Post by: Britt-dog on October 13, 2024, 08:25:08 AM
I’m surprised we’re not already talking about this. The cougar season in 124, 127, & 130 was closed on October 1st. The quota was met before modern even started. 124 likely has a very high depredation take so there will be no hunting this season. Lots of guys were sold tags and may not even know they can’t use them. I predict a few people get jammed up over it. The commission is winning. :bash:
PMU Hunt Area Hunting Season Status
1 GMU 101 Sept. 1 - March 31 Open
2 GMU 105 Sept. 1 - March 31 Open
3 GMUs 108, 111 Sept. 1 - March 31 Open
4 GMU 113 Sept. 1 - March 31 Open
5 GMU 117 Sept. 1 - March 31 Open
6 GMU 121 Sept. 1 - March 31 Open
7 GMUs 124, 127, 130 Sept. 1 - March 31 Closed October 1
Post by: Ridgeratt on October 13, 2024, 08:39:51 AM
Post by: Britt-dog on October 13, 2024, 08:47:45 AM
Isn't the cougar tag sold for the state and not just specific gmu's?
Yes. There are a lot of people in these GMUs this weekend for the modern opener. Many will have no idea. Yes they are supposed to check. But many are un aware of the new system.
Post by: Ridgeratt on October 13, 2024, 09:21:30 AM
866-364-4868
Everyone carries a cell phone anymore. I've had it in my phone for several years.
Post by: Loup Loup on October 13, 2024, 09:47:06 AM
To have cougar season close one month into a seven month season is unsustainable.
These early closures show either how little season setters know about cougar populations.
Or, how they blatantly, in our faces, flaunt their “Wildlife management by Imagination”
Agendas.
Job security for the black ops houndsmen who are on the taxpayer funded payroll to kill nuisance cougars and throw them away.
Post by: Britt-dog on October 13, 2024, 10:32:19 AM
Post by: Ridgeratt on October 13, 2024, 10:54:11 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on October 16, 2024, 08:00:53 AM
Post by: Ridgeratt on October 16, 2024, 08:37:20 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on October 16, 2024, 04:08:13 PM
Just where are the quota numbers posted? They used to be in the game rules.I was wondering that as well.
Post by: Ridgeratt on October 16, 2024, 04:28:47 PM
https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/management/game-harvest/2023/cougar
Post by: javman on October 17, 2024, 12:09:06 PM
Just where are the quota numbers posted? They used to be in the game rules.I was wondering that as well.
Quotas are in the current version of the online regs:
https://www.eregulations.com/washington/hunting/cougar-general-seasons
Post by: rackattack on October 17, 2024, 03:36:15 PM
Post by: javman on October 17, 2024, 06:36:03 PM
564 Battle Ground closed before it even opened. Not sure what the original quota was. Populated area and you cannot legally hunt them due to the game department meeting the quota on problem cats. I got a big one on my camera the other night that I would love to get rid of. :bash:
564 quota is 1.
It changed to 1 in 2016.
In 2015 it was 2-3.
In 2014 it was 3-4 but that was combined with 568.
Post by: Ridgeratt on October 17, 2024, 06:39:27 PM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on October 17, 2024, 08:20:32 PM
Post by: HillHound on October 17, 2024, 10:06:36 PM
Post by: Limhangerslayer on October 17, 2024, 10:19:44 PM
Post by: 2MANY on October 18, 2024, 06:43:48 AM
Post by: Britt-dog on October 22, 2024, 02:59:25 PM
Post by: DryFlyGuy on October 22, 2024, 07:04:16 PM
Post by: Loup Loup on October 22, 2024, 07:43:12 PM
Only the maggots, and WDFW enforcement stand a chance to profit.
Post by: Cougartail on October 22, 2024, 08:56:49 PM
Post by: hunter399 on October 22, 2024, 09:22:31 PM
What a joke.
Probably not buying a tag next year. Since we will never have a season that's worth a 💩.
Post by: hunter399 on October 22, 2024, 09:26:09 PM
What unit did you kill it in? "The one that's open.." :chuckle:Legit right there. :chuckle:
Post by: Britt-dog on October 22, 2024, 10:38:46 PM
The commission is effectively limiting hunting opportunity. The department isn’t responsible for this, their just living with the new rules like we are. End result is less cats killed, less opportunity for hunters, and more people drop out. The Commission wins.
As far as just choosing any open unit. They take dna samples when you check in your cat. Whether they do anything with it is another question. I won’t risk it. Not worth it.
Post by: Loup Loup on October 23, 2024, 10:42:00 AM
Another thing this quota system does is the amount of kills that will not be reported to WDFW. Or will be reported to have happens in another unit. Therefore their population model gets even further out of wack by not being able to quantify mortality. It’s a cycle of complete failure. And the resource pays the price of mismanagement.
Post by: GASoline71 on October 23, 2024, 10:47:12 AM
Gary
Post by: jrebel on October 23, 2024, 10:51:18 AM
Post by: jrebel on October 23, 2024, 10:56:31 AM
Post by: jrebel on October 23, 2024, 10:59:05 AM
Post by: jrebel on October 23, 2024, 11:01:14 AM
Post by: jrebel on October 23, 2024, 11:05:33 AM
I have pics with cats less than 100 yards away from my cabin (cabin in the picture). I have cats walking shortly after my kids and hunting friends have walked out of the woods or driven by on quads.
I am one of many property owners that has numerous cats on camera proving the WDFW / Commission is full of crap with their estimates. We have been trying to actively hunt them this year and have not connected. Our area is very thick with brush and trees and finding cats is almost impossible. We have seen two this year, but only as they were turning and going into the brush. Was planning on giving it an honest effort this winter as it snowed.....but now I guess I will have to find another GMU allowing these cats to continue to breed and make more predators. This state sucks with wildlife management. :tup:
Post by: rackattack on October 23, 2024, 11:26:02 AM
Post by: hunter399 on October 23, 2024, 11:37:35 AM
These people (commission) are so out of touch on what is happening in the field.
My theory on cat population in NE WASHINGTON is this.
Wait for it,it's gonna include some common sense.
Wolves in area has caused the cat population to increase higher then it was before wolves.
These species are in direct competition for food sources.
Cats being the dominant species for so long. It has caused cats to kill more ungulates,also reproduce more.
It's a Jurassic park evolution. Cats are trying to remain the dominant species,only way to do that is kill more, reproduce more.
Of course it's just a theory.
Got a pic the other day ,cat with a collar,seemed like a lot of black on its tail.
Was starting to wonder if we was getting transplanted cats.
This is a spot where I've got cat pics before,never with a collar.
I'm also getting wolf pics in places I've never had wolf pic.
They never have a collar.
Post by: hunter399 on October 23, 2024, 11:59:13 AM
Which is crazy strange for our area.
But whatever hard to say what's going on here.
Maybe someone shot it ,that's why huckleberry closed.
Maybe our cats will evolve to black Panthers,heck I don't know.
Wolf pic ,same spot,deer population is pretty poor in this area obviously.
Post by: hunter399 on October 23, 2024, 12:12:54 PM
Like what was stated earlier it will only drive people to take matters into their own hands and not report harvest properly or at all. It's a shame the WDFW and biologist do not have final say on quota numbers and closing units with these new rules.Yup ,pretty much.
The old tree falls in the woods deal.
Post by: jrebel on October 23, 2024, 12:18:35 PM
Like what was stated earlier it will only drive people to take matters into their own hands and not report harvest properly or at all. It's a shame the WDFW and biologist do not have final say on quota numbers and closing units with these new rules.Yup ,pretty much.
The old tree falls in the woods deal.
It just sucks, because I want a late season cat with a nice coat to have full mounted for the cabin. Now, if you don't shoot it in Sept., when the coats are thin....you won't have the chance to shoot one at all. Just bums me out that our state sucks so bad!!
Post by: hunter399 on October 23, 2024, 12:26:09 PM
I feel exactly the same. I went in September,you have to fight the bee now to cougar hunt. With the fact that cats are still feasting on fawns and what not. So getting them to come in to the call is harder. It's just fun to get out to do something in the winter,when the woods are a little quieter.Like what was stated earlier it will only drive people to take matters into their own hands and not report harvest properly or at all. It's a shame the WDFW and biologist do not have final say on quota numbers and closing units with these new rules.Yup ,pretty much.
The old tree falls in the woods deal.
It just sucks, because I want a late season cat with a nice coat to have full mounted for the cabin. Now, if you don't shoot it in Sept., when the coats are thin....you won't have the chance to shoot one at all. Just bums me out that our state sucks so bad!!
I think they could of kept a general season till January 1.
Then closed units that are over quota. They can count all the cats they want. But with no general season, fighting the bee this September. I'll be rethinking my big game package that I've bought for many many years in a row.
Post by: Limhangerslayer on October 23, 2024, 10:55:44 PM
I think a lot of people still don’t understand that the commission changed what counts towards the quota this year. Road kill and depredations now count in addition to hunters take. The quotas haven’t changed just what counts towards them. These early closures are the result.i think a lot of people do. If I had killed it legally vs self defense. There was no difference. I’m pretty sure they did move the goal posts back a little too.
The commission is effectively limiting hunting opportunity. The department isn’t responsible for this, their just living with the new rules like we are. End result is less cats killed, less opportunity for hunters, and more people drop out. The Commission wins.
As far as just choosing any open unit. They take dna samples when you check in your cat. Whether they do anything with it is another question. I won’t risk it. Not worth it.
Post by: Roslyn Rambler on October 24, 2024, 08:14:35 PM
I asked a couple of questions... ( thought I'd share )
"Does WDFW have any statistics on sheep predation from lions?"
"Also, I noticed #33 with ear tag and gps collar? Is that individual a adolescent ram. I couldn't quite tell"
Answer
"There are currently 7 GPS-collared sheep in the Chelan Butte, only one of which is a ram. Cougars are a natural predator of bighorn sheep, and ewes and lambs are most susceptible to predation. While it’s a small sample size, of the 10 sheep we collared this year 2 of them have been cougar-related mortalities. Of all the herds we have in Washington excessive predation isn’t a cause for concern"
Uuuuuu...20%... TWENTY PERCENT! Isn't a cause for concern?
Like others, I could also add endless cougar trail cam videos to this thread, but we all know the explosion in the lion population
My closing comment is, TWENTY PERCENT!
Post by: Ridgeratt on November 08, 2024, 10:47:41 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on November 08, 2024, 11:06:30 AM
105 and 113 are the only 2 units left open in the NE.I was just looking at that. Quota met, don’t want to harm that population with overharvest
Post by: bearpaw on November 08, 2024, 11:17:34 AM
105 and 113 are the only 2 units left open in the NE.I was just looking at that. Quota met, don’t want to harm that population with overharvest
The Washington F&G Commission has gone full bore anti-hunting, this is only the beginning of how they will destroy hunting in WA.
Post by: Ridgeratt on November 08, 2024, 12:14:02 PM
105 and 113 are the only 2 units left open in the NE.I was just looking at that. Quota met, don’t want to harm that population with overharvest
Would be helpful if they posted how many have been harvested so far.
The Washington F&G Commission has gone full bore anti-hunting, this is only the beginning of how they will destroy hunting in WA.
Post by: hunter399 on November 08, 2024, 12:47:48 PM
105 and 113 are the only 2 units left open in the NE.I was just looking at that. Quota met, don’t want to harm that population with overharvest
Freaking joke
Most rural areas of Washington,most likely highest densities of cats and we are shut down.
Same ol sad story of under estimated predator population.
Only to shut us down.
Between the wolves and cats now,we are screwed.
There's a reason quota got hit so quickly, probably cause a lot more cats then they know about.
Post by: hunter399 on November 08, 2024, 01:12:04 PM
It's a hunt I liked to do after deer season closed ,woods are quiet.
Never see a dollar from me for a cougar tag.
I promise.
Post by: time2hunt on November 08, 2024, 03:41:22 PM
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: shootnrun on November 10, 2024, 08:16:26 PM
Post by: Taco280AI on November 10, 2024, 08:35:06 PM
Did my part to fill the SE quota. Saw 3 and only got 1 of them, tho.
One is better than none :tup:
Post by: hunter399 on November 11, 2024, 06:53:24 AM
Heck ya it is.Did my part to fill the SE quota. Saw 3 and only got 1 of them, tho.
One is better than none :tup:
Congrats 👍
Wishing you all luck,if your unit is open.
Post by: Britt-dog on November 11, 2024, 10:21:39 AM
Did my part to fill the SE quota. Saw 3 and only got 1 of them, tho.
Good Job. Hopefully there was a lot of hunter take in the units that have closed. I am curious to know how many are state depredation and vehicle kills vs hunter take.
Post by: hunter399 on November 22, 2024, 09:30:53 AM
I'll ask here before I email wdfw.
Our licence year is March 31-march 31.
Does anyone know what the quota year is ?
What I'm trying to figure out is , safety removal after Jan 1 .
Are those cats gonna count towards our 2025 season.
If they do, probably won't be a 2025 season in the NE.
Quota year, licence year should be the same ,but I don't know.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on December 16, 2024, 02:15:35 AM
Post by: Scruffy on December 16, 2024, 03:20:27 AM
https://nwsportsmanmag.com/wdfw-commission-approves-bear-cougar-hunting-frameworks-for-public-comment/
Very good write up, I was at the meeting and it summed it up pretty well.
Post by: Ridgeratt on December 16, 2024, 06:27:54 AM
Post by: nwwanderer on December 16, 2024, 06:34:35 AM
Post by: Stein on December 16, 2024, 10:32:32 AM
105 and 113 are the only 2 units left open in the NE.I was just looking at that. Quota met, don’t want to harm that population with overharvest
Freaking joke
Most rural areas of Washington,most likely highest densities of cats and we are shut down.
Same ol sad story of under estimated predator population.
Only to shut us down.
Between the wolves and cats now,we are screwed.
There's a reason quota got hit so quickly, probably cause a lot more cats then they know about.
I think they just cut and pasted from the salmon policy.
Not harvesting enough - lower limits and shut early, obviously not enough resource
Harvesting too much - lower limits and shut early, taking more than plan (no, it doesn't matter if the original population estimate was wrong by 400%).
So, unless we harvest at the exact daily or weekly rate that is sitting in cell D24 on someone's spreadsheet, the outcome is lower limits and shut early.
Post by: Meathunter06 on December 16, 2024, 12:04:52 PM
Post by: CarbonHunter on December 16, 2024, 01:39:20 PM
Post by: ShedHead20 on December 16, 2024, 02:16:57 PM
It never closes :chuckle:
SSS is not only for big gray and black doggies, but the cats too
Post by: Skyvalhunter on December 16, 2024, 03:35:13 PM
Post by: hunter399 on December 16, 2024, 05:03:57 PM
I think they are or at least some on the commission are realizing that Wa outdoorsmen are sick of them. If there was a survey of what the commissions approval rating by outdoorsmen I would be willing to say it's around 90 percent against them.90 percent might be on the conservative side,most likely more.
Post by: highcountry_hunter on December 16, 2024, 06:40:39 PM
I think they are or at least some on the commission are realizing that Wa outdoorsmen are sick of them. If there was a survey of what the commissions approval rating by outdoorsmen I would be willing to say it's around 90 percent against them.This is true, I think they realize sportsman are sick of the crap they’ve been pulling. But…do they care? And does it matter? How many of our emails have they ignored?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: hunter399 on December 16, 2024, 06:51:50 PM
A LOT! of ignored emails.I think they are or at least some on the commission are realizing that Wa outdoorsmen are sick of them. If there was a survey of what the commissions approval rating by outdoorsmen I would be willing to say it's around 90 percent against them.This is true, I think they realize sportsman are sick of the crap they’ve been pulling. But…do they care? And does it matter? How many of our emails have they ignored?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tossed like an old bandaid. Lol
Post by: MADMAX on December 18, 2024, 06:18:49 PM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DleozhwImaY
https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisdorsey/2024/12/18/how-sportsmen-defeated-a-colorado-ballot-measure-to-ban-mountain-lion-hunting/
Post by: Chesapeake on December 18, 2024, 08:06:10 PM
Post by: Roslyn Rambler on January 26, 2025, 09:30:38 AM
So I got a question.....???
I'll ask here before I email wdfw.
Our licence year is March 31-march 31.
Does anyone know what the quota year is ?
What I'm trying to figure out is , safety removal after Jan 1 .
Are those cats gonna count towards our 2025 season.
If they do, probably won't be a 2025 season in the NE.
Quota year, licence year should be the same ,but I don't know.
Here's how I understand it. The new quota count will start with a clean slate on April 1st 2025. The quota count is open for exactly 1 year. Starts again 1st of April 2026.
The season is from, and, continuing into this year, September 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025.
7 months of hunting, 12 months of quota count
This is the 3rd lion roadkill I've seen in the past 18 months. All within the 336 & 335 units
Post by: Roslyn Rambler on January 26, 2025, 09:43:25 AM
Did my part to fill the SE quota. Saw 3 and only got 1 of them, tho.
Good Job. Hopefully there was a lot of hunter take in the units that have closed. I am curious to know how many are state depredation and vehicle kills vs hunter take.
I fear many GMU's won't have a opening day /season
2 different cats & different from the previous I posted
Post by: hunter399 on January 26, 2025, 09:50:46 AM
Thanks for info.So I got a question.....???
I'll ask here before I email wdfw.
Our licence year is March 31-march 31.
Does anyone know what the quota year is ?
What I'm trying to figure out is , safety removal after Jan 1 .
Are those cats gonna count towards our 2025 season.
If they do, probably won't be a 2025 season in the NE.
Quota year, licence year should be the same ,but I don't know.
Here's how I understand it. The new quota count will start with a clean slate on April 1st 2025. The quota count is open for exactly 1 year. Starts again 1st of April 2026.
The season is from, and, continuing into this year, September 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025.
7 months of hunting, 12 months of quota count
This is the 3rd lion roadkill I've seen in the past 18 months. All within the 336 & 335 units
GMU where I hunt was closed mid- October - November.
I'll probably buy a deer/elk combo,add a bear tag .
Just skip cougar hunting, until we have permanent season.
Thanks for info.
Post by: dreadi on January 26, 2025, 11:21:30 AM
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07/02 NFA Dealer
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Post by: danger on January 31, 2025, 03:24:01 PM
Post by: shootnrun on February 01, 2025, 03:15:39 PM
Post by: avidnwoutdoorsman on February 07, 2025, 03:56:08 PM
Here is what is proposed: https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/about/regulations/filings/2025/combined-25-04-101-ss-cougar.pdf (https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/about/regulations/filings/2025/combined-25-04-101-ss-cougar.pdf)
Here is where to comment: https://publicinput.com/2025sscougar (https://publicinput.com/2025sscougar)
My comment... take it or leave it
"If Unclear Opposed as written and suggest the following changes to amend what is written.
Amend proposal for WAC 220-415-100 as follows.
The purpose of the proposed changes to this WAC are to specify the harvest caps for cougar harvest seasons by Cougar
Hunt Management Unit (previously PMUs), to specify what mortalities count towards the cap (harvest and conflict), and to
specify that the cougar hotline and website will be updated for closures weekly. Specifically, the amendments, if adopted as
proposed, do the following:
1. All cougars harvested over the age of 2yrs old count towards the total cougar mortality cap
2. Cougar hunting season will begin Aug 1 and end March 31 (starts the same day as Bear Season)
3. Only hunter harvest cougar mortality shall count toward the total cougar mortality cap
4. After January 1, the season shall close in a Cougar Hunt Management Units if or once the cap has been reached.
5. Closures will occur weekly on Thursdays throughout the harvest season. This will allow hunters to check closures prior to the weekend so they can hunt remotely without the need to verify if their hunt unit is open for cougar harvest.
Harvest framework: Harvest caps are limits set on cougar mortality by Cougar Hunt Management Unit. Cougar Data Analysis Units are large, population-scale areas in Washington being used to analyze mortality at the cougar population level rather than the Hunt Management Unit level. Caps are set using the following structure: In Cougar Data Analysis Units where the total cougar mortality exceeds 23% when averaged over the prior complete three-year period, the Cougar Hunt Management Unit within that Cougar Data Analysis Units that are over 23% receive a 16% cap until the next three-year season setting time period; the remaining Cougar Hunt Management Units receive a 23% cap. In Cougar Data Analysis Units where the total cougar mortality remains below 23% when averaged over the prior complete three-year period, the Cougar Hunt Management Units within those Cougar Data Analysis Units will receive a 23% cap. Caps will be reevaluated at the next
three-year season setting period"
Instead of just saying opposed or saying we have too many cougars I tried to change it to what my compromised rules for cougar hunting would be or what I actually think they should be
Science proved that the prior age maturity for counting allowed cougars to thrive in WA state
Science proved that going off hunter harvest and not total mortality allowed cougars to thrive in WA state
Science proved that have a general season until Dec 31 allowed cougars to thrice in WA state and always allowed for an opportunity to go try to find one
I was at and listened at the meetings when the bio's spoke about what sustainable take is and there is no question that 16% is sustainable and it could be as high as 23% possibly more. Harvest numbers clearly show in all game species how the population is doing. If opportunity doesn't change and hunters are taking too many animals then harvest rates eventually drop indicating over harvest. If opportunity doesn't change and hunters aren't taking enough animals the harvest rates will continue to climb. It was really interesting to see the graphs of cougar hunting with hounds, without hound hunting, and then stacked with human caused mortality. What they ignored is that it was almost stagnant the last decade. You could draw a straight line through the last 8-10 years and you would be +/- 20 cougars of that line. This indicates that the population WAS stable (not declining and really not growing either) and what we had in place was good. With this new proposal as written we may never be able to see that true date. The only date will be how many units are closed before they can ever open which is the goal. To get them all closed and make conflict killing the only management tool of cougars in WA like CA where more cougars are killed by conflict take now then when hunters were allowed to hunt cougars.