If you were totally in charge?

[baldopepper]

Just kind of curious with all the complaints and "I'd do this " and "I'd do that's"  what would you do if you were put completely in charge of deer management for 5 years-no questions asked "YOU ARE IN CHARGE"-I'm asking only on deer and even at that I'll probably be sorry I asked.  Give it your best shot!

[500 long]

See my post "WA deer population decline". I would transplant.

[JimmyHoffa]

Hound hunting of cougars and bears, with double the current quota.  Wolves would be open season for hunting.  I think those things would take so much pressure off the deer that the deer population would go up considerably and very few other things would need to be done.

[jackmaster]

if i was in charge it would go to a permit draw for all deer except youth they could hunt any season with that weapon of that season and that woulds also go for the seniors and disabled guys,and that group would be allowed to harvest does as well, but for the rest it would be permit only and it would be 3pt min state wide, but all the permits would be for prime time, during the times of the rut for those areas, and i would have a seperate kull tag for thr genetically challenged deer.

[BIGINNER]

Just kind of curious with all the complaints and "I'd do this " and "I'd do that's"  what would you do if you were put completely in charge of deer management for 5 years-no questions asked "YOU ARE IN CHARGE"-I'm asking only on deer and even at that I'll probably be sorry I asked.  Give it your best shot!

i don't think you can efectively manage only deer without manageing the predeter population

[BLKBEARKLR]

Shut it down, hunt only cougars and bears and wolves. Anyone caught violating take their house, truck, quads, boat, kids everything they own. And in five years have an actual herd to manage.

[GoldTip]

5 years? I would open hound hunting for Lions and bears as well as re-open bear baiting.  It is nothing short of idiotic to be able to bait deer/elk and not bears.  Wolves would be considered varmints and have the same regulations coyotes have now, and we would still never wipe them out of the state.

Deer hunting would be every other year, no draw.  If your wild ID number ends with an odd number, you hunt odd years, if it ends with an even number you get tags on even years.  This would decrease pressure by half on a yearly basis and yet keep everyone at least reasonably happy, as they would "know" they get to hunt next year and would also help prevent the hatred many have towards those people who get lucky and "draw" every year.  This would also mean I have to have control for 6 years to keep things fair!  Point limits would apply only to people I dislike!   Under age 17 can hunt all three seasons with the weapon specific to the season and are not on the every other year plan, also does would be legal for these individuals.  I would also apply a minimum hunting age of 10. 

When my plan started to work I would transfer the same idea's over to the elk seasons and I would be revered as the man who made hunting GREAT here in Washington again.  Everyone would be so grateful they would naturally allow me to hunt the blues for big bulls every year and grant me a Moose tag every other year.   Oh wait a minute, I fell asleep at the keyboard and started dreaming again, *censored*.  Now no one will take my idea's seriously.

[jackelope]

Hound hunting for lions and bears and permit only statewide for mule deer.

[jackelope]

Now that I read Goldtip's idea with the Wild ID #'s I like that just the same as permit only.

[CedarPants]

I'd make poaching an act of treason against your fellow man with a 1-strike and you're out rule.  If convicted, you lose your home, your rights, and your citizenship ... then you are deported to North Korea.

Ok maybe that's a bit extreme - but we certainly aren't going to effectively manage our deer herds if we can't manage ourselves

[500 long]

I am all for predator control. Release the hounds. Back in the day wolves were eradicated for a reason. Although we could stand to have the wolves feeding on some of the stupid people out there. A little Darwinism if you will. Humans being the alpha predator we have the natural right to assert our dominance and defend our territory.  I still think the populations of car wrecking garden eating city deer would do well to replenish the "wild" stocks.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

I agree to manage the deer, you must also manage the predator populations.  Open more spring bear hunting opportunities, allow baiting for bear.  Never ever go to a limited deer hunt such as permit only!  For every bear/cougar taken, give out an extra deer tag to the successful hunter or give a bonus point for special permit hunts.  Allow hound hunting in GMU's where the bear and cougar populations exceed management objectives. Come up with a realistic Wolf plan vice the BS the WDFW is currenlty proposing.  Something along the lines of 4 BP's, do away with the 3 year wait.  Have a GMU/Zone delisting of wolves to manage the wolves in areas that have exceeded the "Wolf Plan" onjectives.  Be proactive in translocating deer from areas of over population to areas below management goals.  IE Catch and relocate some of the Island blacktail into units currently low in numbers.  Give out more whitetail only tags in the Okanagon and units they are invading hurting the Mulie populations.  I could go on and on.....

[baldopepper]

I did'nt put a word restriction on responses-go ahead and say more-I'm honestly interested in what forum readers would do (or present to WDFW if the opportunity arose).   Keep in mind that department people in deer management usually don't have a lot of say in predator management. (kind of fighting the battle with one arm tied behind their backs?)

[500 long]

There is safety in numbers. More eyes and ears. It would be a better balance of predator to prey as opposed to them killing the last few in an area.

[dirty24d]

This is a good thread with some great thoughts and ideas.