Shooting a collared Elk

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

Yea or Nay?

I pulled an antlerless cow elk tag and one of the cows on my cameras is rocking some hardware...does that become your target cow?

[Weatherby92]

I say nay.

My reasoning is all the money they (assuming WDFW) has invested into that animal. Now, what they're doing with the data is a different discussion.....

But for that reason alone i would try to target a different animal and save money for the WDFW (which comes from us)..... thats my two cents. Good luck on the hunt.

[TooTallMike]

Yay!
Then shoulder mount it with the collar on 😂

[jrebel]

I say Yay....if she presents a shot you should kill her.  If she is a bigger cow, they likely have all the data they need and there is a good possibility the tracker is no longer working.  Regardless, I would drop the hammer given the chance. 

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

I say nay.

My reasoning is all the money they (assuming WDFW) has invested into that animal. Now, what they're doing with the data is a different discussion.....

But for that reason alone i would try to target a different animal and save money for the WDFW (which comes from us)..... thats my two cents. Good luck on the hunt.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/management/predator-prey-study = reason for collar as an FYI? don't know if this would swing polling....

[Weatherby92]

I say nay.

My reasoning is all the money they (assuming WDFW) has invested into that animal. Now, what they're doing with the data is a different discussion.....

But for that reason alone i would try to target a different animal and save money for the WDFW (which comes from us)..... thats my two cents. Good luck on the hunt.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/management/predator-prey-study = reason for collar as an FYI? don't know if this would swing polling....

Thanks for the info. I wouldn't say it changes my answer. But i also know i wouldn't go home without an elk if the collared one was the only shot opportunity i had. I would just try to target a different one if possible, kinda like trying to pick out the old/dry cow when possible.
 It all comes down to how the opportunity is presented.

Edit- if the collared one is the old/dry cow i would let it rip.

[dvolmer]

With the quality of hunting and the animal numbers going down in the toilet in this state, I wouldn’t pass up the only opportunity you might have. Now if there were multiple elk in my crosshairs and one was collared and others weren’t, I would choose another. But in the areas that we hunt where we used to wade through cow elk all season, you now can go the entire season without seeing a elk!!!

[Rainier10]

With the quality of hunting and the animal numbers going down in the toilet in this state, I wouldn’t pass up the only opportunity you might have. Now if there were multiple elk in my crosshairs and one was collared and others weren’t, I would choose another. But in the areas that we hunt where we used to wade through cow elk all season, you now can go the entire season without seeing a elk!!!

[bigmacc]

We killed a big mulie back in the 80,s that was radio collared, big bugger, it had a brass plate on the collar giving instructions as what to do if found. Long story short, we followed instructions, was sent info where to turn in all the hardware etc, We got a very detailed letter from the bio who did the colloring of this buck, it was his first. The batteries had went dead a few years prior so they didn't know if he was dead or alive, they sent us his movement history over the 2 or 3 years they tracked him, his summer range was about 15-20 miles or so into B.C, we killed him approximently 50 miles or so away in his winter range where they had tracked him to every winter that the batteries worked, its the exact area they tranquilized and collared him, in fact it was less than 2miles from the exact spot they did the work on him, pretty cool. Last I heard was that the bio had put the collar setup on a plaque and mounted it above his fireplace. He was very appreciative that we sent everything back, since it was his first.

[jason stevens]

A legal elk is a legal elk regardless of a collar. Send it an eat well.

[dewandgin]

Drew an antlerless cow tag many moons ago and shot a cow with a collar in the cowwemann area. It was a pain to have them come get the collar but we did get some cool information from it. Also when we were cutting her up we found a part of the needle from the tranquilizer dart.

If it is legal I say drop her.

[CP]

It's like a banded duck.  Collect the collars and hang them on your call lanyard.  You'll look cool. 

[bkaech]

My brother killed a collared Bull once. The Biologists removed one of its Ivories for aging when they first collared it. He was more than a little upset that he only got one Ivory from the deal.

For a cow, I wouldn't care either way if it had a collar or not. Just take the First Best shot you have.

[slowhand]

With the quality of hunting and the animal numbers going down in the toilet in this state, I wouldn’t pass up the only opportunity you might have. Now if there were multiple elk in my crosshairs and one was collared and others weren’t, I would choose another. But in the areas that we hunt where we used to wade through cow elk all season, you now can go the entire season without seeing a elk!!!

Perfectly stated. Do this.

[trophyhunt]

My friend shot a collard bull a few years ago, it was collard from the mucks it turns out.  So he sent it in to them, I'd have put it on a train, and they gave him a hat and tee shirt I think.  They also showed him the tracking on him the year and half he was collard, that part was pretty cool.  Worth turning it in, I'm older and somewhat wiser now so I'd turn it in today.

[lokidog]

You might talk with the local WDFW Bio. It could be, as mentioned, that this is no longer a functioning collar, they would probably love to get the hardware back. As someone with a lot of biology background, I would be hard pressed to shoot a collared elk if I knew the collar was still functional, also as mentioned, lots of resources put into getting it on her.

If it was my only chance to put meat in the freezer, possibly I'd let it rip. 

Good luck on your hunt!

[HAGEMANIAC]

Yea or Nay?

I pulled an antlerless cow elk tag and one of the cows on my cameras is rocking some hardware...does that become your target cow?

I wouldn't say my targeted one, but if it's a legal animal for the tag that is in my pocket then it's all the same.

[downtownbrown0610]

We killed a big mulie back in the 80,s that was radio collared, big bugger, it had a brass plate on the collar giving instructions as what to do if found. Long story short, we followed instructions, was sent info where to turn in all the hardware etc, We got a very detailed letter from the bio who did the colloring of this buck, it was his first. The batteries had went dead a few years prior so they didn't know if he was dead or alive, they sent us his movement history over the 2 or 3 years they tracked him, his summer range was about 15-20 miles or so into B.C, we killed him approximently 50 miles or so away in his winter range where they had tracked him to every winter that the batteries worked, its the exact area they tranquilized and collared him, in fact it was less than 2miles from the exact spot they did the work on him, pretty cool. Last I heard was that the bio had put the collar setup on a plaque and mounted it above his fireplace. He was very appreciative that we sent everything back, since it was his first.

I think this is really cool. Thank you for sharing!

[Sutherland]

Yeah that's very cool to here. Thanks!

[Igottanewknee]

Shoot it. Or any legal elk you see. If they didn't want them shot, they would put something about it in the regs.

[seaduckhunter]

This is a Bull i shot with a collar a few years back

[NRA4LIFE]

Not elk, but when I drew my cow moose tag in '16, I was in constant contact with the bio about this and other things.  He had gauranteed me there were no active collars where I was hunting, but told me that it was perfectly legal to shoot one with a collar.  Lo and behold (I didn't see it) the cow I killed had an old collar on her.  The attached GPS unit (or whatever is in it) was half gone, part of it had come off.  Later I found, the collar had not been active for 2 years and the last place they had tracked her was about 15 miles SE of where I killed her.  They still wanted it so I sent it to him with a tooth and a bone.

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

Here she is….
(Need to find if I can make my camera not take red pictures….new brand)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

Definitely liking the idea of reaching out to the Bio to find out if the collar is (could be) dead....would make it a mute point at that point; well more like move it towards the target. The study started in 16/17 and it does look a little tight on her.

I knew they give you some information....but would be crazy to get the info of where she has been....although I have a good idea of where this heard is a good amount of the year.

Appreciate the input from y'all, lots of time and who knows if it would ever present itself as an opportunity. Certainly I would report back if it ended up being the elk I take if I take one and/or if she is in the frame when I take the shot if I get one and I pass on her.

Noticed she had an ear tag too.

[hunter399]

It wouldn't stop me at all.
If it's a legal elk for harvest ,drop it ,just like a turd in bathroom .No waiting on that.
Contact bio after harvest to return it after.
Even if it is dead ,they might be able to re use it,or get some of the last information off of it.

[Farmer72]

I dont believe they reuse them but I think they can get some info from them. I buddy of mine shot a bull with one and he sent it in. They gave him a bunch of information on the bull. The collar was dead when he shot the bull. He asked them what they were going to do with the collar and they said throw it away. He asked if he could have it back and they sent it back to him. It now hangs off the mount in the living room.