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Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: PA BEN on January 04, 2018, 02:29:14 PM


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Title: Overabundance of elk
Post by: PA BEN on January 04, 2018, 02:29:14 PM
https://www.gohunt.com/read/news/washington-seeks-solutions-to-overabundant-elk-population#gs.oFhbbp4
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: elkboy on January 04, 2018, 02:34:38 PM
Seems more like an issue of crowding on winter range and associated annoyance to ranchers and motorists, rather than region-wide overabundance...
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: bowhunterforever on January 04, 2018, 03:00:20 PM
Seems more like an issue of crowding on winter range and associated annoyance to ranchers and motorists, rather than region-wide overabundance...
:yeah:
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: dvolmer on January 04, 2018, 03:35:45 PM
Seems more like an issue of crowding on winter range and associated annoyance to ranchers and motorists, rather than region-wide overabundance...
Totally true statement above.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: C-Money on January 04, 2018, 04:15:54 PM
Maybe if they opened up the lower green dots to ATVs and motor bikes, the elk would stay closer to West Bar and off the freeway? Seems like the problem started when they closed access due to wintering elk years ago...guess that could open up a whole new can of worms though.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: pianoman9701 on January 04, 2018, 04:20:47 PM
I can't wait to see the harvest numbers from this year to show how over-abundant our elk herds are.  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on January 04, 2018, 05:08:35 PM
What a joke.  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: NRA4LIFE on January 04, 2018, 05:12:52 PM
Does anyone know if 6500 is an accurate number?  That seems a bit high.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: rsrubalcaba on January 04, 2018, 06:15:30 PM
Idiot propaganda.  Private land owners cut off access to hunters and then complain when the ungulates destroy their property. :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Netminder01 on January 04, 2018, 06:15:53 PM
I can't wait to see the harvest numbers from this year to show how over-abundant our elk herds are.  :rolleyes:

 :yeah:

I'm in the statistic of tag soup.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: CarbonHunter on January 04, 2018, 06:16:50 PM
According to WDFW there was about 5K when they counted in March of 2016.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on January 04, 2018, 06:21:24 PM
According to WDFW there was about 5K when they counted in March of 2016.

So it went up 1500 in one year, I highly doubt it.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: 3nails on January 04, 2018, 06:33:53 PM
 When I first started hunting W. Montana you could hardly hunt a draw in the mountains without bumping elk and you rarely saw them in the flats where the private property was. Now those same draws are virtually void of elk and the flats are overrun with them. They were forced down by the burgeoning wolf population. I wonder if this could be happening here.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: ribka on January 04, 2018, 07:49:17 PM
I can't wait to see the harvest numbers from this year to show how over-abundant our elk herds are.  :rolleyes:

So they are proposing to go draw only for archery cow elk this year but they have too many  elk? Does WDFW bios have any idea how to manage game herds?

I know that the big and extremely noisy wind generators were constructed and placed  in the wintering grounds of elk and deer around Ellensburg by the global warming politicians

Thanks tree huggers


its a shame what has happened to the world class elk hunting in Idaho and Montana
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: pd on January 04, 2018, 08:56:59 PM
I can't wait to see the harvest numbers from this year to show how over-abundant our elk herds are.  :rolleyes:


On that note, I am really looking forward to the 2017 harvest data.  I have a feeling many areas were down by significant amounts.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Tbar on January 04, 2018, 08:57:28 PM
There will be significant harvest under the damage program because of the legislative mandate.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: idaho guy on January 05, 2018, 11:10:05 AM
When I first started hunting W. Montana you could hardly hunt a draw in the mountains without bumping elk and you rarely saw them in the flats where the private property was. Now those same draws are virtually void of elk and the flats are overrun with them. They were forced down by the burgeoning wolf population. I wonder if this could be happening here.



I have seen this in Montana and even more so in Idaho-Funny thing is people that hunt next to town always say the wolves are not a problem I see elk all the time! They just don't know they all got pushed down there from the wolves ha ha kind of funny but not really
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: CarbonHunter on January 05, 2018, 07:50:36 PM
When I first started hunting W. Montana you could hardly hunt a draw in the mountains without bumping elk and you rarely saw them in the flats where the private property was. Now those same draws are virtually void of elk and the flats are overrun with them. They were forced down by the burgeoning wolf population. I wonder if this could be happening here.
:yeah:
Seen it in Idaho and Montana and we will soon see it on the east slopes of the cascades.


I have seen this in Montana and even more so in Idaho-Funny thing is people that hunt next to town always say the wolves are not a problem I see elk all the time! They just don't know they all got pushed down there from the wolves ha ha kind of funny but not really
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: CAMPMEAT on January 05, 2018, 08:22:13 PM
I know of a wolf consultant that got $425000 to help figure out the wolf problem, Why not waste another $425,000 on her, instead of extending the season and increasing the OTC tags there..? That's just too easy and simple and cost effective.  :bash:
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: winshooter88 on January 05, 2018, 09:33:05 PM
According to the most recent numbers put out at the last GMAC meeting the Colockum herd numbers are more like 4300 animals. The elk are pushed to I-90 and beyond by people using the area between the current winter road closure and the freeway, the current winter closure still leaves a lot of area open for winter use.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: cryder on January 06, 2018, 06:41:44 AM
Wwwhhheewww !!! ,,,, I think I just opened the cavern door in a unused part of my mind , now that you guys figgered all this out , can you pleases tell me where all these critters will be around September 12th , and try to be close to a opened parking space please. Anyways , gotta go look at a map , cryder out !
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Randysonia on January 06, 2018, 09:33:25 AM
Ask the old timers! The ones who know what to do with the situation. This is Elk winter range and habitat. If you want to keep the Elk off the freeway and from going over to the Yakima Training Center you are going to have to build an Elk fence. Period! Or put in an Elk feeding station somewhere up in the Quilomene to keep them up there. >:(  Use some of the Sportsman's money out of the general fund or DOL. Get rid of that wolf expert the WDFW are paying for and wasting money on. This stuff isn't rocket science and people need to get to work and do something!
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: elkchaser54 on January 06, 2018, 09:46:32 AM
Idiot propaganda.  Private land owners cut off access to hunters and then complain when the ungulates destroy their property. :'( :'( :'(

EXACTLY!!!!!  National Forests aren't good habitat anymore and now the state will let the farmers harvest them as "damage control" while the rest of us hunters chase the few left in the forests.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: brush hunter on January 06, 2018, 09:49:31 AM
I can't wait to see the harvest numbers from this year to show how over-abundant our elk herds are.  :rolleyes:

Better yet the winter kill numbers
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: CarbonHunter on January 07, 2018, 07:30:34 AM
If there is such an over abundance why did the WDFW cut the rifle cow tags by 90% last year? Seams like they just left more cows to winter on the farmers fields.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: NOCK NOCK on January 07, 2018, 07:45:39 AM
Wwwhhheewww !!! ,,,, I think I just opened the cavern door in a unused part of my mind , now that you guys figgered all this out , can you pleases tell me where all these critters will be around September 12th , and try to be close to a opened parking space please. Anyways , gotta go look at a map , cryder out !


I am going to tuck away this cryderism phrase in my brain.......for future use, pure gold cryder :tup: :chuckle: :chuckle:

For your ?, most of them should be about 20-25 miles due north, but much more spread out.  ;)
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Calvin Rayborn on January 07, 2018, 11:08:51 PM
What a joke.  :chuckle:
:yeah:
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Killmore on January 08, 2018, 07:52:51 AM
They need to start to save for a elk fence, Did they forget that's what they did back in the 60s on the west side of Kittitas county that runs from Easton to Manastash.. If they can pay some wolf specialist $425000 I would think they can find money for a fence..
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Bullkllr on January 08, 2018, 07:55:37 AM
They need to start to save for a elk fence, Did they forget that's what they did back in the 60s on the west side of Kittitas county that runs from Easton to Manastash.. If they can pay some wolf specialist $425000 I would think they can find money for a fence..

 :yeah:

BTW, they didn't pay the wolf specialist 425K. The 425K was for a contract extension. The total was 1.6 MILLION!
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Killmore on January 08, 2018, 07:57:43 AM
So that would pay for a lot of fence..
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Randysonia on January 08, 2018, 08:44:59 AM
They cut the elk tags back because the elk aren't there anymore. Especially in the Yakima area and it's not because of the wolf or winter kill!  :bash:
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: huntnphool on January 08, 2018, 09:13:01 AM
If there is such an over abundance why did the WDFW cut the rifle cow tags by 90% last year? Seams like they just left more cows to winter on the farmers fields.

 Regardless the total number, WDFW maintains the ideal bull/cow ratio for maximum hunting success and herd sustainability. They have mastered this science with the deer herds in the Wenatchee and Methow Valleys for years. :tup:
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Skyvalhunter on January 08, 2018, 09:55:29 AM
Ideal for their definition is a whole lot different than what the areas can sustain. Their Ideal definition wont even be able to sustain the wolf population soon enough.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: GreggHunts2hard4u on January 08, 2018, 04:00:28 PM
Wildlife Overpass? Im sure there are pros and cons...one con being it ain't cheap. In theory putting up game fences along I90 and a wildlife overpass in the area where most of the elk to vehicle accidents occur would benefit. Obviously its not going to benefit our wallets, but I see where it can benefit this issue
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Tbar on January 08, 2018, 05:22:37 PM
They cut the elk tags back because the elk aren't there anymore. Especially in the Yakima area and it's not because of the wolf or winter kill!  :bash:
Why are the elk gone?
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: CarbonHunter on January 08, 2018, 05:30:22 PM
Wildlife Overpass? Im sure there are pros and cons...one con being it ain't cheap. In theory putting up game fences along I90 and a wildlife overpass in the area where most of the elk to vehicle accidents occur would benefit. Obviously its not going to benefit our wallets, but I see where it can benefit this issue

I would rather see wildlife overpasses for the critters than the cap that Seattle want to build over I5 for the liberals.  I guarantee building wildlife overpasses in eastern Washington is cheaper than a cap on I5 in Seattle.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: carlyoungs on January 08, 2018, 06:09:46 PM
Just curious what is the cap you are talking about?
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: BNAElkhntr on January 08, 2018, 06:19:25 PM

They cut the elk tags back because the elk aren't there anymore. Especially in the Yakima area and it's not because of the wolf or winter kill!  :bash:
Why are the elk gone?
Mostly 2 Leggars  inmho

Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: MR5x5 on January 09, 2018, 12:14:54 PM
You do know that cap is in progress.....just east of Lake Kachess.

And that is my blind on top!  :yike:
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: CP on January 09, 2018, 02:51:52 PM
You do know that cap is in progress.....just east of Lake Kachess.

And that is my blind on top!  :yike:

True spike only?
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: snake on January 09, 2018, 03:26:51 PM
Still TONS of elk out there! Overcrowded, probably not.  Great hunting to be had all over WA!  GO get it!
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: GreggHunts2hard4u on January 09, 2018, 07:50:17 PM
 :yeah:
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: snake on January 09, 2018, 08:02:52 PM
If there is such an over abundance why did the WDFW cut the rifle cow tags by 90% last year? Seams like they just left more cows to winter on the farmers fields.

 Regardless the total number, WDFW maintains the ideal bull/cow ratio for maximum hunting success and herd sustainability. They have mastered this science with the deer herds in the Wenatchee and Methow Valleys for years. :tup:
I'll take some of the pink kool-aid please.
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: wolfbait on January 09, 2018, 08:38:53 PM
When I first started hunting W. Montana you could hardly hunt a draw in the mountains without bumping elk and you rarely saw them in the flats where the private property was. Now those same draws are virtually void of elk and the flats are overrun with them. They were forced down by the burgeoning wolf population. I wonder if this could be happening here.



I have seen this in Montana and even more so in Idaho-Funny thing is people that hunt next to town always say the wolves are not a problem I see elk all the time! They just don't know they all got pushed down there from the wolves ha ha kind of funny but not really

 :yeah:  :bash: :bash:

Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Randysonia on January 11, 2018, 10:18:19 AM
They cut the elk tags back because the elk aren't there anymore. Especially in the Yakima area and it's not because of the wolf or winter kill!  :bash:
Why are the elk gone?

Because certain people in their 4 wheel drives are shooting them year around! :yeah:
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Randysonia on January 11, 2018, 10:21:02 AM
Still TONS of elk out there! Overcrowded, probably not.  Great hunting to be had all over WA!  GO get it!

Yea Right! :bdid:
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Mfowl on January 11, 2018, 12:25:40 PM
Still TONS of elk out there! Overcrowded, probably not.  Great hunting to be had all over WA!  GO get it!

Yea Right! :bdid:

Thats funny!

I think we have an overabundance of poor management! They tell us there was high mortality from winter kill so tags are reduced, now theres still too many??? Lame!
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: buglebrush on January 12, 2018, 02:33:11 PM
When I first started hunting W. Montana you could hardly hunt a draw in the mountains without bumping elk and you rarely saw them in the flats where the private property was. Now those same draws are virtually void of elk and the flats are overrun with them. They were forced down by the burgeoning wolf population. I wonder if this could be happening here.



I have seen this in Montana and even more so in Idaho-Funny thing is people that hunt next to town always say the wolves are not a problem I see elk all the time! They just don't know they all got pushed down there from the wolves ha ha kind of funny but not really

 :yeah:  :bash: :bash:

Exactly.  Not sure why I still hunt so far back in.  I guess it's the nostalgia...  :bash:
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: hunter399 on January 12, 2018, 02:51:43 PM
Wildlife Overpass? Im sure there are pros and cons...one con being it ain't cheap. In theory putting up game fences along I90 and a wildlife overpass in the area where most of the elk to vehicle accidents occur would benefit. Obviously its not going to benefit our wallets, but I see where it can benefit this issue
Can I set up trail cam,or tree stand on that overpass it looks like a good spot. :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: Special T on January 12, 2018, 02:55:53 PM
I'm pretty sure the state will have one up. They installed them under the bridges  to see which animals were using them.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Overabundance of elk
Post by: CarbonHunter on January 13, 2018, 06:58:45 AM
I'm pretty sure the state will have one up. They installed them under the bridges  to see which animals were using them.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

I seem to remember a news report where they said most of those cameras got stolen.  The state might of learned that the cameras will just disappear again and might not put any up... oh wait this is Washington... I’m sure they will install multiple cameras to be stolen on the new overpass.
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