Download the South Rainier Management Plan [Mar 2002] PDF Format (744KB) Download the Draft South Rainier Management Plan [Jun 2000] PDF Format (63KB) Acknowledgments: Region 5 wildlife program staff prepared the South Rainier elk herd plan. Wildlife Biologist Min Huang was the lead author assisted by Patrick Miller, District Wildlife Biologist and Fred Dobler, Regional Wildlife Program Manager. Region 6 wildlife staff also participated since part of the South Rainier elk herd area is within Region 6. Dave Ware, Game Division Manager and George Tsukamoto, Staff Biologist in Olympia also assisted in the development of the plan. We appreciate the expertise provided by Rolf Johnson, deer and elk Section Manager and Louis Bender, Statewide Deer and Elk Specialist. Many other WDFW personnel provided valuable assistance and reviewed comments during the development of the plan. We are especially indebted to Medicine Creek Treaty Tribes (Muckleshoot, Nisqually, Puyallup, and Squaxin Island Tribes) for their willingness to cooperate and contribute to the development of this plan. The wildlife technical staff, David Vales, Michael MacDonald, and Chris Madsen from the tribes were particularly helpful in preparation of the plan and providing input during the review process. Other Elk Herd Plans: Blue Mountains Colockum Hanford Mt. St. Helens North Cascade (Nooksack) North Rainier Olympic Selkirk South Rainier Yakima

SOUTH RAINIER ELK HERD PLAN (March 2002) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The South Rainier elk herd is one of ten herds residing in the State. It is an important resource that provides significant recreational, aesthetic and economic benefit to Washington citizens and is a valued cultural, subsistence, and ceremonial resource to the Native American people of the area. This plan's purpose is to provide direction for managing the South Rainier elk resource into the future. This is a five-year plan subject to amendment. Before the fifth year this plan should be updated, re-evaluated, amended and implemented for another five-year period. It will be a valuable reference document and guideline for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Tribes, agency cooperators, landowners and the general public. Priority management activities will be implemented as funding and resources become available. Three primary goals guide the South Rainier Elk Herd Plan: (1) to manage this elk herd for a sustained yield; (2) to manage elk for a variety of recreational, educational and aesthetic purposes including hunting, scientific study, cultural and ceremonial uses by Native Americans, wildlife viewing and photography; and (3) to manage and enhance elk and their habitats to ensure healthy, productive populations. Specific elk herd and habitat management objectives, problems and strategies are identified in this plan. Priority objectives address specific problems in managing this elk herd and a variety of strategies have been developed to solve these problems. The following objectives have been identified: Manage the South Rainier Elk Herd using the best available science. Increase the estimated elk population in the eastern half of its range from about 1,700 to approximately 2,500 elk, in keeping with habitat limitations and landowner tolerance. Manage all game management units for bull ratios consistent with the statewide plan (currently greater than or equal to12 bulls per 100 cows post-season) in combination with overall bull mortality rates less than or equal to 50 percent. Minimize elk damage to private property. Encourage maintaining the current amount and quality of elk habitat on U.S. Forest Service lands (no net loss). Maintain the current amount of elk winter range along the Cowlitz and Skookumchuck rivers and the Hanaford Creek area. Develop diverse private/public partnerships to improve habitat and management of elk. Spending priorities have also been identified for the first five years. Achieving spending levels will be contingent upon available funds and the creation of partnerships. The recommended prioritized expenditures for the South Rainier Elk Herd are as follows:   Prioritized Expenditures 1st year 5 years Pre-hunting season composition surveys $6,000.00 $30,000.00 Improve state and tribal harvest data collection $12,000.00 $60,000.00 Secure and enhance elk winter habitats $50,000.00 $250,000.00 Post-hunting season composition surveys $3,000.00 $15,000.00 Increase enforcement emphasis patrols $10,000.00 $50,000.00 TOTAL $81,000.00 $405,000.00