Post by: Dave Workman on August 24, 2017, 06:21:11 AM
Trouble In Hunting Paradise: Falling elk populations mean fewer permits this fall
Read this and see if it makes sense:
"In the report set to be released next week, Bernatowicz said February surveys found “surprisingly low elk numbers” with the lowest numbers of calves ever seen. This could be bad news for general season spike hunters, although he noted mature bulls should remain in good supply.
"After 2015 saw the district’s highest antlerless harvest in recent history — more than 1,100 from the Yakima and Colockum herds — February 2016 surveys still found close to 11,000 elk roaming the Yakima herd’s 900,000 acres. That’s well above the objective of 9,500, and the Colockum Herd looked just as healthy in its March surveys with more than 5,000 elk.
"Last March showed a more modest decline for the Colockum to just under 4,700, within the margin for the objective of 4,500. Wildlife department biologist William Moore said the number of antlerless permits given out in the area shouldn’t change too much and it remains a great place to hunt, especially for hunters looking for a high density of elk.
“We’ve been trying to bring our herds from higher populations back down to our objective and I think we’ve been pretty successful with that,” Moore said."
:dunno:
Post by: JKEEN33 on August 24, 2017, 06:50:00 AM
Post by: JKEEN33 on August 24, 2017, 06:54:33 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on August 24, 2017, 07:01:36 AM
Post by: WSU on August 24, 2017, 07:16:57 AM
I'm confused. Is there trouble with the herds or are they within acceptable population numbers?
Wdfw, both may be true.
Post by: bobcat on August 24, 2017, 07:28:51 AM
Our first clue that elk numbers in the Yakima herd were down was a few months ago when special permit numbers for antlerless animals were drastically cut from what it had been the previous year.
Just from that reduction in antlerless permits I would tend to believe that the herd is below objective.
Post by: pianoman9701 on August 24, 2017, 07:32:38 AM
Post by: Mudman on August 24, 2017, 07:47:48 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on August 24, 2017, 07:57:30 AM
Post by: jdb on August 24, 2017, 08:11:12 AM
Post by: NoBark on August 24, 2017, 09:34:46 AM
Post by: huntnphool on August 24, 2017, 10:46:19 AM
I always wonder just how accurate are these game counts???
My guess is as accurate as the fish return forecasts, like this years Lake Washington sockeye forecast of 77k..........which turned out to be 132k+.
Post by: NoBark on August 24, 2017, 12:12:55 PM
Post by: yakimanoob on August 24, 2017, 02:37:59 PM
Honestly, the article sounds as typically over-dramatic as you can expect from modern news outlets. I think the case is really that we've been over objective for awhile and the drought/winter reduced it (maybe faster than expected?) back down towards objective.
But... ::ahem:: yeah... probably best that all you people look for other areas to hunt. I'm sure hunting the Yakima herd isn't worth your time. :chuckle:
Post by: Oh Mah on August 28, 2017, 06:37:07 PM
Post by: yakimanoob on August 28, 2017, 07:11:04 PM
when i visited the feeding station the people there told us the herd was looking better than ever and that they got some dandy pics of some giant bulls,they said the spike count was up more than previous years and that is why myself and a lot of other hunters over here were shocked at the drop in tags this year. ? :dunno:Thankfully, WDFW measures more than just feeding station attendance. That said, I heard the same things from the volunteers, which is why I think the news article is (predictably) over-dramatic. If you judge by the mgmt plan, we've been over objective for awhile--hence the hundreds of cow tags. Now that we're back down to target levels, no more hundreds of cow tags. Seems to me to just be the system working the way it's designed to work :dunno:
This situation is a great counter example for the jokers who think the WDFW guys "just want to sell tags" though ;).
Post by: boneaddict on August 28, 2017, 07:14:13 PM
Post by: yakimanoob on August 28, 2017, 07:42:52 PM
Let's just say there are a lot of other herds in way worse danger than the Yakima elk herd:yeah: x10
Post by: winshooter88 on August 28, 2017, 08:47:04 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on August 28, 2017, 11:14:35 PM
Let's just say there are a lot of other herds in way worse danger than the Yakima elk herdLike what herd?
Post by: Oh Mah on August 28, 2017, 11:34:30 PM
Post by: boneaddict on August 29, 2017, 08:15:28 AM
Let's just say there are a lot of other herds in way worse danger than the Yakima elk herdLike what herd?
Every other herd in Washington state(compared to this one). Give it time though. The wolves haven't really taken a foothold here yet. As soon as they discover the all night buffet, then you can get worried.