Post by: RUTNBULL1 on November 19, 2010, 10:07:04 PM
Post by: washelkhntr on November 19, 2010, 10:20:22 PM
Post by: SemperFidelis97 on November 19, 2010, 10:21:37 PM
Post by: Baggman on November 20, 2010, 10:30:54 AM
Post by: Tman on November 20, 2010, 11:06:09 AM
Post by: BAR C3 on November 20, 2010, 11:31:27 AM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on November 20, 2010, 11:38:45 AM
:jacked:
No argument that WDFW has room for improvement, but the biggest problem here is human population density and habitat loss, not WDFW. To quote Pogo, "we have met the enemy and he is us."
When I worked for Wyoming, with less than 500k people in a state half again as big as Washington; our biggest challenge was getting people to kill enough does and cows. Reduced price cow/calf and doe/fawn tags, extremely reduced price nonresident doe/fawn and cow/calf tags, liberal limits, prime hunting times, seasons that were months long for over the counter tags - there weren't enough hunters to get the job done, even though 2/3 of the adult males and 37% of all residents hunted.
When I worked for Washington, the trick was to try and divvy up a much smaller resource among way too many hunters. Here an antlerless tag is a trophy, most general seasons are a zoo, and in general ethics suck because there is such intense competition for that limited harvestable surplus (and, on the flip side, good Washington hunters tend to be better hunters thaN WY resident hunters, skill and effort-wise). Crappy season timing, antler point restrictions, etc., all designed to REDUCE success and PROTECT the herds while maintaining the general seasons most hunters want. Even though those hunters are only a tiny percentage of the human population.
Montana's somewhere in between, but a lot closer to Wyoming than Washington, in terms of opportunity and abundance. Last time I tallied up the big game and human population numbers, Wyoming had about 45 times more big game animals per human resident than Washington: Wyoming had around three big game animals per resident, Washington has around 16 residents for every big game animal.
This is why it is STUPID for WDFW to suggest increasing nonresident hunting to raise revenues. If Washington offered what nonresident hunters want, they would already be here (and are, to a small degree). WDFW is already struggling to cut the pie into 46 pieces just to feed resident demand. There are only so many days in the fall, and only so many vacation days per year - few hunters are going to come to Washington FOR THE HUNTING in the fall, when the opportunities are so much better in other western states. To hunt with family, or incidental to a business or family trip, sure - but not for the hunting.
:twocents:
Post by: BAR C3 on November 20, 2010, 12:54:43 PM
This state could flourish with hunting and fishing if they cared. They want to close a bunch of fish hatcheries because of the budget. How about pump some money into them and put Washington on the map for fishing? They get by with bare minimum. The game biologist should alll get fired! Perfect example, the Palouse late firearm hunt is permit only. They say the population is suffering. Try going up Northeast (Republic & Curlew) were everyone hunts, the deer are gone!
I live in the Cheney unit and have 20 bucks coming into two cameras and 8 of them are wall hangers. We are talking about a five mile radius. :yike: So I can't even hunt my own property unless I want to rifle hunt and draw a permit. :mgun: :mor:
The WDFW manages people not wildlife! Bottomline.
BY THE WAY MOSSBACK 2, NICE BUCK!
Post by: elkslare on December 06, 2010, 11:49:40 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on December 12, 2010, 12:44:58 PM
The alternative of course, is for us to do what Oregon did; go to a draw only system. It would improve the hunting slightly, but we will never be Montana, Wyoming or Colorado. It Sucks. But it is what it is. :twocents:
Great buck BTW. Wanna see your buddies' buck too...
Post by: RUTNBULL1 on December 12, 2010, 06:54:42 PM
I was part of the Montana Invasion Force this year too. Just no way for Washington to compete honestly. We have too many hunters, not enough game. Montana gets to manage their game, Washington has to manage the hunters. If they are to blame for something it is this; that they have given up managing either, and are just managing for Money at this point...Yes they are all about managing money and alot of it to boot and more to come to line their pockets this next year with the rumor of a minimum 40% increase. All units east of the Cascades, they need to close all the gates year around in some areas and others only when a hunting season is not in progress, start controlling the predator population as it should be and stimy this reintroduction and rapidly growing population of wolves into this state, then implement a total draw for the eastside for all elk and deer and for all weapon users for atleast five years, then revisit the idea of opening the units that have met there objectives. I know people will disagree, but not controlling these area's are leaving it wide open for poachers and almost year around tribal hunting which our state game populations can't survive this to many more years before being non exsistant. It would be nice if our younger generations have something to hunt in the years to come........... :twocents:
The alternative of course, is for us to do what Oregon did; go to a draw only system. It would improve the hunting slightly, but we will never be Montana, Wyoming or Colorado. It Sucks. But it is what it is. :twocents:
Great buck BTW. Wanna see your buddies' buck too...
Post by: GlennGTR on December 12, 2010, 07:02:37 PM
Post by: RUTNBULL1 on December 12, 2010, 07:06:07 PM
Post by: 400out on December 12, 2010, 07:18:51 PM
Post by: RUTNBULL1 on December 12, 2010, 07:20:54 PM
Post by: Lightning_Rider on December 12, 2010, 07:21:03 PM
Post by: RUTNBULL1 on December 12, 2010, 07:22:59 PM
Very nice bucks! To bad you couldn't get on the one in the spotter :drool: But you did just fine anyways :IBCOOL:Yes, definitely a shooter but it was also on private property, but still great to see them and get pic's. :P
Post by: CountryslickR on December 12, 2010, 07:28:13 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on December 12, 2010, 09:15:55 PM
Post by: bullchaser on December 13, 2010, 07:33:52 PM
Post by: bobcat on December 13, 2010, 07:39:29 PM
sweet hunt. do you mind telling me what kind of tent that is?
Looks like a Cabela's Alaknak. :dunno:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/Tents/View-All-Tents|/pc/104795280/c/104779080/sc/105517980/Cabelas-Ultimate-Alaknak8482-Tent/732548.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FN%3D1102375 (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/Tents/View-All-Tents|/pc/104795280/c/104779080/sc/105517980/Cabelas-Ultimate-Alaknak8482-Tent/732548.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FN%3D1102375)
Post by: RUTNBULL1 on December 13, 2010, 09:35:49 PM
sweet hunt. do you mind telling me what kind of tent that is?
Looks like a Cabela's Alaknak. :dunno:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/Tents/View-All-Tents|/pc/104795280/c/104779080/sc/105517980/Cabelas-Ultimate-Alaknak8482-Tent/732548.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FN%3D1102375 (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/Tents/View-All-Tents|/pc/104795280/c/104779080/sc/105517980/Cabelas-Ultimate-Alaknak8482-Tent/732548.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FN%3D1102375)
:yeah: With the vestibule, don't leave home without it! ;)
Post by: Huntboy on December 13, 2010, 09:46:50 PM
Post by: elkslare on December 14, 2010, 09:10:15 AM