Blues Elk Downward Spiral

[buckfvr]

I must be blind to the cats, I have spend hundreds of hours glassing those hill sides looking for spring bears, never seen a cat. I'M NOT SAYING THEY AREN'T A BIG PROBLEM!!!  I believe they are a problem, It just baffles me that I haven't seen at least one of those b'tards.  Not having spring bear is the straw that breaks the camels back down there, it's a reflection of whats going on in our country, self inflicted wounds, done for a reason.

Last time I drew a spring bear tag I spotted a big cat working through the edge of a cut.  Grass and brush movement was what gave it away as you had to be on him to see him in his small windows of open view.  Anyway, the cat was only 200 yards away from a cow with a calf that had just got to its feet as I watched.  Cat dropped into the creek bottom and I am most certain it ended up smelling the elk at some point because they were only 100 yards above.  Same cut showed several bear almost each evening.  Silver Creek drainage north of Colville.

[hunter399]

I must be blind to the cats, I have spend hundreds of hours glassing those hill sides looking for spring bears, never seen a cat. I'M NOT SAYING THEY AREN'T A BIG PROBLEM!!!  I believe they are a problem, It just baffles me that I haven't seen at least one of those b'tards.  Not having spring bear is the straw that breaks the camels back down there, it's a reflection of whats going on in our country, self inflicted wounds, done for a reason.

Last time I drew a spring bear tag I spotted a big cat working through the edge of a cut.  Grass and brush movement was what gave it away as you had to be on him to see him in his small windows of open view.  Anyway, the cat was only 200 yards away from a cow with a calf that had just got to its feet as I watched.  Cat dropped into the creek bottom and I am most certain it ended up smelling the elk at some point because they were only 100 yards above.  Same cut showed several bear almost each evening.  Silver Creek drainage north of Colville.

I do agree that NE WA has a similar problem as the Blues.
They won't raise quotas here,or do the research here to say that's what is happening to our deer and Elk.
It's crazy cause it's Cats or wolf tracks around here.
Different biologists or something.

Alright back to the topic
Blues Elk.

[pianoman9701]

The biologists recommended spring bear because of predation. The flower children on the commission said they didn't care.

[Humptulips]

Commissioners opined that they could just reduce the target numbers for elk. When the elk numbers get to zero they can just change the target number to zero and everything is hunky dory.

[Buzzsaw461]

If only liberals got hoof rot.

[MHWASH]

I must be blind to the cats, I have spend hundreds of hours glassing those hill sides looking for spring bears, never seen a cat. I'M NOT SAYING THEY AREN'T A BIG PROBLEM!!!  I believe they are a problem, It just baffles me that I haven't seen at least one of those b'tards.  Not having spring bear is the straw that breaks the camels back down there, it's a reflection of whats going on in our country, self inflicted wounds, done for a reason.

 I have elk hunted in the Blues for 20+ years, but have not saw a cougar yet, but when there is snow on the ground, you cannot go anywhere to hunt where there isn't tracks in the snow.
When I say I hunt the Blues, I mean Hunt, not drive around and drink beer like 90% of the hunters down there.

[trophyhunt]

So I’m not the only one!!! Lol.  I know they are there, they must know I’m gonna put a cap in their azz so they hide from me! 

[Stein]

Commissioners opined that they could just reduce the target numbers for elk. When the elk numbers get to zero they can just change the target number to zero and everything is hunky dory.

The only thing that will save the elk is when they realize that other things need to eat them to survive.  Then, everyone will be up in arms and hunting tags will certainly be zero.  As any salmon angler about how that works.

[jackelope]

They make tracks too. I think it was decided at the time with the biologists who did the cat collar study that this guy would have had to travel 10 miles best case scenario to get to this location from where he was possibly collared in the Blues.

[snake]

If only liberals got hoof rot.

Combined with dysentery

Rabies is always a good choice.

pretty sure most already have Rabies.

[Dan-o]

If only liberals got hoof rot.

Combined with dysentery

Rabies is always a good choice.

pretty sure most already have Rabies.

Tough crowd.

[borntoslay]

We saw a big cat working through a  farmers field right by heifercock grade this year. Didn't have permission in his field but after talking to the guy at the last resort he said all the farmers in the bottom want predators shot on sight.  Hindsight 20/20. It was a big cat too. Fat jiggler

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[dwils233]

I’m gonna get some heat for this one….but a lot of the issue is not necessarily predators. I have buddy who is one of only a few actual registered guides in the Washington blues, but will leave him unnamed. The problem is native harvest. He knows one individual that took 18 bulls in the 2021 season, all over 300”. This is a guy that if he said it, I believe him knowing his character. If that truly is the case I think the management is doomed between both predators and this issue.
For the record too…this is not slam to all native hunters. I know a lot who hunt for management, ethically, and are very aware of issues like this and even don’t agree with many of what others do. But,  when you have a populous, even just a few, that over harvest with no restrictions it can do as equal damage as a prominent overpopulate predator presence.

.I'd say the main issue with this idea is the calving study from last year and this year- the issue now is recruitment. We aren't seeing enough calves make it to maturity so what's coming off the top matters less than what's refilling the tank.

[huntnphool]

 What is the downward spiral referring to, class of bulls or herd numbers?

[hunter399]

What is the downward spiral referring to, class of bulls or herd numbers?

I think the whole herd in general.
It's just a number on a computer,who knows what the real numbers are.