Elk Hunting In Washington- What Not To Do

[browningcobra]

http://didia.smugmug.com/Pacific-Northwest/n-cascades/elk/10769726_xXySN#750672785_qpsGh

Thought some here might be interested in the recent uproar about hunting in Washington State. Its been a big news item here. A real black eye for all hunters and bowhunters in particular.

[jsweka]

That is one ugly situation.

Legal - yes, unethical - yes, Something the anti's will run with - yes.

I really feel for folks with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife trying to explain what happened and trying to smooth it over with all concerned parties.

[far rider]

Culling is never a pretty sight. Given the chance the guys would have probably used a high powered rifle, and the scene would have been looked upon as culling. Put a guy in camo walking around with a bow, stir in a dose of slow dying elk, and sprinkle with a good amount of ignorant passer by and it's a recipe for "Anti-Hunter Surprise"! The situation sucked for sure.

Around here you can get a permit to kill deer out of season if you can prove substantial crop loss, but I have never heard of corraling deer and letting hunters have at it. One thing for sure, it will be used against us.

[Hud]

It is unfortunate the WA Fish & Game went thru with this hunt, because the previous year with muzzle loaders was a disaster.  I will never understand why the hunt was conducted in this manner, in plain view of a road. Surrounding the elk in this manner and shooting into a herd is bound to upset most people especially bystanders. It is obvious, they let the WBH's take the blame, boys I think you were setup.

[Bjorn]

It is so unfortunate when you see a set up like this-no win...............the only thing you can do is walk-unless of course this appeals to you.
I like to do my killing in private.

[kevin braun]

I don't think there was really any "hunters" involved in this activity.  I'm a hunter and this activity really makes me sick.

hate to say it, but I don't feel that this is an appropriate thread for Trad Gang

if it is, it should be move to the Politics section

[PAPA BEAR]

ditto bjorn....this is not hunting its shopping.this type of so called hunting is very very bad for all hunters.

[luv2bowhunt]

I agree with Kevin Braun... this just makes me absolutely SICK! I'd like to get ahold of those pricks that put a black eye to all real Hunters... seriously, that unethical slaughter really upsets me.

[cch]

Part of the problem was the bystanders. The elk would have gotten away if they were not there blocking them. The story is written in such a way that it looks like the hunters rounded up the elk and killed them. This was a depredation hunt. The game department wanted 10 animals taken out of this herd of 80. 7 were taken. The bowhunters did nothing illegal. The only problem was people seeing it. Bowhunters have been doing drives for deer forever and no one has a problem with that. I to like to hunt in private and I don't think I could have shot one of those elk with bystanders watching just because I know how politically correct Washington is. At least the meat won't be wasted like it is when the game department shoots animals out of a helicopter to cull animals. Doesn't Jackson hole Wyoming have a drawing every year to shoot elk in there wintering grounds?

[luv2bowhunt]

cch, driving animals where they can escape is one thing... pinning animals in where they have no chance of escape is just plain unethical. Yes, the bystanders did block an area, but when they did the hunt became unethical then. The so called hunters should have stopped their so called hunt right then! I know that they did not do anything illegal as far as laws are concerned, they did go completely illegal as far as ethics are concerned!

I am sorry, but if someone thinks that this hunt was OK then they really need to look at their own ethics as far as hunting is concerned.

[George D. Stout]

Well, let's not call it a hunt.

[wingnut]

It's what it is!  A attempt to remove animals that are causing damage.  These have been going on for years and are not hunting.  Unfortunately, it's become a media circus and now fuel for anti hunting organizations.

I fail too see what thrashing this here has too do with tradbow hunting however.

Mike

[Jmgcurve]

I agree with Mr. Stout and Mr. Westvang!

Michael

[bowfiend]

Yup.. pretty horrible. I thhink the most disappointing part is the "after a 4th arrow from an experienced archer" quote in the picture captions. Really? That one's a black eye for sure.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I have been in a very disappointing conversation about this on a different site,
I agree it has no place on this one (Tradgang) because I would expect better behavior from Trad-Archers.