Wolf License Funding Proposal - Sharing the cost of Wolves

[bearpaw]

FUNDING PROPOSAL - Washington Wolf Management Funding Proposal

Whereas sportsmen have provided the funding for wolf recovery via the USFWS illegal use of Pittman-Robertson funds to introduce canadian wolves in the Rocky Mountains (these funds are derived from tax on the sale of sporting goods and mandated to go to states to help fund wildlife management);

Whereas Washington sportsmen, ranchers, and state forest users continue to fund wildlife management via license, tag, and Discover Pass sales;

Whereas the WDFW has a shortage of funding and is making cuts in their budget;

Whereas the WDFW and wolf groups claim that 70% of all Washington residents support the concept of wolf recovery;

Whereas the WDFW only has two (2) wolf trappers which cannot cover the entire state, and at least twelve (12) trappers are realistically needed;

Whereas the cost of managing depredating wolves is further stressing the WDFW budget;

Whereas an adequate fund should be available to pay for "probable" losses of cattle, pets, mitigation of losses to big game herds, etc, by wolves;

Whereas it can be expected that the cost of wolf management will increase as wolf numbers increase;

Whereas the WDFW is responsible for managing wolves throughout Washington including federal lands;

Whereas all residents of Washington should share the cost of wolf management;

Therefore a $10 Wolf Surcharge should be added to the cost of all vehicle licenses except for persons who display a current Washington hunting license, fishing license, or Discover Pass.

[Bob33]

It would pass in Seattle. There's never been a tax they didn't like.

[Cap.Silver]

Whereas they can ........,you know what .I'm sick and tired of their crap whereas it is wolf,new Sonics arena or 520 bridge ......

[BNAElkhntr]

FUNDING PROPOSAL - Washington Wolf Management Funding Proposal

Whereas hunters have provided the funding for wolf recovery via the USFWS illegal use of Pittman-Robertson funds to introduce canadian wolves in the Rocky Mountains (these funds are derived from tax on the sale of sporting goods and mandated to go to states to help fund wildlife management);

Whereas Washington hunters and fishers and state forest users continue to fund wildlife management via license, tag, and Discover Pass sales;

Whereas the WDFW has a shortage of funding and is making cuts in their budget;

Whereas the WDFW and wolf groups claim that 70% of all Washington residents support the concept of wolf recovery;

Whereas the WDFW only has two (2) wolf trappers which cannot cover the entire state, and at least twelve (12) trappers are realistically needed;

Whereas the cost of managing depredating wolves is further stressing the WDFW budget;

Whereas an adequate fund should be available to pay for "probable" losses of cattle, pets, mitigation of losses to big game herds, etc, by wolves;

Whereas it can be expected that the cost of wolf management will increase as wolf numbers increase;

Whereas the WDFW is responsible for managing wolves throughout Washington including federal lands;

Whereas all residents of Washington should share the cost of wolf management;

Therefore a $10 Wolf Surcharge should be added to the cost of all vehicle licenses except for persons who display a current Washington hunting license, fishing license, or Discover Pass.

 

[bearpaw]

I slightly revised the wording... 

[Bob33]

Add in something about building more bike lanes and slowing the polar ice caps from melting and you'll get 95% of Seattle to vote YES.

[CedarPants]

I've gotten into the funding debate many times with pro-wolfers on several different Facebook pages (including WDFW).  The like to hide behind the "we are tax paying citizens and therefor we contribute to wildlife conservation just like you do" facade.  Some of the more vocal ones go to great lengths to provide "stats" (that are clearly twisted to show the numbers they want) that show how much money comes from the general fund as opposed to hunting licenses/tags/fees/etc and they claim they pay "almost" as much as we do.

I of course don't buy it for a second - but a lot of folks on the pro wolf and/or anti-hunting crowd aren't very inclined to do any research of their own and they buy these claims hook, line, and sinker.

Just like they did when they voted to ban hound hunting, baiting, etc.  They learned long ago that they don't have to be right to chip away at our heritage.  They just have to be loud

[bearpaw]

Add in something about building more bike lanes and slowing the polar ice caps from melting and you'll get 95% of Seattle to vote YES.

How about a bicyle path through a King County wolf santuary for bad wolves.

[Special T]

I've gotten into the funding debate many times with pro-wolfers on several different Facebook pages (including WDFW).  The like to hide behind the "we are tax paying citizens and therefor we contribute to wildlife conservation just like you do" facade.  Some of the more vocal ones go to great lengths to provide "stats" (that are clearly twisted to show the numbers they want) that show how much money comes from the general fund as opposed to hunting licenses/tags/fees/etc and they claim they pay "almost" as much as we do.

I of course don't buy it for a second - but a lot of folks on the pro wolf and/or anti-hunting crowd aren't very inclined to do any research of their own and they buy these claims hook, line, and sinker.

Just like they did when they voted to ban hound hunting, baiting, etc.  They learned long ago that they don't have to be right to chip away at our heritage.  They just have to be loud

this is a very good point. we need to take our agency back yet they seem to court the bunny hugger crowd. 

[bobcat]

I like it except I'm not sure someone who only buys a Discover Pass should be exempt.

[h2ofowlr]

They should be funding the wolf recovery.  Wolf loss payments, etc.  If it starts tapping there budget they may change there mind.  Or they will be like the other side of the Humane Society that they don't talk about that euthanizes thousands of animals each year.  They should start feeding these animals to the prisioners that way they didn't go into landfills and cut down the cost to tax payers.