Washington elk move. WHY ?

Craig · Oct 14, 2003

I know it's a good idea to move elk from areas with a lot of elk to areas that need help but why would the WDFW choose to move the elk during hunting season. How pissed off would you be if it took you six or seven years to draw a bull tag for a real hard to draw unit only to have the WDFW running around with elk catching teams and two helicopters chasing elk all over the place on on opening morning of the elk season. I am sure they were out there for at least a week setting everything up. This probably affected other hunts in the Margaret unit to. 12 months in the year and they choose the first week in October for this elk move.

Stupid!!!

http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/do/newreal/oct0703b.htm

polarbear · Oct 14, 2003

Idiotic! And look who is getting them. Lets see how long it takes for the Swinomish to open up a tribal hunt for them. It only took a couple of weeks for the Muckleshoots to start hunting in the Green River Watershed after WDFW transplanted a sh!tload of elk from Grays Harbor. They, like the Swinomish, promised not to hunt them until the heard was healthy. I guess that it got healthy really fast.
I hope that I'm wrong in my assumption of the fate of these transplanted elk. But I doubt it.
Eric

Hawkk33 · Oct 14, 2003

LAST EDITED ON Oct-14-03 AT 09:53PM (MST)[p]Those damn injuns huh polarbear.? Why would a stand up organization like RMEF partner up with savages ? hmmmmm

polarbear · Oct 15, 2003

Hawkk33
Now, now.... I knew that this would happen. My statements are not intended to bash a race of people! I have said nothing about anyone being savages. I am basing my opinion on the facts of prior events that are very similar to this one. I have seen it happen time and time again where a transfer of elk onto aa traditional tribal hunting area has ended, not in conservation, as is the original intent, but as a free for all at the expense of the elk. I have seen it happen with the Skokomish, Squaxin, Muckleshoot, Quinalt, Collville and Makah tribes. This really isnt a race or "savage" issue, it is a tribal governmental issue. Until I see a transfer of wildlife onto tribal hunting land turn out to be just what it was intended for(regeneration and health of a herd) I will be skeptical. The last line in my post stated that I hoped that I am wrong in my assumptions of the fate of the elk. Well, I mean that. I truly hope that this is an honest project. We will see.
Also, it is a bunch of bullshit to move these critters during or just before hunting season! Do it in January for Pete's sake.
Eric

Hawkk33 · Oct 15, 2003

LOL .. i knew I could get a rise out of you.

I hope this projects turns out all rosey n ##### too. A similar reintroduction was done in Kentucky I believe and I think they are gonna wait 5-6 years to see how it turns out before letting anyone in there to harvest.I hope the RMEF keeps a close eye on the investment they made and keeps everyone honest.