lion permit in wa

[George Streepy]

I had the numbers for a few years sitting here.

2004- 123 permits issued
2006- 145 permits issued
2007- 135 permits issued- 518 people put in
2008- 68 permits issued- 710 people put in
2009- 364 permits issued- 913 people put
2010- 94 permits issued

So if we do manage to keep our hunts I wouldn't expect to see a big change in the numbers unless more counties sign on. It isn't about how many people put in it is about how many complaints there were in an area. From what I understand.

I was told by WDFW that they wanted a diverse group of cats harvested during the pilot program. They also were interested in issuing some male only harvest permits but weren't sure how to implement it. They didn't want cats knocked out of trees and left because the hunter didn't know it was a female. So this is our chance to show them with the Stevens Pend Oreille Unit. I think the thing that could hurt us the worse is to have WDFW find dead females left to rot because a hunter didn't want to face up to it. I know that is one of their fears.

I hate to tell you this but the only way to keep these hunts is to write your state legislators and put pressure on them! This is the last year of theses hunts unless they pass legislation to keep them, and word is that its not a big issue so we will see! The game dept. could care less how the quota is met, either total or female! i know enforcement wants it closed as quick as possible.

I think that what Piglet said is pretty accurate. Happy hunting guys.

[WAcoyotehunter]

the reason for the increase in permit applications is because they used to require the permit holder to be the owner of the hounds. (i.e. if you didn't have hounds you could not apply) now they let everyone apply. In my opinion they did this for a couple of self serving reasons 1) money, more applications means more money 2) less cats might get killed, if the permittee doesn't have hounds they might not find a guy to run for them.

I'm a little jaded by the WDFW and the way they manage our predators.

[RezDogRendezvous]

How's the quotas looking for that okanogan zone? I just finished my first time hunt there with a guy who tagged out on a good lion. My dogs probably know the sinlahekin unit as good as their kennel. If you havnt had any luck that's the spot to be. If you have an extra handler card I'd be glad to go.

[wacker x 8]

okanogan is still good there are still some tags left the lake chalan tags are done now we can just chase them .wich is fine by me I would be happy with a chase season every year .

[Buddyw]

Klickatat Qouta is holding, I'm not sure the female that was counted on the second day wasn't shot by a boot hunter or rancher.

I hear you about the Pursuit.. Just as fun! We Put up two cats, No shooters.. But this was the First time my son (1 1/2 years) actually seen the cat in the tree.. Boy He couldn't take his eyes off it, He thought it was pretty dang cool. now everytime he sees the photo of the cat He Points up in the air .. Good Company, and had a good hunt Looking forward to getting back over there some more.

Weather turned to crap.. started Freezing rain Last night about 2am and Crusty snow really makes the Dogs feet take a beating.. We probably could have put up another small one this morning Super fresh track but it would have been the end of our dogs for a couple weeks, We figure we'd look for a bigger cat that was worth going "all in" Didn't find one, so we went back and Trailed on it a bit after it was rained on all morning, Catch 22.. Much softer snow than early in the morning, but after being rained on it was really slow moving especially once it got under the trees.

[drew]

Thats a cool pic Buddy, and good job to you, the fam and the dogs for catching in such crummy conditions.

[Buddyw]

This one wasn't in too bad of conditions.. Hard on dogs feet but it was before the rain started. If someone put some up after yesterday that's some good dog work. We were almost walking out fresh tracks faster than the dogs could smell them yesterday had we put that one up that would have been one to give the dogs some credit for rough conditions.

[jbc67]

Hey would any of you guys be interested in running your hounds for a buddy of mine, Bill, who drew one of the Okanagan licenses/tags? I guess his hunt is the one that doesn't start until January 1st (I believe it's GMUs 101, 105, 204, but not sure). Several months ago, I moved from Washington to Montana. When I was in Washington, I always put in but never drew these limited entry tags. Bill never drew either. I told him that once I got settled in my new job in Montana (I was thinking a year or so at least) then he should start putting in for the limited entry Washington lion tags and that I would come run my dogs for him for free. Well, Bill got antsy, put in, and drew a tag for this coming January. The problem is that I am swamped at my new job (still far from settled and stable) and can't get away long enough to give him a valuable hunt. It seems from these posts that many of you have the same attitude I had while in Washington and still have (looking for any chance to run). If so, I was wondering if I could give your contact info to Bill. I'm not sure whether he would call you or not, but I would like to give him some names, so that he doesn't think that I'm just giving him the shaft. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

[RezDogRendezvous]

That's the okanogan-ferry Im pretty sure. I'd be more than happy to hunt with whoever there. I know the snows startin to pile up pretty good where I like to go, and I'm sure that by Jan 1st it won't be any different, so be prepared for that. Let me know if your interested.