466 WA Bull Sold out by Fish &Game

[JB48]

Not to beat a dead horse but forgive me.The Sunday Oregonian News paper had an article on the hunter Dan Agnew and his Gov tag bull 449 green.

Washington Fish and Game had displayed pictures of the bull's sheds and video of the bull in their booth at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Convention in Reno to generate interest in te bull and Gov tag.The WA F&G mentions in the article another bull as big, or bigger still out there,great.

Any Washington residence upset about the out come can thank WA Fish and Game. Mr. Agnew resides in Washington and from all accounts is a good guy, and congrats to him. JB

 

[nmelktrout]

Sounds right on par with every other state promoting their Governor's tag hunts. They try to generate as much interest in these hunts as possible for the monetary benefit of the habitat in their respective states which is a good thing. It happens every year in Utah and here in New Mexico and the bulls harvested always seem to be 400+ monsters but frankly, I don't have a problem with it. Go to our F&G website under the "Hunting" link and you will see information and pictures of the giant bull and buck harvested under our program last year. Watch some of the "Mossback" videos and you will really get the idea. Plus, we have the Valles Caldera hunts being marketed as trophy hunts at every hunting and fishing show. The Washington tag holder got to go on an incredible (albeit expensive) hunt and harvested the bull of many lifetimes. Good for him and the state of Washington. Sure the demand for tags might go up, but that's the nature of the beast and it's not going to make me put in for Washington. There's a few states producing bulls that big or bigger (when will "Spidey" resurface?) thanks to habitat improvement and the sound management programs that need all the funding they can get(I know we don't all agree on exactly how or where that money is spent but that's another argument). Someone always seems to get mad when a governor's tag holder harvests a monster like this as it does seem wrong at first when a governor tag holder can seemingly waltz in and bag a mondo elk. Sure, it is sad to see a wild animal like that marketed (if that is your point), but I assure you that every dollar spent by that hunter pays for something that the sportsmen of your state will use. If I'm wrong correct me, but power to the lucky governor tag holder on his harvest.

 

[bearman]

This story shows exactly how hunting is becoming a rich mans sport! If you got the cash you can get any size bull, buck or what ever. Boy that's hunting.

 

[thebuckstopshere]

>This story shows exactly how hunting
>is becoming a rich mans
>sport! If you got the
>cash you can get any
>size bull, buck or what
>ever. Boy that's hunting.


In America, if you have money, you always get the nicer things - not really anything new there.

 

[ColoradoOak]

>This story shows exactly how hunting
>is becoming a rich mans
>sport! If you got the
>cash you can get any
>size bull, buck or what
>ever. Boy that's hunting.

You think that story does? How about this one?

New Mexico's Valles Caldera Considers High-Price Elk Hunts
September 22, 2008.

The Valles Caldera National Preserve in northern New Mexico is one of the state's premier places to hunt elk, and sportsmen are worried that a proposal to charge thousands of dollars for one-fifth of the hunts offered on the preserve would disenfranchise hunters.

The preserve's board of trustees has proposed a special access fee of about $7,500 for 15 of Valles Caldera's 77 elk permits.

Currently, Valles Caldera distributes elk permits via a lottery ? ranging from $15 to $25 per chance. If a hunter's number is drawn, he or she would have to purchase an elk license from state game officials and pay the required fees.

In addition to the 15 special $7,500 permits, trustees also are considering raising lottery prices by $5 ? $20 for an antlerless hunt and $30 for a mature bull or either sex hunt

...read more: http://www.lcsun-news.com/news/ci_10500102

 

[nmelktrout]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-22-08 AT 04:22PM (MST)[p]bearhunt, Very but sadly true if you are in the hunt only for the trophy. Either wait 15 to 20 years to draw the OIL tag or pay to play. It was discussed on another thread but the recent article about "amenity ranches" in the latest "Bugle" magazine hits it right on the head. Read it if you haven't yet done so. I think trophy hunting is becoming a rich man's sport, but there is arguably still plenty of opportunity for those who only wish to hunt to harvest some meat for their freezer every year or who just want to get outside with the family. I'm by no means a true tropy hunter (though I like big bulls and bucks as much as anyone else on this site), but if I had the money I would definitely pay for the opportunity to hunt for a 6 month period anywhere I wanted and for whatever bull I wanted. I've guided too many appreciative hunters and fishermen that have saved for years just to go on one great trip in their lives to discount what they've paid for. A lot of guides and outfitters basically live on the public lands they hunt and/or manage their private property to ensure their clients have great hunts so that they can earn a decent living for their families. I'm not going to knock the entire system for that.

Edit: Ironically, even the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's Torstenson Wildlife Center here in NM charges $17,500 for a blackpowder tag or $12,500 for archery. Gotta' maintain the ranch I guess...

 

[JB48]

NMelktrout, I was surprised to learn WA F&G was advertising the specific bull. I know of Mr. Agnew and know he has been buying tags for many years, before it has become so highly visible. I agree good for Mr. Agnew and the state.

ColoradoOak, I think it is a sad deal what is going on down on the Caldera. JB

 

[stinkystomper]

After hunting on the valles caldera and talking to the higher ups they are in serious danger. They are suppose to be self supporting by 2010 I believe. If they aren't the trust is to be turned over to the forest service, and public hunting with at least 4x the tags seems to be the word as of last October. I would hate to see that place turned over to the forest service service and have it's trespass restrictions taken away. That place would be destroyed. I don't know what the word is now, but last I heard they still don't think they will be self sustaning by the deadline. I have no idea on exactly what will happen. Anyone else closer to th vcnt have any ideas.

 

[BowHuntWithaRifle]

Any pics of this supposed bull? That might get the money pot going.

 

[nmelktrout]

JB48, no worries man, I don't like the idea of advertising a bull either. Kind of takes the wild out of the hunt if I look at it like that. Hopefully Washington was just advertising their trophy bull potential in an effort to get someone to pay some big bucks for the tag. I guess that's why I kind of like the mystery factor with this whole "Spider Bull" phenomenon in Utah. He's advertised by "the" monster bull and guv tag guide and other notable outfitters, yet to my knowledge has managed to elude every hunter, guide, and trail cam in the woods once hunting season turned on. Pretty neat to see an incredible elk like that who is so wild and wiley to be surviving such an onslaught. Guess he gives faith to those of who can't pay for a governor tag.

 

[UThunting]

When you first look at it it might sound bad. But I hate to say if I had property and was going to sale a tag on it I would try and get the best advertising I could on it and nothing is better then a 400+ Bull except a 450+ wild bull.. I don't blame them in any way and am glad to see someone with money spend it on hunting and not giving it to anti hunting groups out there.. If I had crazy money I would be one of those tag whores we all like to jump on. but in real life we should be happy they are spending money where they are, all we can do is hope that money gos to a good cause. Also at $65K for a 450 bull thats a hell of a deal most of us will spend twice that much in our life times and never see a 400 bull let alone a 450..
Congrads to the hunter the guides and the state of Washington Also respect must go out to the elk for being able to grow 450+ inches of horn in just a few months WOW!!!!!!!


UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Willard Utah

 

[JB48]

Bowhunt,
The article which was in the Oregons larges paper quotes the Washington biologist as saying they have video of an 8X8 that is as large as the Agnew bull.JB

 

[gunnarnewt]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-24-08 AT 02:23PM (MST)[p]The sheds of the 8x8 can be seen on e-bay, they're trying to sell them to the highest bidder. Bone score is 405 without a spread measurement. I've seen them, they're huge. Look under elk antler sheds on e-bay for pics. I also have issues with Mr. Agnew's story of the kill. I live here and everyone within 100 miles knows he flew in on his lear jet the night before, made the kill the next morning , and immediately left the mountain and flew home, leaving the bull to be taken care of by the guides and scouts he'd employed to find the brute. His version makes it sound like he actually spent some time hunting.....He didn't.

 

[Ropinfool]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-24-08 AT 01:24PM (MST)[p]"After hunting on the valles caldera and talking to the higher ups they are in serious danger. They are suppose to be self supporting by 2010 I believe. If they aren't the trust is to be turned over to the forest service, and public hunting with at least 4x the tags seems to be the word as of last October. I would hate to see that place turned over to the forest service service and have it's trespass restrictions taken away. That place would be destroyed. I don't know what the word is now, but last I heard they still don't think they will be self sustaning by the deadline. I have no idea on exactly what will happen. Anyone else closer to th vcnt have any ideas."



I think it should be. Our tax money paid for it.

 

[shedhornfreak]

I don't think it really matters if he flew in or drove in. No differant than someone going out opening morning and shooting the first animal they have a tag for, loading it in the back of there pickup whole and driving home. WHAT A HUNT!!! I think the WA Fish and Game is a joke. They did advertise the bull. I saw the pictures at the convention and I saw the same pictures from the guy that picked up the sheds. I think its funny that fish and game thinks its ok to advertise the bull. But its not ok for Dan Agnew to hire who he wants to to guide the hunt that he paid $65,000 for. I've heard many stories that fish and game are trying to go after the outfitter and guides that helped on the hunt. You spend that much for a tag you really don't want some no named outfitter. You want some one that has a great reputation. Just my opinion though.