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Author Topic: WDFW Public Record Requests  (Read 3448 times)

Offline jaredwitman

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WDFW Public Record Requests
« on: November 13, 2017, 02:14:04 PM »
Has anyone ever tried to make a public records request of any sort of data the game department has on record? How did it go? I've been thinking of trying my luck with a few things....

Offline WSU

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2017, 02:18:20 PM »
Yes.  It should work fine for you.  Let us know if it doesn't.

Offline Rainier10

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2017, 02:38:34 PM »
Yep, super easy.  They even emailed me back with some questions to make sure they were understanding exactly what I was asking for.
Pain is temporary, achieving the goal is worth it.

I didn't say it would be easy, I said it would be worth it.

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Offline JDHasty

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2017, 02:44:55 PM »
See if they will fork over what you are asking for w/o making a formal request.  Formal PDR is a PITA for any agency to deal with and the smart money is usually on giving up what is being requested w/o being compelled to fork it over...  but that doesn't mean that the individual you are dealing with will appreciate that dynamic. 


If you need to make a request here is how to start it off

Pursuant to the state open records law, Wash. Rev. Code Secs. 42.56.001 to 42.56.904 , I write to request access to and a copy of:

Then you need to phrase your request broadly enough to capture the docs you need w/o at the same time burying the relevant info under a mountain of ancillary documentation that only serves to frustrate your ability to deal with it.   
« Last Edit: November 13, 2017, 02:50:34 PM by JDHasty »

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2017, 04:14:15 PM »
Yes and their response was close to immediate and very professional. Make sure when making a FOIA request that you're specific about what you want but think of periphery that might include the items for which you're searching. For example, if you want to find out about the decision to hire Mary Jane Wolf Lover to work on the WAG, you might request "all correspondence relating to the search and hiring of the Wolf Advocacy Group Advisor, to include emails, phone and meeting transcripts, letters, or other pertinent forms of communication." If you ask for just emails, that's what you'll get.
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Offline DOUBLELUNG

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2017, 04:39:15 PM »
I would definitely ask for the data before going the FOIA route.  But that is up to you.
As long as we have the habitat, we can argue forever about who gets to kill what and when.  No habitat = no game.

Offline Bushcraft

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2017, 06:31:24 PM »
See if they will fork over what you are asking for w/o making a formal request.  Formal PDR is a PITA for any agency to deal with and the smart money is usually on giving up what is being requested w/o being compelled to fork it over...  but that doesn't mean that the individual you are dealing with will appreciate that dynamic. 


If you need to make a request here is how to start it off

Pursuant to the state open records law, Wash. Rev. Code Secs. 42.56.001 to 42.56.904 , I write to request access to and a copy of:

Then you need to phrase your request broadly enough to capture the docs you need w/o at the same time burying the relevant info under a mountain of ancillary documentation that only serves to frustrate your ability to deal with it.   


Yes and their response was close to immediate and very professional. Make sure when making a FOIA request that you're specific about what you want but think of periphery that might include the items for which you're searching. For example, if you want to find out about the decision to hire Mary Jane Wolf Lover to work on the WAG, you might request "all correspondence relating to the search and hiring of the Wolf Advocacy Group Advisor, to include emails, phone and meeting transcripts, letters, or other pertinent forms of communication." If you ask for just emails, that's what you'll get.

Extremely well said on both accounts.

Thank you.

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Offline JDHasty

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #7 on: November 13, 2017, 06:52:10 PM »
I would definitely ask for the data before going the FOIA route.  But that is up to you.

Be good to them and it will come back to you.  I was involved in ADA advocacy for decades and if you have a rep for doing what you can to not make the PIO's job worse than it already is will be appreciated by them. 

Believe me, if you are good to them they will help you with process when they could just let you flounder on your own.   

Online Bob33

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #8 on: November 13, 2017, 07:10:44 PM »
I've done it. The process is not complicated.
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Offline Man Tracker

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2017, 07:15:36 PM »
You can find the PDR form on their website.

Offline JDHasty

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #10 on: November 13, 2017, 07:16:40 PM »
I've done it. The process is not normally complicated.

It can become so though.  It does not hurt you one bit to treat those trying to fulfill your request decently and it may come back to your advantage to do so. 

Online pianoman9701

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #11 on: November 14, 2017, 07:23:58 AM »
I would definitely ask for the data before going the FOIA route.  But that is up to you.

Be good to them and it will come back to you.  I was involved in ADA advocacy for decades and if you have a rep for doing what you can to not make the PIO's job worse than it already is will be appreciated by them. 

Believe me, if you are good to them they will help you with process when they could just let you flounder on your own.

I just sent an email with Foia request in it and it was all very simple. Have you actually submitted any requests to the department for information? I get that you think FOIA will put up some barriers. That's not my experience at all. :dunno:
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Offline JDHasty

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #12 on: November 14, 2017, 09:59:30 AM »
I would definitely ask for the data before going the FOIA route.  But that is up to you.

Be good to them and it will come back to you.  I was involved in ADA advocacy for decades and if you have a rep for doing what you can to not make the PIO's job worse than it already is will be appreciated by them. 

Believe me, if you are good to them they will help you with process when they could just let you flounder on your own.

I just sent an email with Foia request in it and it was all very simple. Have you actually submitted any requests to the department for information? I get that you think FOIA will put up some barriers. That's not my experience at all. :dunno:

Yes, I have.  I did lots of ADA advocacy and have filed lots of requests on behalf of individuals and groups, sometimes you can experience public employees who think it is smart, or whatever, to play games with them. 

Offline bigtex

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #13 on: November 14, 2017, 04:29:15 PM »
FOIA is for federal agencies
PDR is for WA state agencies

Some WA agencies will only accept your request if you actually say PDR, if you say FOIA they'll say they're not governed by FOIA.

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Offline Special T

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Re: WDFW Public Record Requests
« Reply #14 on: November 14, 2017, 05:06:45 PM »
FOIA is for federal agencies
PDR is for WA state agencies

Some WA agencies will only accept your request if you actually say PDR, if you say FOIA they'll say they're not governed by FOIA.

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Amazing how using the correct verbiage is the main barrier to information many times.

When i was researching information for the Archery Club it was so much easier to ask for information in person since I was a layperson and knew none of the technical terms. It was harder because I had to meet up at thier convience  but worth the effort.

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