Joe Watt Canyon

[canyelk48]

I've hiked my tail off for 3 days this week at Joe Watt and managed to find one small 5 pt. elk antler and a tiny spike deer antler.  Today in town I heard some talk about WDFW leaving the feed station with a pickup truck load of sheds before the May 1st opening.  This supposedly was witnessed by more than one individual.  I guess that would explain the lack of sheds being found.  Just wondering if anyone else had much success at Joe Watt.

[Bigtine96]

That would defeat the purpose of the feeding area being closed then wouldnt it.

But nothing would suprise me with this state

[Pinetar]

Interesting, that is three years in a row now that we have heard this. It wouldn't surprise me if they did. They are usually a lot sneakier about it though.

[washelkhunter]

Just another perk of F&G employ!

[Huntbear]

I know the Boy Scouts get in before anyone else and gets to pick up all sheds found in the areas they feed. 

That said, those "volunteers" have full access to the place any time they want.  I watched them film the elk for almost 20 min. one day before beginning to feed.  So if they are grabbing sheds, it would not surprise me one bit.  ANOTHER black eye on WDFW, if true.  And if true, those volunteers need to be fired and fined.. 

[Pinetar]

I think the boy scouts in there is just a bad rumor. But as far as the volunteers, well now that is another story in itself. And yes they should be fired. It does no good to complain to the GW/WSGD about them, they will just deny and turn their heads the other way.

[Huntbear]

I think the boy scouts in there is just a bad rumor. But as far as the volunteers, well now that is another story in itself. And yes they should be fired. It does no good to complain to the GW/WSGD about them, they will just deny and turn their heads the other way.

I was told by a WDFW employee that the BSA gets first shot at them, just like in Jackson Hole Wyoming.....   

If someone was to take a crap load of pictures of these guys doing this....  start posting them on some hunting boards all over the internet... I bet someone would take notice in Olympia... especially if the truck had a state emblem on the side...

[washelkhunter]

Good idea. Somefolks should also go in and spray paint the sheds fourescent orange, then followup to see where those end up.

[Pinetar]

Huntbear - That's interesting about the BSA I have heard this also and was told it wasn't true. I'd rather see them get them then the WSGD employees. At least they would go to a good cause. I hope you are right and BSA is picking them up.

As far as taking video, it is a great idea except here in Eburg our Robinson feedlot is back about 1/2 mile from the elk fence, so no way to get video w/o trespassing and when the Elk start dropping in Joe Watt the feeders start feeding way in the back out of site from the parking lot.  I've personally watched from the parking lot and witnessed them pick several antlers up then called the game manager of the LT Murray and she said "nope our feeders haven't picked any antlers up this year". hmmm wonder where they ended up lol

[Pinetar]

Oops! Sorry in my earlier post I used the word volunteer. Here in Eburg the feeders are not volunteers they get paid to feed the Elk, it is not like at Oak Creek where I believe they are still volunteers.

[crazyantler]

I have witnessed it myself too and know for a fact that they pick them up as we have watched from the parking lot.  I think they should disperse them back on the ground right before the opener to give people a chance at a trophy bull.  I didnt see anyone packing any of the large sheds on May 1st. 

[Pinetar]

Call the local WSGD office in Eburg ask to speak to the LT Wildlife manager and ask her how many antlers that their feeders have turned in over the last twenty years. Your answer will be three, one single and the match set the manager was holding up in the picture where she was talking about shed hunters spooking all of her elk. Then call Oak Creek and ask them how many their feeders have picked up over the last twenty years. They couldn't begin to tell you because it has been way to many. They auction them off and use the money to buy feed. The volunteers at Oak Creek turn them in and they are not getting paid buy you and I.

[Huntbear]

You may not be able to see them actually pick up the sheds.. but you can sure as hell video them driving in and out of there in their pick up trucks...  and what may or may not be laying in the bed of the truck.. I would also call the Enforcement guys if I seen it happening... they can deal with it much more effeciently than that lady who is in charge of that area...  if it is not open for everyone, they are committing a crime. 

[Pinetar]

These guys have been doing it for years and years they are not amateur's. They put them in the front of the cab of the big feed truck and then drive into the hay barn to unload them. I have talked with Sargeant Mike Sprecher about it and he talked with the manager and she denied that it was going on. At the time the manager was Cindi Confer who now manages the Wenas Wildlife Area, maybe the new manager will look into it further?

[Huntbear]

I would make sure that she and the LEO understand that letters and photographs are being sent to Olympia if they do not investigate and make sure this is not happening and if it is, that the idiots are being punished according to the letter of the law...