hunting in all but a few areas of the state. But, there's a professor from WSU or Eastern WA on retainer by the WDFW who's apparently an anti-hunter, certainly anti-cougar hunting, who has the ear of the commission and claims we're where we need to be with killing cougars. He's also apparently fast and loose with the figures he uses to make his case. He's been publicly called out on several of his claims as skewing the facts. I'm sorry, I don't know his name.
"We are happy with all predator levels in Washington in all units right now."
I find it interesting that we are getting different answers depending on who you talk to. I think coyotes are one of our major problems, we watch them every year taking fawns, it doesn't matter how much we cut back hunting seasons, if coyotes continue to take more fawns we will not recruit more deer into the herds. I see more coyote contests in our future......
Quote from: bearpaw on October 24, 2011, 09:37:15 AMI find it interesting that we are getting different answers depending on who you talk to. I think coyotes are one of our major problems, we watch them every year taking fawns, it doesn't matter how much we cut back hunting seasons, if coyotes continue to take more fawns we will not recruit more deer into the herds. I see more coyote contests in our future......Saw more does with fawns this year then in the past 4 years and not one coyote. Back in '08 I saw 12 yotes in one pack. Hay swathers take a lot of fawns too. Now as far as this 4 point rule. It sucks for the kids, we had a 10 year old out all week and there were plenty of small bucks to shoot. By the time doe season opened she was done. She was so bumbed out her Mom came up and took her home. There is going to be a lot of bucks not shot this year. Try and count points on a white tail when you jump him. BTW, more moose sign then deer sign.
