Is Eastern Washington Elk Hunting dying? Should it be with all the money spent by hunters? Recognizing that the number of hunters seems to be falling each year. Likelihood of success weighs heavily on that. How do we as the shepherds of Big Game in WA resuscitate it? Not saying no one gets elk East. But I feel that numbers and opportunities are WAY down!
Got home Monday night from 11 days. Bald Mountain Canteen Flats. NO and I mean NO elk. Even the few tracks found were from before the freeze blast and snow drop. Essentially nothing after that.
Many big camps did not show, likely due to fire and pass closures as well, but also slow previous years. Several other camps that usually stay all season left early empty handed. Very LITTLE shooting. Scarily quiet! Same Little Naches Drainage. Same Ravens Roost. Same Bethel. Maybe I am missing something. But we broke up and visited all of these areas and talked to those we encountered. From our ridge top we can hear shots from all over the area. Across 410, down the valley on both sides.
Only a few spikes taken in my general area the whole season, that I know of? One early big bull by accident. EVERYONE I talked to, and I talked to a lot including Game Dept, was disappointed.
One encounter commented he saw more game in one day in Montana than he has seen here in 5 years.
Didn't clarify if he meant 5 days but it was said pretty strongly. One from Idaho said virtually the same thing?
Two major fires in three years in this area. Then Game Dept controlled burns even during hunting season both times.
Road grading and surface rolling throughout both sides of the Rock Creek Drainage. Scheduled during the middle of the hunting season?
One controlled burn was in preparation of a Fish Habitat Study and smoke blew up the hill through hunting areas and two camps.
...... on a mostly dry creek?
?
"Game Department encounter" agreed that there was poor reporting throughout the Clockum, Wena, Oak Creek areas? And he expected "No improvement"?
I will be doing some research for Clockum, Wenas and Oak Creek-
1. When can animals be expected return to a burn area?
2. Total area included in these 3 areas and estimated number of herd.
3 point of better bulls.
Cows.
Spikes.
3 point or better Mule and Black Tail bucks
Does.
3. Elk recorded success. Last 5 years?
4. Deer recorded Success. Last 5 years?
5. Actual Local Tribe Treaty language.
6. Actual disbursement of License and hunting related funds? Not just what many keep repeating.
7. Success expectation of white tails in North eastern area?
Then research comparable states for same area and or animal density and hunt successes.
Also Treaty language and how other states handle it.
Lastly I guess I may open a Facebook page and see if I can get hunter input.
I will include WDFW as well, so they can comment if they care too.
Understanding how this type of thing normally turns out, if I get any sort of a picture I will take this
to the Game department and see what turns. We all know one voice and no data carries no water. So I am reaching out to the hunting community for input and maybe some help.
I want to research, interview and present "our" findings and seek realistic ideas for improvement.
(Feels like a term paper) Any one want to help and take a bite, let me know.
For now, share this with those you think would like to provide serious comment and send those comments to
Wa.meateater@yahoo.com.
Please. No rant about "hunting West". That is not the point here. Thanks.
Out for now.
Tony