H
HuntAddiction
Guest
One thing I came away with in all the presentations at the RACs, Tony's KFAN discussion and in the WB meeting was how big of an issue predator control really should be in trying to restore our herds. In particular, coyotes. 47% survival of our fawns. That really needs to be addressed. I'm glad there are organizations that are trying to improve habitat. That is a huge positive in all of this, chaining, deer-proof fencing, all are a step in the right direction.
But I think a very focused predator control program would have an immediate, measurable impact on not only our deer, but all wildlife. Coyotes prey on just about everything. But gone are the days of unlimited poison baiting and bounties. Things that I think directly led to the great deer herds of the 60s and 70s. You just can't have the level of predation and grow the deer herd. Or any herd for that matter.
But let's face it the DWR doesn't have the $$, the man power or the desire to address this part of the problem. Not to mention the BIG problem, the political BS from tree huggers etc. if they proposed an intense, focused coyote reduction effort.
Which brings me to the purpose of my post. We donate money to SFW, MDF, FNAWS, Elk Foundation etc. Would you give money to any of these organizations or a new one that had a fund set aside with a budget that went 100% toward predator control efforts? All money raised by the fund stayed specifically to that use. The money would be put toward reintroducing a bounty program--which the DWR won't do for political reasons. The beauty of doing it outside the DWR is you wouldn't have to listen to the wackos. Set up a bounty program that would encourage trapping and well as hunting to reduce predators by giving people an financial incentive to do it. Upon kill cut the ears off the coyotes take them in to get the bounty.
There would be money to fly areas in special need of attention with helicopters to reduce numbers.
I'm a full disclosure guy, so the fund would have to have a completely transparent, annual audit.
We are all about habitat and I applaud that. I think a focused 5 year trial program doing something like this would bring about an immediate improvement in our deer herds. It would mean less winter-kill, less harassment by coyotes during cold winter months. It would improve our deer, elk, moose, ducks, geese, pheasants, grouse, rabbits, etc. And I bet it would be in ways we would see almost immediately. If there were accurate deer counts each year would could measure the effects we were having. If after 5 years if it wasn't working then try something else.
I myself would give $$ if I knew that money was going to improve all hunting by reducing predator #s. I bet even the cattle men would get behind this with some $$.
Would you give $$ to such a fund?
But I think a very focused predator control program would have an immediate, measurable impact on not only our deer, but all wildlife. Coyotes prey on just about everything. But gone are the days of unlimited poison baiting and bounties. Things that I think directly led to the great deer herds of the 60s and 70s. You just can't have the level of predation and grow the deer herd. Or any herd for that matter.
But let's face it the DWR doesn't have the $$, the man power or the desire to address this part of the problem. Not to mention the BIG problem, the political BS from tree huggers etc. if they proposed an intense, focused coyote reduction effort.
Which brings me to the purpose of my post. We donate money to SFW, MDF, FNAWS, Elk Foundation etc. Would you give money to any of these organizations or a new one that had a fund set aside with a budget that went 100% toward predator control efforts? All money raised by the fund stayed specifically to that use. The money would be put toward reintroducing a bounty program--which the DWR won't do for political reasons. The beauty of doing it outside the DWR is you wouldn't have to listen to the wackos. Set up a bounty program that would encourage trapping and well as hunting to reduce predators by giving people an financial incentive to do it. Upon kill cut the ears off the coyotes take them in to get the bounty.
There would be money to fly areas in special need of attention with helicopters to reduce numbers.
I'm a full disclosure guy, so the fund would have to have a completely transparent, annual audit.
We are all about habitat and I applaud that. I think a focused 5 year trial program doing something like this would bring about an immediate improvement in our deer herds. It would mean less winter-kill, less harassment by coyotes during cold winter months. It would improve our deer, elk, moose, ducks, geese, pheasants, grouse, rabbits, etc. And I bet it would be in ways we would see almost immediately. If there were accurate deer counts each year would could measure the effects we were having. If after 5 years if it wasn't working then try something else.
I myself would give $$ if I knew that money was going to improve all hunting by reducing predator #s. I bet even the cattle men would get behind this with some $$.
Would you give $$ to such a fund?
