Post by: Ridgeratt on December 06, 2017, 05:46:52 AM
There went the horse. :yike: Should we close the gate. :dunno:
Helicopters to be used to capture deer in Eastern Washington
Posted: Dec 05, 2017 1:52 PM PST
Updated: Dec 05, 2017 1:52 PM PST
RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) - State biologists will survey mule deer populations and use nets fired from a helicopter to capture some of them starting this weekend in Eastern Washington.
Some 50 does will be captured and fitted with GPS/satellite collars to allow biologists to monitor migration patterns and doe survival.
The Tri-City Herald reports the work will happen in Walla Walla, Columbia and Garfield counties for up to several weeks.
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists will gather data to learn more about mule deer populations, including the percentages of bucks, does and fawns.
Officials say the information could be used to inform future management of the deer population and hunting seasons.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on December 06, 2017, 05:57:18 AM
Post by: Ridgeratt on December 06, 2017, 06:11:15 AM
Post by: dreamunelk on December 06, 2017, 06:42:45 AM
Post by: nwwanderer on December 06, 2017, 07:00:48 AM
The big deal is cost and effectiveness. Could the same be done studying road kill and flying drones for 10 cents on the dollar? Is the data used efficiently?
Post by: WARHORSE on December 06, 2017, 07:44:18 AM
Post by: dreamunelk on December 06, 2017, 07:51:44 AM
The big deal is cost and effectiveness. Could the same be done studying road kill and flying drones for 10 cents on the dollar? Is the data used efficiently?
In this case no. Read the article. Road kill will tell you nothing. Drones have uses. In this case again no. Helicopter are proven to be more cost effective for many studies. In this case using a helicopter would save big time over other methods. To use other methods would cost much more in staff time and I am willing to bet they would not get a statistical significant sample size.
Understanding migration patterns is a big deal in all states with migratory deer. It not a case of look at it once and walk away. It is continually looked at over time and as new technology and research methods are developed it is looked at again.
I think another way to look at is to consider a contractor who has a project. What is the tool he will use, buy, or lease to do the job? Maybe he needs to dig a big ditch. He could use manpower, small piece of equipment or a large piece of equipment. He may own a small backhoe and could get the job done with it. Or he could lease a larger backhoe and get the job done faster lowering cost.
Post by: jackelope on December 06, 2017, 07:52:10 AM
The big deal is cost and effectiveness. Could the same be done studying road kill and flying drones for 10 cents on the dollar? Is the data used efficiently?
How would studying road kill help to ID migration patterns?
Post by: 92xj on December 06, 2017, 08:09:16 AM
The big deal is cost and effectiveness. Could the same be done studying road kill and flying drones for 10 cents on the dollar? Is the data used efficiently?
How would studying road kill help to ID migration patterns?
Reverse engineering.
You'd know where the migration ended
Post by: jackelope on December 06, 2017, 08:11:51 AM
The big deal is cost and effectiveness. Could the same be done studying road kill and flying drones for 10 cents on the dollar? Is the data used efficiently?
How would studying road kill help to ID migration patterns?
Reverse engineering.
You'd know where the migration ended
What about in areas where roads are not a factor?
Helicopters and net guns are a thing that happens all the time all over the west. Blacktails on the OP, mountain goats, etc.
Post by: 92xj on December 06, 2017, 08:16:24 AM
I know nothing of the project or what any answers are.
Post by: Timberstalker on December 06, 2017, 08:23:57 AM
Ok, enough nonsense. I hope they can get some valuable information. We all bitch that they aren't trying to figure the issues out. This is a good step, in my feeble mind. :tup:
Post by: jackelope on December 06, 2017, 08:30:08 AM
I hope these helicopters don't add to the chemtrails.
Ok, enough nonsense. I hope they can get some valuable information. We all bitch that they aren't trying to figure the issues out. This is a good step, in my feeble mind. :tup:
I'm feebly with you.
Post by: pianoman9701 on December 06, 2017, 08:30:36 AM
Post by: Killmore on December 06, 2017, 08:34:55 AM
Post by: runamuk on December 06, 2017, 08:40:25 AM
What is the big deal? Using helicopters to capture wildlife is done all the time on just about every continent.Bingo it's a management tool. I would guess it will help ascertain important information about the herds. I am still curious what the Mucks learned about the herds they collared a few years back.
Glad to see modern management tools being used.
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on December 06, 2017, 09:31:39 AM
Post by: jackelope on December 06, 2017, 09:34:14 AM
Post by: Practical Approach on December 06, 2017, 09:37:03 AM
The big deal is cost and effectiveness. Could the same be done studying road kill and flying drones for 10 cents on the dollar? Is the data used efficiently?
In this case no. Read the article. Road kill will tell you nothing. Drones have uses. In this case again no. Helicopter are proven to be more cost effective for many studies. In this case using a helicopter would save big time over other methods. To use other methods would cost much more in staff time and I am willing to bet they would not get a statistical significant sample size.
Understanding migration patterns is a big deal in all states with migratory deer. It not a case of look at it once and walk away. It is continually looked at over time and as new technology and research methods are developed it is looked at again.
I think another way to look at is to consider a contractor who has a project. What is the tool he will use, buy, or lease to do the job? Maybe he needs to dig a big ditch. He could use manpower, small piece of equipment or a large piece of equipment. He may own a small backhoe and could get the job done with it. Or he could lease a larger backhoe and get the job done faster lowering cost.
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on December 06, 2017, 09:44:55 AM
I think the Methow would have been a better area, then they might figure out the herd is in bad shape. :twocents:They collared deer in the Methow and Northeast last year. http://nwsportsmanmag.com/predator-prey-study-launched-in-washingtons-wolf-country/
Post by: timberfaller on December 06, 2017, 10:42:20 AM
It required skill and muscle power!!!
Post by: jackelope on December 06, 2017, 10:52:49 AM
Why Helicopters?? Spend more money that way! Besides, To many employees are to lazy and scared to do it the way they used to!!!
It required skill and muscle power!!!
Maybe efficiency and effectiveness?
If you don't think net gunning out of a helicopter requires skill, I'm not sure what to tell you. Then wrestle the thing to the ground for a collar...no muscle required there. Any 8 year old girl could do that!!
Laughable.
Post by: bigmacc on December 06, 2017, 11:51:44 AM
Post by: DaveMonti on December 06, 2017, 12:20:07 PM
It seems like the right time of the year to do it and with the concern on here regarding the health of mule deer populations in the state, I'd think most people would support the study. They'll certainly also be testing for CWD and possibly other diseases, as well. It looks like a good thing to me.
Many will support a study like this. However, it's the same list of anti government characters on this site who continually criticize anything that shows up with "WDFW" in the post that will never support anything the agency does.
Post by: bearpaw on December 06, 2017, 12:25:47 PM
Post by: winshooter88 on December 06, 2017, 01:23:20 PM
They will be trapping and collaring deer in the Methow this winter also as part of the predator-prey study, probably with a helicopter. We had the WDFW lead bios at our November meeting to tell us about the study they started last winter.
Post by: bigmacc on December 06, 2017, 01:27:20 PM
Post by: jackelope on December 06, 2017, 01:28:14 PM
A partner of mine killed a HUGE buck back in the 1980,s , if I remember right it was a 4 by 4 and field dressed, weighed in in the low 300,s(I,ll do some checking), anyway it had a collar on it with a transmitter and a brass tag that said if this collar is found please contact the game dept. (along with other contact info). We turned it in to the game folks we knew and they came up with some Bio,s and other game folks and gave the old buck a good looking over, they told us thank you and said we would be getting a detailed letter about the bucks life during the 3 or 4 years they tracked him. What I remember from the letter was the buck was trapped using a helicopter in the winter of 1982 in the northern part of the Methow on the winter range as a 3 1/2 year old, they picked him from a lot of other bucks because they said he was a "prime specimen" at the time, big, healthy and dominant, they tracked him for 3-4years until the batteries went dead, they had his summer range approx 20 to 25 miles into British Columbia and every winter he would migrate the 50 plus miles to his winter range in the Methow, the batteries had went dead and they lost track of him for a few years. They figured he had been nabbed by a predator or died of natural causes because of his age by then and also the collar not being turned in by hunters. I remember in the packet my friend got in the mail along with the letter and biography were a bunch of pictures showing the trapping and collaring of the buck, one of the pics were of the deer in a net being dipped into the Chewuch river with a helicopter to kind of "wake him up" a little. We heard from a Game dept. friend that the biologist that handled that buck put the collar on a plaque and it hung on his mantle at his house, it was his first mule deer project as a young bio and it really meant something to him.....
That's a cool story. I got a lion on a trail cam in the Blues a few years back that had a collar on. I sent the pics to the bio and was told he was collared probably 5 years earlier and a general area in the Blues the collar was put on him. We weren't able to ID the lion so not able to say for sure any specific details.
Post by: jackelope on December 06, 2017, 01:30:01 PM
Post by: bearpaw on December 06, 2017, 01:36:55 PM
Post by: X-Force on December 06, 2017, 01:43:31 PM
Idaho does there big game counts with choppers every year, they do a few units each year and try to get back to each unit every 4 to 5 years.
Wish there was a way to volunteer for the ride along.
Post by: bigmacc on December 06, 2017, 02:15:33 PM
A partner of mine killed a HUGE buck back in the 1980,s , if I remember right it was a 4 by 4 and field dressed, weighed in in the low 300,s(I,ll do some checking), anyway it had a collar on it with a transmitter and a brass tag that said if this collar is found please contact the game dept. (along with other contact info). We turned it in to the game folks we knew and they came up with some Bio,s and other game folks and gave the old buck a good looking over, they told us thank you and said we would be getting a detailed letter about the bucks life during the 3 or 4 years they tracked him. What I remember from the letter was the buck was trapped using a helicopter in the winter of 1982 in the northern part of the Methow on the winter range as a 3 1/2 year old, they picked him from a lot of other bucks because they said he was a "prime specimen" at the time, big, healthy and dominant, they tracked him for 3-4years until the batteries went dead, they had his summer range approx 20 to 25 miles into British Columbia and every winter he would migrate the 50 plus miles to his winter range in the Methow, the batteries had went dead and they lost track of him for a few years. They figured he had been nabbed by a predator or died of natural causes because of his age by then and also the collar not being turned in by hunters. I remember in the packet my friend got in the mail along with the letter and biography were a bunch of pictures showing the trapping and collaring of the buck, one of the pics were of the deer in a net being dipped into the Chewuch river with a helicopter to kind of "wake him up" a little. We heard from a Game dept. friend that the biologist that handled that buck put the collar on a plaque and it hung on his mantle at his house, it was his first mule deer project as a young bio and it really meant something to him.....
That's a cool story. I got a lion on a trail cam in the Blues a few years back that had a collar on. I sent the pics to the bio and was told he was collared probably 5 years earlier and a general area in the Blues the collar was put on him. We weren't able to ID the lion so not able to say for sure any specific details.
:tup:
Post by: jackelope on December 06, 2017, 02:17:34 PM
Idaho does there big game counts with choppers every year, they do a few units each year and try to get back to each unit every 4 to 5 years.
Washington flew the Goat Rocks this year counting goats. Can't say for sure if it was a helicopter or a plane, but it was an aerial survey.
(438 was the count, because someone will be wondering)
Post by: bigmacc on December 06, 2017, 02:30:19 PM
Idaho does there big game counts with choppers every year, they do a few units each year and try to get back to each unit every 4 to 5 years.
Wish there was a way to volunteer for the ride along.
Man a lot of old stuff popping into my head today :chuckle:...Once again "back in the day" in the Methow and I,m sure other parts of the state also that had migrating herds, they would use college students, volunteers and some game dept. folks of coarse and they would arm you with a "clicker counter" paper and pencil, they would park you at different migration routes and you would sit there for 6 or 7 hours a day for a week or so and count the deer moving through(take note of fawns, yearlings, does and bucks). Now days most of it is done from planes and helicopters. A few of the migration routes that were used were actually suggested by my family. My dad and I talked with a young gal (who was a student at WSU) who was parked along side a dirt road in an undisclosed area ;)(a route my family suggested) and she had counted around 500 deer cross that day, the thing was she had only been there for about 2 hours :tup:...yep thats the way the Methow was.
Post by: nwwanderer on December 06, 2017, 05:09:01 PM
Post by: KFhunter on December 06, 2017, 05:41:33 PM
Idaho does there big game counts with choppers every year, they do a few units each year and try to get back to each unit every 4 to 5 years.
Wish there was a way to volunteer for the ride along.
careful what you wish for :chuckle:
I watched a helicopter (Robinson R44 I think) doing a duck survey along the river, all the sudden it flared up and chopped the power lines by my house knocking out power.
Dude landed in my hayfield next to me, I was on a Kubota watching the helicopter go up the river at low altitude.
The pilot checked out his rotor blades and was about to take off again and I'm like: "dooood! - don't you think you ought to call someone?? like FAA? you just knocked out power to the whole town it's not like they aren't going to find out it was you then you'll be in bigger trouble. I mean he had a federal USFWS gal with him, he wasn't going to get away with it... :DOH:
pilot: "sigh, ya probably better.. can I borrow your phone?"
I think you better :chuckle:
20-30 minutes later I had Stevens CO, Border Patrol, Ferry CO, Park Service, WDFW, NFS...fire department.. I don't know who all but about 30 some gov vehicles in my hayfield, glad I didn't have a crop in :chuckle:
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on December 06, 2017, 06:03:26 PM
Idaho does there big game counts with choppers every year, they do a few units each year and try to get back to each unit every 4 to 5 years.
Wish there was a way to volunteer for the ride along.
careful what you wish for :chuckle:
I watched a helicopter (Robinson R44 I think) doing a duck survey along the river, all the sudden it flared up and chopped the power lines by my house knocking out power.
Dude landed in my hayfield next to me, I was on a Kubota watching the helicopter go up the river at low altitude.
The pilot checked out his rotor blades and was about to take off again and I'm like: "dooood! - don't you think you ought to call someone?? like FAA? you just knocked out power to the whole town it's not like they aren't going to find out it was you then you'll be in bigger trouble. I mean he had a federal USFWS gal with him, he wasn't going to get away with it... :DOH:
pilot: "sigh, ya probably better.. can I borrow your phone?"
I think you better :chuckle:
20-30 minutes later I had Stevens CO, Border Patrol, Ferry CO, Park Service, WDFW, NFS...fire department.. I don't know who all but about 30 some gov vehicles in my hayfield, glad I didn't have a crop in :chuckle:
Did he take off later, I wouldn’t have been in it, those blades aren’t that tough. :yike:
Post by: KFhunter on December 06, 2017, 06:22:32 PM
Post by: Bob33 on December 06, 2017, 06:44:09 PM
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/state-agency-cited-in-biologists-death/ (https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/state-agency-cited-in-biologists-death/)
Post by: Ridgeratt on December 07, 2017, 10:25:04 AM
Plan to capture deer with helicopters and nets postponed
Posted: Dec 06, 2017 11:50 PM PST
Updated: Dec 06, 2017 11:50 PM PST
KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) - A project to use helicopters and nets to catch mule deer in Washington state has been postponed.
The Tri-City Herald reports that the project has been rescheduled to January because the aircraft's operator will not be available this month.
The Washington State Fish and Wildlife project will fit satellite collars on up to 50 does captured in Columbia, Walla Walla and Garfield counties.
Plans will proceed this month to conduct an aerial survey of bucks, does and fawns in the three counties.
Information will help with management of the deer and hunting seasons.
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on December 07, 2017, 10:30:35 AM
Something to think about. I knew Rocky.
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/state-agency-cited-in-biologists-death/ (https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/state-agency-cited-in-biologists-death/)
And the man's life was only worth a $4200.00 fine, and people complain about the fines poachers get...
"Labor and Industries fined the wildlife agency $4,200 for the violations and gave it a month to correct the problem. Labor and Industries classified the violations as “serious,” the middle range on the department’s severity scale."
Sorry about the thread jack, but this this struck me as crazy.