Latest Updates on Hunt The West
Subscribe

Updates

Washington Ends "Disorderly and Unsportsmanlike" Special Elk Hunt

December 31, 2009.

On December 29, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife ended a special population management elk hunt, stating that "The elk harvest objective for the area has been met and the conduct of hunters has become disorderly and unsportsmanlike."

The archery elk hunt had been underway in Elk Area 4941, the Skagit River south and east of highways 9 and 20, near Concrete.

Apparently some participants in the hunt were taking advantage of a highly vulnerable elk herd in a farmer's field and attempting questionable archery shots in front of passing motorists.

Said one license holder:

I am an archery hunter and I was at the field on Saturday.  I hunted the outskirts of the field, with eight arrows in my quiver.  The only arrow I fired was the one that dispatched the wounded elk, that was next to highway 20 (mind you it was already riddled with four seperate arrows). 

It was a disgusting sight for any true-ethical archery hunter to see. I did not want to see the animal suffer needlessly any longer, and neither did the wildlife officer who asked me distpatch said animal.

For a thorough write-up on the incident, see the Northwest Sportsman.


More Updates from Hunt The West ...

Don't want to miss the latest updates?
Sign-up for a free subscription and we'll bring the news to you ...