Proposed cougar season-Meeting Summary.

[Kain]

Had the meeting with Dr Martorello today.  We ended up using a web meeting program instead of both of us having to drive over an hour.  Worked out great. 

For those that dont know the proposed cougar season will have an early and late season.  The early hunting season would begin Sept 1st and end Dec 31st.  Each new cougar unit would have a harvest guidelines.   If that harvest guideline is not met a late season would start on Jan 1st and go until March 31st.   If that harvest guideline is close to meeting or exceeded during the early season then there would be a review and a decision would be made to close the late season or allow it to open.  This decision will depend on the age and sex of the harvested cats.

The harvest guidelines are NOT a quota where the season will instantly close once it is met.  It is simply a target goal for harvest in each new cougar unit.  The early season will be open until Dec 31st regardless if the guideline is met early or not.  There are only a few units where they foresee the possibility of these guidelines being met within the early season.  In the majority of the state the season will be open from Sept 1st-March 31st.  In the units where the harvest is reached during late season the season could close at anytime if they make that decision.


Now for how the harvest guideline numbers are decided for each unit.  The numbers are determined by taking 14% +/- 2% of the estimated population in each unit.  They have determined that taking 12-16% of the cougar population is the ideal range to keep cougar population stable while still maintaining age/sex ratios.  Obviously taking too many females can cause a population sink but they also believe that taking too many adult males causes a breakdown in the population structure because older toms are no longer killing enough young ones.  This causes the young toms to occupy the areas left open by the older toms but they dont keep set territories. 

I got permission from Dr. Martorello to record the meeting.  Unfortunately my camera records video for only 10 minutes and then stops so there are some gaps in the presentation.  I also had to change the cards out a couple time.  I will try to get these uploaded today but it is taking a very long time to upload.

More to come

[denali]

Thanks Kain
 

[Machias]

Thanks Kain!

One problem I see is the entire thing is built on their population WAG, and it's just that a WAG.

[Kain]

Thanks Kain!

One problem I see is the entire thing is built on their population WAG, and it's just that a WAG.

I hear ya.  I mentioned that to him and he tries to explain it in the videos.  Overall I think I like the proposed season with the harvest guidelines but I think we should try to get it returned to starting in Aug.  The extra month would be very few cats harvested but would add that much more opportunity for dedicated cougar hunters, make the increase cost of cougar tags more worth it and keep the season in line with the start of bear season.   

[Kain]

Most units wont even reach the harvest guidelines and the very few that do might open for late season anyway depending on what cats are harvested. 

[fair-chase]

  Good job Kain. Thanks for doing this. Also thanks go out to Dr. Martorello for taking the time to go over this so we could get a better understanding of what the department is thinking. Looking forward to seeing the rest.

[Machias]

Thanks Kain!

One problem I see is the entire thing is built on their population WAG, and it's just that a WAG.

I hear ya.  I mentioned that to him and he tries to explain it in the videos.  Overall I think I like the proposed season with the harvest guidelines but I think we should try to get it returned to starting in Aug.  The extra month would be very few cats harvested but would add that much more opportunity for dedicated cougar hunters, make the increase cost of cougar tags more worth it and keep the season in line with the start of bear season.   

Agreed!!

[buckfvr]

Well then, have them open bear aug 1stwhile youre at it...................everywhere.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

good job Kain

[Kain]

These videos should have been posted first.  These videos are where he explained some of the science and research behind their population estimates and theories on population structures.

[Kain]

Well it might be a bit harsh but here is the letter I sent.  Feel free to use it if you like.  Or flame away.

Dear WDFW and Commission,

   Hunters in this country have a strong passion for conservation and love of our wildlife.  We have proven for over a hundred years that we will use that passion and our dollars to protect wildlife and lands.  All we have ever asked in return is that we have access to our lands and harvest all the excess that sound science will permit.
 
I feel this is important to point out when you consider management of our predator species and in this case cougars.  We all can agree that cougars absolutely need to be managed and that management should be done through public hunting whenever possible.  Three years ago this commission implemented changes to cougar seasons and harvest methods that have nothing to do with any biological, conservation or safety need and were made in part due to pressure from anti-hunting groups.  According to the 2009-2015 game management plan cougar population were stable across a vast majority of the state.  Despite that fact the department and this commission decided to remove four months from the general season, reduce the tags from 2  down to 1, and implement weapons restricted seasons.  Massive changes to a hunting season on a species that was considered stable.  With that in mind I would like to remind this commission and the department of  their legislative mandate which can be found here http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.04.012.  Simplified it says that this commission should authorize the taking of wildlife at times, places, or in manners that do not impair the resource and “attempt to maximize public recreational hunting opportunities for all citizens”.  Nowhere does it say that hunting opportunity should be limited due to anti hunting opinions.  I ask that you make sure that all current hunting regulations and futures changes meet that mandate. 

Currently the game managers with the WDFW are proposing an increase in cougar season with a harvest guideline that would end late cougar season in any unit where those number were reached.  The department has given us very specific numbers for each new cougar manager unit that maintains a healthy stable cougar population.  Now that we know these harvest guideline numbers I would ask you to consider the fact that before our cougar season was stolen from us in 2008, the numbers of harvested cats by boot hunters, very rarely reached these new harvest guideline numbers.  This is with a season that started in August and ran until the end March with 2 tags.  If over-harvest protections were in place why is the department not recommending a return to that season length or longer?  I am afraid that the answer has nothing to do with science or sound game management but is a policy decision by the WDFW to limit a minority group of hunters season.  Policy that it does not apply to other hunted species like black bears spring season and August start of fall season.  This is discrimination.  The department is knowingly and deliberately limiting cougar hunting season despite years of harvest reports and sound science supporting a longer season and protections in place to protect against over harvest.  I ask this commission to follow its legislative mandate and correct this immediately by implementing the harvest guideline protections and returning our cougar hunting season to pre-2008 regulations.

Thank you very much for your time,
Naithan Kain and family.

[rasbo]

I like that.

[Kain]

I like that.

Thanks.

[Kain]

Today is the last day for public comment on the proposed season changes.

[CementFinisher]

Thanks kain