It would allow for a robust herd that is balanced in both age and sex which puts more legal bulls out overall.
The later seasons and 3 point restriction back in the day was a major factor in hammering down the overall health of our Reg 8 herd.
If memory serves harvest plummeted to a handful of elk being legally harvested in the OK area for a number of years.
Of that harvest almost all were 3 points with an occasional 5 point.
(Ironically half of that harvest was from the same 3 or 4 guys every year)
Anyway, that's the first few things that jump out at me at first blush.[/QUOTE]
I'm no expert but I would think that with a little funding, somehow, toward de-activating a percentage of spurs off of main FSR's, the elk hunting AND moose AND mule deer hunting in the Okanagan would be greatly enhanced in the coming years...
-First off, I suggest picking up a copy of the BC Outdoors Magazine and educate yourself, read the 2014 hunting forecast
-Reducing road access would thus far be our only way of reducing FN's harvest
-Links to road access impact on moose populations, as I posted for you on the thread that I started about FSR De-activation:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/moose.pdf
Can't seem to copy a link on this one, so google this one:
ROAD DENSITY AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON WILDLIFE
SPECIES SUCH AS AMERICAN MOOSE
IN MAINLAND NOVA SCOTIA
I know these are for moose, but you should get the idea..
-Finally, road access is known to give preds an upper hand:
http://www.wildlandsleague.org/attachments/Roads.Report.pdf
So you want to control FN harvest? Do you have any documentation of the impact of FN harvest on animal populations in the areas you're proposing (ie, not Nova Scotia moose which have no preds and vastly different habitat from the Okanagan)?
How did moose and elk numbers double in the Okanagan the past decade with the huge FN harvest impacts you're assuming?
Have you investigated the legal ramifications of your idea which could be considered an infringement on FN rights?
These are the questions that game and forestry officials will be asking you when you knock on the door with your head full of ideas.
I really hope you're not relying on BC Outdoors' hunting forecast to guide your hunting. That would be like relying on Jelvis' 1982 road synopsis to guide your next trek into the forest. Perhaps that's the reason for your shitty success rate rather than a lack of game animals?
Contrary to what GG is suggesting about participants on the wildlife committee. I believe through working together everyone has a greater understanding of the pursuits of others and greater respect. Of course there are times when discussions get heated. It's what you do with the information that is important.
To your point:
It isn't all about wildlife management in the EK, but all of Reg 4.
In 2010, where elk in the West Kootenay not on LEH?
In 2011 a WK GOS for elk was created, season length was consistent with other WK Mu's, Oct 1 - 20
In the EK, a Sr/Yth season for antlerless was introduced
In the EK we saw our first spike season in a long time.
Of course this might be targeting the rancher agenda, but it is still about creating opportunity
In 2012 - 2014 Regulations the WK elk GOS was aligned to a Sept 10th opening
The WK archery season was also aligned to Sept 1-9 and remaining MU's were added
In 2014 - 2016 we've adjusted antlerless harvest by removing the GOS antlerless, shifting to a lower harvest model on cows through archery and continued to maintain focus on whining ranchers with some private land hunts. I see this as inconsequential for the most part, but the action does portray acknowledgement of the position of the ranchers.
May seem like small steps to some, but I know it's a lot of work for others. I did want to add, if you are having difficulty finding quiet locations to hunt below 1100 send me a PM. It can be difficult to think outside the high fences and what we traditionally see as the agriculture zone. Take a good look at the map for the sub 1100 metre. Lots of good pockets to hunt.
Last edited by J_T; 09-30-2014 at 09:37 AM.
FD - You are like a spoiled little boy worried that your brother might get a gold star when you only got a silver star... pick up a bow and get to work slacker... nothing is stopping you from enjoying the opportunity, you even own a crossbow!
You see my brother it isn't just about "social" reasons its actually about creating opportunity within a conservative conservation model. To wit, bowhunters take far fewer animals than rifle hunters due to the difficulty inherent in the pursuit, ergo by expanding "bowhunting" opportunity we create opportunity for anyone that wants to hunt hard. I'm proposing that we take animals across the age/maturity spectrum which you seems to think and agree is a good idea. The question is whether a GOS is sustainable given today's reality, and as much as you still like the 60's and 70's things have changed..... its time to toss out your bell bottoms and put down the pipe my friend!
To the OPs point since we are up close and personal at the moment of truth bowhunters are less likely to miscount tines when there are antler restrictions (regardless of the efficacy validity of said restrictions).
Similarly road closures do protect over hunted herds/drainages... (wolves, bear, cougar, poachers, and hunters regardless of race). Clowures are reviewed every year at teh Provincial table and seem to be agreed upon by the BCWF as well as the other participants.
I'll admit that in MY personal perfect hunting nirvana that quads simply screw things up... environmental damage, and interrupting herd behaviour... see this year after year. I love riding for the joy of it, and quads are awesome tools for game extraction but otherwise suck sausage. If you are just riding logging roads take the truck, quieter, safer, warmer.
When are you coming to the island... free archery lesson for you anytime! See bowhunters aren't eletist snobs, we would even welcome YOU!
"When you judge another you don't define them, you define yourself."
When there's no scientific reason to restrict harvest, there's no need for access restrictions nor special weapons seasons.
With the moose and elk populations doubling in the past decade in the area of discussion, why should hunters support further restrictions on hunting them?