Post by: fremont on August 14, 2014, 06:52:50 AM
Anyone know if this happened yet?
Post by: boneaddict on August 14, 2014, 06:54:31 AM
Post by: washelkhunter on August 14, 2014, 02:37:52 PM
Post by: wolfbait on August 15, 2014, 09:19:46 AM
I'd be against having any special criteria in place in the awarding of permits for culling the herd in the Methow. Start anew; first come-first served. I just read an estimated 10,000 mule deer are expected to winter over in the Methow this year. The only thing certain is that tags are going to be offered or we watch the herd starve.
10,000 deer????? Did this rumor come from WDFW? Way to many zeros.
Post by: wsmnut on August 15, 2014, 09:38:48 AM
Post by: MtnMuley on August 15, 2014, 10:57:36 AM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on August 16, 2014, 01:33:51 PM
I'd be against having any special criteria in place in the awarding of permits for culling the herd in the Methow. Start anew; first come-first served. I just read an estimated 10,000 mule deer are expected to winter over in the Methow this year. The only thing certain is that tags are going to be offered or we watch the herd starve.
Why not give the tags to youth, disabled, or 65 and over who didn't get drawn this year who put in for those units? Then if more tags are needed go beyond those groups. This plan would be more controlled than the first 200 hunters that show up with does, or what ever criteria they come up with for thining the herd will be. :tup:
WDFW probably wants to use the people who put in for but didn't draw so they won't have to do anthor draw , or figure out a way to disperse them to other hunters.
And yes my daughter didn't draw a youth tag in the antlerless catagory in some of the units that had fires. So if she hears from WDFW I will let the forum know whats up. :peep:
Post by: boneaddict on August 16, 2014, 02:01:08 PM
Post by: wolfbait on August 16, 2014, 02:30:24 PM
Too bad WDFW don't count wolves like they count deer, we probably could have delisted in the 1990's.
Post by: MtnMuley on August 16, 2014, 02:52:11 PM
True as well, wolfbait. Too bad those of us that actually monitor our deer herds more accurately than wdfw don't have a say in our "factual" numbers. Also, your inbox was full the other day.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on August 16, 2014, 03:07:41 PM
If any antlerless tags were to be given out and I BY NO MEANS am suggesting any should, then I think they should be offered to those with a 98856, 98814, etc........zip code. Those people are the ones that could use the extra meat in their freezers and its their yards and their vehicles that are going to pay the price this winter. Just my thought.
I can agree with that statement about the zip codes. :tup:
Post by: wsmnut on August 16, 2014, 04:58:09 PM
I'm far from convinced that any extra killing is necessary. I seriously doubt that Fitkin has any real data yet, and there is still time for forage growth.
Wsmnut
Post by: winshooter88 on August 16, 2014, 11:45:28 PM
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on August 18, 2014, 08:03:35 PM
At present the e-mail said that if they decide to give out more antlerless tags in that area that they would be drawn from the people who put in for that area this year but were not drawn. Then possibly youth, disabled and seniors.
Will you post the email?
Post by: bobcat on August 18, 2014, 08:59:09 PM
Quote
Wildfires have burned tens of thousands of acres and hundreds of homes in north central Washington. Those fires also have damaged thousands of acres of wildlife habitat, including lands managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The agency anticipates the fires will have short and long-term effects on wildlife populations and the landscape.
Fire damaged wildlife area units
The Carlton Complex fire has scorched five of WDFW’s wildlife area units, encompassing 25,000 acres of land. The wildlife units include Indian Dan and Pateros (both near the town of Pateros), Texas Creek (south of Carlton), Chiliwist (northwest of Malott) and Methow (near Winthrop).
As of early August, the fire was still burning at or near some of the units. WDFW has sustained millions of dollars in damage to fencing and structures at the wildlife areas. The agency is assessing wildlife and habitat conditions as well as road access at each unit.
Updates on habitat conditions at each of the affected wildlife units will be posted in the wildlife program’s weekly reports.
Contact each wildlife area for the latest information.
Mule deer population to be managed
The area affected by the Carlton Complex fire provides habitat to both a year-round population of mule deer as well as a migratory herd that lives there in the winter. Altogether, about 10,000 mule deer use the affected area for winter habitat.
Some of the scorched areas may still provide winter habitat depending on weather throughout the summer and fall. WDFW will have a better understanding of winter habitat conditions by Nov. 1. Check for updates in the weekly wildlife reports. Even if conditions are ideal, however, there will be too many deer for the area to support this winter and for several years to come.
WDFW works to reduce conflicts with wildlife
Mule deer are moving out of the burned area and into orchards and farmland to seek food and cover. WDFW anticipates more problems could arise as migratory deer return to the area. The department is taking steps to minimize conflicts this fall and winter. WDFW is helping landowners replace a limited number of fire-damaged fences and apply for state and federal emergency assistance. Local landowners who have problems with deer on their lands should contact Ellen Heilhecker, WDFW’s wildlife conflict specialist for the region, at Ellen.Heilhecker@dfw.wa.gov.
Supplemental feeding is a short-term solution
WDFW generally tries to avoid the supplemental feeding of deer. However, the department will consider doing so in extreme circumstances such as drought or fire or to draw deer away from agricultural lands. This winter, WDFW likely will provide feed for mule deer in the burned area as a stop-gap measure until the deer population is back in balance with its habitat.
Supplemental feeding has several drawbacks. It concentrates animals, making them more vulnerable to predators, poaching and diseases such as hair slip, which already is a concern for deer in the region. Concentrated animals also can damage nearby private property, such as fences and shrubbery, and can hinder restoration efforts on public lands.
Feeding stations can create intense competition. As a result, a large number of fawns have died in past winter feeding efforts.
Deer learn where food is available from experience. After emergency feeding ceases, deer will come back and concentrate in areas they previously had been fed.
Public safety also can be an issue. Feeding can draw animals into areas near roads, leading to collisions with vehicles.
Emergency feeding and habitat restoration programs are expensive and WDFW is accepting donations for this effort. Checks can be mailed to the Deer Winter Feeding Fund, WDFW, 600 N. Capitol Way, Olympia, WA 98504.
Hunting and access will be affected
WDFW will likely increase the number of antlerless deer permits this fall and winter, starting with youth and senior hunters and hunters with disabilities. The department will directly contact hunters who already have applied for deer permits in the area, so a new application process is unnecessary.
The agency could close roads in some wildlife units due to hazard trees and washouts. That could reduce access for hunting in the area this fall. Contact each wildlife area for the latest information on access.
WDFW expects to close the pheasant release site at the Chiliwist wildlife area unit and is looking for other areas to release those birds. Updates will be posted on this website.
Alternate grazing locations identified
A few permit-holders were using WDFW lands in the affected area for livestock grazing. WDFW has located alternate wildlife units in Okanogan County with suitable forage for emergency livestock grazing. This grazing will be offered to department permit-holders first and then to others if enough land is available. For more information, contact Dale Swedberg, WDFW’s Okanogan lands operations manager, at (509) 826-7205 or Dale.Swedberg@dfw.wa.gov.
Restoration efforts are in the works
The agency will work with other government agencies on restoration activities such as timber salvage and weed control. WDFW plans to re-seed bitterbrush on department lands within the burned area. However, it could take many years for shrubs and bitterbrush to re-establish in the damaged area.
Likewise, western gray squirrel habitat could take several years to recover. In some areas, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir tree stands sustained significant damage.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildfires/ (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildfires/)
Post by: MtnMuley on August 18, 2014, 09:11:00 PM
Post by: bobcat on August 18, 2014, 10:14:09 PM
Do you have anything else to say, or are you just going to post the same thing you read and agree with twice? :dunno:
Lance- Well, no I only wanted to post the information that was posted on the WDFW website, since that is what was asked for. Here is the news release that was emailed out, if you'd prefer to read that. It's basically the same information in a more condensed format.
Quote
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
NEWS RELEASE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
August 07, 2014
Contact: Jim Brown, (509) 754-4624 ext. 219WDFW assesses habitat affected by wildfires,
helps landowners fence out displaced wildlife
OLYMPIA – State wildlife managers are working with Okanogan landowners to protect their crops from deer displaced by area wildfires and are assessing the fires’ damage to wildlife habitat.
In addition to burning hundreds of homes, the Carlton Complex fire has scorched tens of thousands of acres of habitat used by wildlife, including mule deer, wild turkeys and western gray squirrels. The fire, which is still burning in some areas, has damaged 25,000 acres within five wildlife area units managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
“A fire of this magnitude will have both short and long-term effects on wildlife populations and the landscape and that will have implications for hunting and grazing in the area,” said Jim Brown, WDFW regional director. “This is not a problem with easy answers.”
The burned area is home to a local mule deer population, which lives there year-round, and supports thousands of migratory deer during the winter. Some of the areas may still provide winter habitat depending on weather throughout this summer and fall.
Even if conditions are ideal, however, there will be too many deer for the area to support this winter and possibly for several years to come, said Scott Fitkin, WDFW district wildlife biologist in Okanogan County.
“We know we need to take steps to reduce the size of the herd,” Fitkin said. “That effort will focus initially on minimizing conflicts between deer and agricultural landowners.”
WDFW is working with local property owners to stop deer from moving into orchards, hay fields and pastures to seek food and cover. The department is helping landowners replace a limited number of fire-damaged fences and seek state and federal emergency funding.
“We expect more issues to arise as migratory deer return to the area this fall, but we are taking steps now to minimize those problems,” said Ellen Heilhecker, WDFW wildlife conflict specialist in Okanogan County.
WDFW likely will increase the number of antlerless deer permits issued this fall and winter, reaching out first to youth and senior hunters and hunters with disabilities. The department will directly contact hunters who already applied for deer permits in the area, so a new application process is unnecessary, Fitkin said.
The agency plans to draw deer and other wildlife away from agricultural lands with feed this summer and fall. WDFW is considering a feeding program for deer this winter.
“Winter feeding is not a long term solution,” Fitkin said. “At best, it’s a stop-gap measure until the deer population and habitat are back in balance.”
Sustained supplemental feeding is neither efficient nor beneficial to wildlife and often creates problems, he said. Feeding concentrates animals, making them more vulnerable to predators, poaching and disease, such as hair slip, which is already a concern for deer in the region. Having so many animals clustered in one area also causes damage to the land and can hinder restoration efforts.
In the winter, deer prefer to eat shrubs and bitterbrush, which WDFW plans to re-seed on department lands within the burned area. However, it will take many years for shrubs and bitterbrush to re-establish in the damaged area. Likewise, western gray squirrel habitat could take several years to recover. In some areas, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir tree stands sustained significant damage.
WDFW will work with other government agencies on restoration activities such as timber salvage and weed control. The agency also has located alternate wildlife units in Okanogan County with suitable forage for emergency livestock grazing. This grazing will be offered to department permit-holders first, then to others if enough land is available.
Like other public land managers, WDFW likely will close roads in some wildlife units due to hazardous trees, said Dale Swedberg, WDFW’s Okanogan lands operations manager. That could reduce access for hunting in the burned areas this fall.
“We’re developing contingency plans in anticipation of what happens during the remainder of the fire season, fall green-up and winter severity,” Swedberg said.
Hunters and others should check WDFW’s wildfire webpage at wdfw.wa.gov/wildfires for updates on conditions and access on WDFW lands. Information on wildlife and restoration efforts in the affected area also can be found on the webpage.
Post by: idahohuntr on August 18, 2014, 10:28:00 PM
Post by: Cougeyes on August 19, 2014, 11:38:55 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on August 19, 2014, 12:02:03 PM
Post by: idahohuntr on August 19, 2014, 12:45:29 PM
Sure is nice how Mr. Fitkin gives his input on the situation!! :bash:Why wouldn't he? :dunno:
Post by: bobcat on August 19, 2014, 12:52:25 PM
Sure is nice how Mr. Fitkin gives his input on the situation!! :bash:Why wouldn't he? :dunno:
I was a bit confused about that statement as well. After all, Scott Fitkin is the WDFW wildlife biologist for that area. It seems like if anyone should be providing an opinion in regards to the fire's affect on mule deer, it should be him.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on August 19, 2014, 02:18:07 PM
Post by: Rooster1981 on August 19, 2014, 04:08:34 PM
Post by: bigmacc on August 19, 2014, 09:12:30 PM
If any antlerless tags were to be given out and I BY NO MEANS am suggesting any should, then I think they should be offered to those with a 98856, 98814, etc........zip code. Those people are the ones that could use the extra meat in their freezers and its their yards and their vehicles that are going to pay the price this winter. Just my thought.
Agree with ya bone :tup:.....
And you guys want to hear some numbers that will make you sick,showing just whats happening to this once mighty herd and the direction they are headed, here ya go----The mule deer harvest amongst these units(212,218,224,230,236 and half of 242)in 1968 was 14,260 deer...it was 40 percent of the total mule deer harvest for washington state that year. Whats sad is hearing that about 10,000 deer will winter in this valley this year according to Mr.Fitken.Shows the downhill slide of this herd,very sad.
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on August 20, 2014, 06:20:00 AM
If any antlerless tags were to be given out and I BY NO MEANS am suggesting any should, then I think they should be offered to those with a 98856, 98814, etc........zip code. Those people are the ones that could use the extra meat in their freezers and its their yards and their vehicles that are going to pay the price this winter. Just my thought.
I can agree with that statement about the zip codes. :tup:
:yeah: Complete commonsence approach right there!!!!! :tup:
Post by: fremont on September 29, 2014, 10:08:25 PM
Post by: boneaddict on October 01, 2014, 12:49:45 PM