Petition: to Increase North Central Washington Elk Populations

This is a proposal is for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to review current elk management strategies in northcentral Washington. Specifically in Game Management Units (GMUs) north of US 2, west of US 97, east of the Cascade crest and north to the Canadian border. These GMU-’s have elk habitat capable of supporting healthy elk herds. Currently they are subject to extended elk hunting seasons, open to any elk and any weapon. This management policy has prevented elk from becoming well-established within these GMUs with only small herds occurring in isolated pockets. We would like to have healthy elk populations for hunting, wildlife viewing and general diversity of species in the following GMUs; Chiwawa 245, Swakane 250, Slide Ridge 246, Entiat 247, Manson 243, Alta 242, Chiliwist 239, Gardner 231, Pearrygin 224, Chewuch 218, Pasayten 203, Pogue 233 and Sinlahekin 215. The long-term goal is to have thriving elk populations in appropriate habitat for future generations to experience . This petition is a grassroots effort to bring shareholders together in a collaborative process to influence public land and resource management policies.