No elk hunts at Liggett this year

[PheasantHunter]

So much for 2016. Thought I would let you guys know to save you the trouble...



Dear Fort Hunter Liggett Elk Tag Drawing Applicant:

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is contacting you about your elk tag drawing application for a Fort Hunter Liggett elk hunt. Unfortunately, due to increased military training at Fort Hunter Liggett there will be no elk hunts for this 2016 hunting season.

All elk hunts at Fort Hunter Liggett were affected, the hunts were:
471 Fort Hunter Liggett Apprentice - Antlerless
472 Fort Hunter Liggett Apprentice - Bull
450 Fort Hunter Liggett - Archery - Antlerless
449 Fort Hunter Liggett - Archery - Either Sex
444 Fort Hunter Liggett Period 1 - General -Antlerless
448 Fort Hunter Liggett Period 2 - General -Antlerless
447 Fort Hunter Liggett Period 3 - General – Bull

You will need to make another choice for an elk hunt or apply for an elk preference point only (hunt code 499). Please contact me at your earliest convenience with your new hunt choice. You may reply to this email or call me at 916-928-7416 with your name, GO ID number and your new elk hunt choice.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. Thank you and have a great weekend.

Lai Saechao
Big Game Hunting Program
License and Revenue Branch
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
1740 N Market Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone (916) 928-7416, Fax (916) 419-7587
Lai.Saechao@wildlife.ca.gov
www.wildlife.ca.gov

 

[KTKT70]

Have they done this in the past? Will it just open back up next year? I for one would give up hunting any kind of animal in exchange for our protectors training. No freedom I have and enjoy will ever outway the needs of the service men and women.
Sad these hunts are off this year. Looking forward to them coming back as soon as posable.

 

[DAQ80]

No way! I wonder if this will apply to the deer hunts as well? I assume it would.


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[CaliJeephuntr]

The whole hunting program is affected. I received the following information regarding the base.

Ok I want to give everyone heads up on what hunting is going to be like on Liggett. Training Areas 8 9 15 16 19 24 and 27 will be closed. Training Areas 2 6 7 10 and 13w will be special weapons restrictions. (Shotgun maybe muzzle loader). These area will be this way until they get resigned. (Don't hold your breath). The safety department is the ones that have done this and the command has signed off on it. Your fees will still be the same with less hunting opportunities. All the Elk hunts on Liggett have been canceled for this year. They might come back next year not sure. Please pass this along to everyone you know that hunts on Liggett.

This is why I've stopped hunting at FHL. They increased the fees and made it harder to hunt. Now they're doing this. Training definitely comes first, but can they legally take away the Elk hunts? Weren't they reintroduced and manage with state funds?

 

[DAQ80]

Wow, that sucks. That's a big loss. Like you said first the fee increase now this.
I'm active duty and understand training comes first, but it seems like there's more behind this than just the training. I hope I'm wrong and I hope this isn't permanent, but the trend isn't looking good.

My son drew a J10 in the military draw last year, but they accidentally drew too many, so the tag was pulled a couple weeks before the hunt with a promise of a guaranteed tag this year...now this.


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[OakStuddedAcres]

This only confirms my decision to not go back to FHL. Last years opportunities were slim to none. And the harvest numbers were scary compared to past years. I will take my chances backpacking into my spots. Cross your fingers maybe Camp Roberts won't be as restricted this year.
Good luck to all!

 

[PheasantHunter]

Ya, it is crazy. The time around the holidays has always been wide open as far as training goes. Not sure what kind of training actually gets accomplished over Labor Day weekend, Thanksgiving, or Christmas/New Years. I think that the biggest factor in the hunting there is who is in charge. When Col Suriano ran the show it was awesome, when his replacement took over it went downhill and it is still going it looks like. One person with an agenda can ruin it for a lot of folks.

 

[DAQ80]

Ya, it is crazy. The time around the holidays has always been wide open as far as training goes. Not sure what kind of training actually gets accomplished over Labor Day weekend, Thanksgiving, or Christmas/New Years. I think that the biggest factor in the hunting there is who is in charge. When Col Suriano ran the show it was awesome, when his replacement took over it went downhill and it is still going it looks like. One person with an agenda can ruin it for a lot of folks.

Totally agree. Unfortunately if it is someone with an agenda, when they leave their replacement is likely to leave the policy in place. Unless the new guy is a hunter himself, or receives pressure to change it back.

 

[nickman123]

In addition to the civilian elk hunts that were cancelled, I believe there were also other hunts on the base that were only for active duty military. Those get cancelled also?

 

[DAQ80]

It'd be nice if they posted the info about this on their website. I've tried calling the outdoor center but haven't gotten thru. I'm gonna start calling some other numbers this week, if I find anything out I'll post it.


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[DFGELK]

NO elk at FHL

Someone beat me to the punch to let people know that the elk hunts at FHL have been cancelled. It is my understanding that this applies to the military elk hunts as well. Apparently the deer hunts will remain open. Since the closing of many other military bases the training demand at FHL has increased over time. Previous commanders did not have to schedule this level of training. The base personnel I work with do a very good job and trying to help people and make the hunts a success. With all that being said most of the areas where elk were harvested in the past would be closed due to training. The areas that will remain open would allow for limited successful elk hunting. It was a decision to have people use their points with a very low chance at being successful or cancel the hunts. In coordination with staff at FHL we decided to cancel the hunts. It is unfortunate but training is a priority and the hunting program does not come first. We also want people to be successful and not lose their points and be unhappy with a hunt with a very low chance at harvesting an animal. If people have additional questions they can contact me at (916) 445-9992.

Sincerely

Joe Hobbs
CDFW Elk Coordinator

 

[DAQ80]

From one of the previous posts it sounds like a lot of good TA's will still be huntable with special weapons.
Why not make the hunts archery and muzzleloader?
I know I would've still put in on the military side, I could understand not wanting to put in on the state draw.


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[DFGELK]

During my conversation with FHL. The tracks that would be closed accounted for something like 80% of the previous harvest of elk and one track that was left open accounted for a very high percentage of the remaining 20%. They felt that once pressured the elk would leave the one remaining track and success would be very low or non-existence.

Joe

 

[cjack]

Thank you for clarifying this DFGELK, makes perfect sense. If they had left just one track open I'm sure folks would be crying foul due to the low success rate.

 

[DAQ80]

Thanks for info. Hopefully it makes for a good 2017, I'll be back on sea duty so I probably won't get to partake, but should be good for those that can.

Hopefully the base puts out some gouge soon on how the military side will work as far as points, and what will be open for the J10 and G8.


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[jls456]

Thanks Joe for your valuable Information. I Appreciate you help.