Washington State wolves and the future of hunting

[Copper Basin]

In Washington State, Hunters May No Longer Be "Necessary to Manage Wildlife"

An emerging wildlife war has its first skirmish this week in Spokane where a reformist group is looking to deprioritize hunting and hunters.

www.outdoorlife.com

Has anyone looked into this? Not sure if this a new battleground against all hunting or maybe I got suckered into a headline. Any info would be enlightening.

Thanks for any input.

 

[WapitiBob]

When you have governors appointing commission members this is a possible outcome. Not much different than a president stacking scotus. A good thing or bad thing depends on the side you're on.

 

[bearcat2]

No, that has been a plan and an argument of the antis for years. It was the reason they pushed for the reintroduction of wolves back in the 90s. The plan being if we have wolves they will manage the ungulates and make hunting unnecessary.

 

[Copper Basin]

Agreed. Just amazing how this has come along so far without much resistance. All the conservation groups that preserve habitat yet won't take much of a political stand may face the same problems as hunters.

 

[Ua26fitter]

With what they did with sprimg bear season I'm expecting WA to be the first state to ban hunting. It won't be long

Kris

 

[wats338]

Close to 20yrs ago I had this dirty hippie explain to me that the data will show that wildlife management can be from hunters or natural predators, but not both. Aside from his dirty, greasy looks, he was a Ph.D. and highly respected biologist that worked for the fish and game. I've heard similar theories before, but the way he explained it with such certainty, and given the context of the company he was likely to hear and spout that message, I believe that it will impact hunting at some point.

What's funny is there's never been a shortage of Canadian wolves, but never let truth hold up an agenda.

 

[Ua26fitter]

In Washington State, Hunters May No Longer Be "Necessary to Manage Wildlife"

An emerging wildlife war has its first skirmish this week in Spokane where a reformist group is looking to deprioritize hunting and hunters.

www.outdoorlife.com

This pretty much says it all. People better wake up in other states and get ahead of their agenda while they can.

Kris

 

[Unionsparky46]

I can't stand to read that article. My family has been hunting the hills of Washington for over 100 years throughout the generations. Seen a couple of wolves up in the NE corner few years back. Seen the deer herds decline too. Heard of wolves spotted in western wa too. Can't wait til I can get out of this state.

 

[JJCascade]

I can't stand to read that article. My family has been hunting the hills of Washington for over 100 years throughout the generations. Seen a couple of wolves up in the NE corner few years back. Seen the deer herds decline too. Heard of wolves spotted in western wa too. Can't wait til I can get out of this state.

i hunt in the NE of the state and was seeing wolf prints right in the road. 2 years ago i was seeing multiple does every day i hunted and then last year i was seeing nothing, went a couple miles from where i had been going and then had 2 does (looked like a mother with a yearling or maybe 1.5 year) that crossed my path about the same time daily. i could only hunt weekends due to my schedule but could not find a buck. i went to the same place this year to pick berries because they were plentiful last year and saw one or two deer tracks in the snow and it was not fresh snow. i'm at a loss for where to even go anymore.

 

[sp6x6]

That's happened to many premier places I hunted, ruined now can't hardly cut a track.

 

[Muddyboots]

They will stay put just like they want.

 

[HARPERC]

They will stay put just like they want.
View attachment 517144

Numerous articles on it, most BS in my opinion. Look at the map, and how far they travel. Then Google Wyoming shooting Colorado wolves. Generally hunters, have "lured" wolves across state lines to shoot them. Wolves that wandered from Wyoming into Colorado, wandered back and got shot. The entire narrative ignores wolf travel patterns. Of course death threats to humans OK behavior, wolves not so much.

 

[Muddyboots]

Numerous articles on it, most BS in my opinion. Look at the map, and how far they travel. Then Google Wyoming shooting Colorado wolves. Generally hunters, have "lured" wolves across state lines to shoot them. Wolves that wandered from Wyoming into Colorado, wandered back and got shot. The entire narrative ignores wolf travel patterns. Of course death threats to humans OK behavior, wolves not so much.

Which is exactly why stocking them on eastern seaboard makes perfect sense. Let them wander and share the "beauty" and "majesty" of wolf pack howls near their populated centers.

 

[Unionsparky46]

i hunt in the NE of the state and was seeing wolf prints right in the road. 2 years ago i was seeing multiple does every day i hunted and then last year i was seeing nothing, went a couple miles from where i had been going and then had 2 does (looked like a mother with a yearling or maybe 1.5 year) that crossed my path about the same time daily. i could only hunt weekends due to my schedule but could not find a buck. i went to the same place this year to pick berries because they were plentiful last year and saw one or two deer tracks in the snow and it was not fresh snow. i'm at a loss for where to even go anymore.

It's sad that the libtard idiots think this is ok. I empathize with you brother. Hate to hear that kind of situation.