Post by: SuperX on January 30, 2019, 08:21:54 AM
Maybe it's time to stop feeding elk since it obviously doesn't help the way we are doing it. I suspect we would have been worse off without feeding, but with years of decline after only one winter, maybe we need feed more and feed higher up the mountain?
I'm starting to think WDFW winter feeding in this area is mainly a PR move.
Post by: WSU on January 30, 2019, 08:27:04 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on January 30, 2019, 08:51:55 AM
I’m sure a lot of it is a PR move. It’s easier to feed them than to deal with them invading their former winter range, which is how orchards, farms, and houses.I think this has more to do with it than starving elk. If they don't feed them they will find food elsewhere and that is where the real issue is in my mind. Farmers need that traditional range for their crops and don't want the elk trashing the crops.
Post by: boneaddict on January 30, 2019, 09:10:15 AM
Post by: Sandberm on January 30, 2019, 09:18:34 AM
Does anybody know how many tons per day the elk at the Oak Creek are fed at the height of snow and cold? Some years they do not feed any hay correct? Just depends on the winter.
Post by: 92xj on January 30, 2019, 09:26:44 AM
I know the cowiche farmers had a nice slaughter a few years back when the elk took a different turn and ended up in the farms and not the feed lots.
Just curious on the actual amount killed each winter.
Post by: boneaddict on January 30, 2019, 09:28:15 AM
Yep, keep them out of the orchards.
Does anybody know how many tons per day the elk at the Oak Creek are fed at the height of snow and cold? Some years they do not feed any hay correct? Just depends on the winter.
Yeah, this year not a bale as of yet as far as I know.
Post by: boneaddict on January 30, 2019, 09:37:17 AM
from the WDFW website....
Quote
For example, at WDFW's Oak Creek, L.T. Murray and Wenas wildlife areas in south-central Washington, elk and bighorn sheep are fed throughout the winter. In concert with extensive fencing, the feeding program helps keep elk and bighorn sheep off adjacent private property where they may cause damage or contract diseases from domestic animals. A side benefit of this traditional feeding program is a public wildlife-viewing opportunity.
Post by: nwwanderer on January 30, 2019, 09:37:59 AM
Post by: SuperX on January 30, 2019, 09:55:03 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on January 30, 2019, 10:00:50 AM
Post by: greenhead_killer on January 30, 2019, 10:06:27 AM
Post by: SuperX on January 30, 2019, 10:10:42 AM
Maybe if they charged us to personally drag hay bales into the woods, they would be more open to focusing some effort on growing the herd.
Post by: Stein on January 30, 2019, 10:25:29 AM
interesting point about protecting farmers... so who PAYS for feeding and fence? I am guessing we do?
The option is to feed them which keep more alive and out of the orchard, or not feed them and more will die and get into crops where they have to be removed. It sounds like a decent bargain to me. There are bargains like this all over the west, the state comes in and makes it easier for the local farmers to live with a lot more big game animals.
Post by: SuperX on January 30, 2019, 10:27:38 AM
interesting point about protecting farmers... so who PAYS for feeding and fence? I am guessing we do?
The option is to feed them which keep more alive and out of the orchard, or not feed them and more will die and get into crops where they have to be removed. It sounds like a decent bargain to me. There are bargains like this all over the west, the state comes in and makes it easier for the local farmers to live with a lot more big game animals.
Only a bargain if it works. It doesn't seem to be
Post by: Stein on January 30, 2019, 10:47:32 AM
Post by: hunterofelk on January 30, 2019, 10:54:50 AM
Post by: Tracker0721 on January 30, 2019, 11:04:09 AM
Post by: SuperX on January 30, 2019, 11:24:55 AM
What would happen if the state stopped feeding them? Seems that it would be 100% chance of having less elk.maybe, that would assume that until the feeding program after I90 was built, there were no elk or few elk there. So much for the 'good old days' stories. TGFWDFW
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 30, 2019, 11:26:15 AM
If theres no winter, there's no feeding. Last two winters have been a prime example of this. Another added benefit to feeding elk is it keeps them off of mule deer winter brows. Dark times for mule deer in central washington. Over abundance of elk make it a lot harder.
Post by: 92xj on January 30, 2019, 11:28:59 AM
The state is acting like they want the mule deer gone, right?
Post by: 92xj on January 30, 2019, 11:29:19 AM
Post by: bobcat on January 30, 2019, 11:37:54 AM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 30, 2019, 11:50:53 AM
Yeah, but mule deer are worthless. Hopefully the whitetails will finally take over the mule deer range and they can live peacefully with the elk like they do in the NE and blues.dont give them any ideas :chuckle: >:(
The state is acting like they want the mule deer gone, right?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 30, 2019, 11:51:51 AM
Post by: Sandberm on January 30, 2019, 11:55:55 AM
Lets say that hay barn at oak creek stores roughly 430 ton...every other year they have to fill it back up, so thats 215 ton bought each year(on average) @$230/ton delivered...=roughly $50,000/year for feed for oak creek.
Loader tractor, army truck to spread hay, 4 months salary for a couple of guys to do the work, some minimal upkeep on buildings and equipment. Volunteers staff the little information building with the stuffed animals. I dropped a 20 in the donation jar the last time i was there.
So lets say the state budgets $100,000 per year for Oak creek. Sound ok?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on January 30, 2019, 12:07:20 PM
The real question is if you cut the feeding program in yakima, will the haters be ok with 6,000 ish elk vs 10,000ish elk :dunno:
Post by: Stein on January 30, 2019, 12:30:13 PM
The feeding areas also feed sheep.
Post by: SuperX on January 30, 2019, 12:45:34 PM
When the herd is shrinking, we have to examine our practices and figure out which practices are not working, then propose new ways to manage the herd so it prospers.
It seems like we are saving farmer's land by feeding elk, which is a good thing I guess. Do we do anything to save the elk besides keep farmers from killing them? Do they plant crops or give access or improve habitat for all the help they get from feeding elk in the winter?
Post by: SuperX on January 30, 2019, 12:51:39 PM
I don't know if it is still in place but Northwest Alloys used to sell WDFW up to 1100 tons a year for $1.
The feeding areas also feed sheep.
Good on them! As for sheep, we have to exterminate entire herds to keep pneumonia from killing them all. Concentrating them on a food pile would seem to be risky.
Post by: birddogdad on January 30, 2019, 12:58:47 PM
Post by: SuperX on January 30, 2019, 01:15:28 PM
the elk feed stations will turn into the wolf feed stations....that made me laugh out loud! Too true.
Post by: Rainier10 on January 30, 2019, 01:18:53 PM
the elk feed stations will turn into the wolf feed stations....So you get double your money's worth. Keep the elk and wolves out of the farm areas. That should decrease wolf impacts.....for a little while. :chuckle:
Post by: boneaddict on January 30, 2019, 01:24:40 PM
Post by: Naches Sportsman on January 30, 2019, 01:46:27 PM
There was a big cat working the sheep feeding station a couple years ago.
Some friends of the family have seen and heard the Tom a few times this month. They haven't seen any yearlings around this year nor any dead elk in the canal.
Post by: boneaddict on January 30, 2019, 01:47:52 PM