Guys, and Lady...
I just got internet back (I live in the boonies and satellite sucks), But officer Scott of the USFS called me back today. He and I had a pretty revealing conversation.
The issue at hand has NOTHING to do with any perceived effect on deer populations. It had everything to do with us being our own worst enemy!
The two month long season was opened 10 years ago, planned as 10 year study of dog hunters and their effect as a depredation control method. In that time, the USFS and SHNF LEOs have found that the resource was under utilized, that dog hunters did not beneficially impact the hog numbers, that the majority of caught hogs were either transported live to destinations other than terminal facility or released for another day, and that we as dog hunters were not proactive enough to report utilization and harvest information via the APH harvest questionnaire which all APH holders are required to submit annually.
With consideration of the following and public outcry, a LARGE community of archers and rifle hunters who have committed to utilize the resource year round, the powers that be chose to increase hunter opportunity with a group more inclined to provide depredation relief and unable to release their prey.
I did point out that there is no written regulation (prior to this years sunset revisions) requiring hogs caught at the Sam be killed. I also suggested that revision of written regulation would be much more effective in helping them achieve their goals than limiting seasons or methods.
My suggestion, as you can imagine, was to allow all legal hunting methods of non-indigenous game during any non-utilized period (any time other than deer and turkey season) while requiring hogs be killed on site, reported at a check station AND to ADVERTISE THE OPPORTUNITY to increase utilization (I only learned about the season a year and a half ago).
His response in essence was........ You had your chance and you blew it!
That concludes my research on the subject. Silverton, if you would like to call me for any detail that may help your effort, please feel free to do so. 512-894-0292
Steve
