Not Chosen for WDFW Game Management Council

[pianoman9701]

I was kind of surprised and kind of not. I believe I'm very qualified for the council. Master Hunter, Hunter Education Instructor, lifelong hunter and woodsman, conservationist, activist. It's probably the last one which got me. I've been very outspoken with the DFW regarding my opposition to the wolf plan. It's disappointing I was passed over and feel I would have been a good representative of sportsmen to serve on it. Maybe they weren't looking for one of those. 

[Boss .300 winmag]

You have to be PC, tell everyone that wolves will be good for all. 

[Fishing Fool]

Actually, I would take it as a compliment, turkeys and buzzards don't roost in the same tree. FF

[Wacenturion]

I was kind of surprised and kind of not. I believe I'm very qualified for the council. Master Hunter, Hunter Education Instructor, lifelong hunter and woodsman, conservationist, activist. It's probably the last one which got me. I've been very outspoken with the DFW regarding my opposition to the wolf plan. It's disappointing I was passed over and feel I would have been a good representative of sportsmen to serve on it. Maybe they weren't looking for one of those. 

Take it as a compliment to your character.  To answer your question....yes they want folks that just tend to go along.  It's all a smoke and mirror show.  The council just gives some credibility to WDFW's Wildlife Management proposals that are put forth to the Commission.  Otherwise we would not have all these half assed regulations, seasons and whatever.

You have to understand ...management to WDFW is for the most part paper and meetings.  What little gets done in the field anymore does not come out of Olympia or a Regional office.  Been that way for a long time.

So in summary, your time is better spent doing other things. 

[Bob33]

I would not take it personally, nor try to read too much into it. I know some of the council members, and they are not all pro-wolf rubber stampers by any means. Indeed, many are just as frustrated with certain aspects of WDFW as we may be.

I'm sorry you weren't selected; you would have been a very good representative.

[ELKBURGER]

I think you lost them at being an avid hunter and outdoorsman. Thats the last thing they want on the inside making rules or changes. Now if you were a CPA...they would've snatched you right up!

[csaaphill]

wow didn't even know all that you were wanting it? or applied?
Prolly like the others stated they want status quo people not someone to rock the boat.

[pianoman9701]

I would not take it personally, nor try to read too much into it. I know some of the council members, and they are not all pro-wolf rubber stampers by any means. Indeed, many are just as frustrated with certain aspects of WDFW as we may be.

I'm sorry you weren't selected; you would have been a very good representative.

Thanks Bob. I kind of think so, too.

[idahohuntr]

I was selected.  I look forward to serving on this council...depending on rules and requirements hopefully there will be opportunities to engage with folks on this forum about issues that matter to them.

[bobcat]

I was selected.  I look forward to serving on this council...depending on rules and requirements hopefully there will be opportunities to engage with folks on this forum about issues that matter to them.

Awesome!

Great to have a hunter on the GMAC!

Especially if you're willing to keep the members of this site up to speed on the issues.

Congratulations!   

[bearpaw]

I was selected.  I look forward to serving on this council...depending on rules and requirements hopefully there will be opportunities to engage with folks on this forum about issues that matter to them.

Awesome!

Great to have a hunter on the GMAC!

Especially if you're willing to keep the members of this site up to speed on the issues.

Congratulations!   

I agree, congrats on getting selected and thanks for wanting to keep us up to speed. 

[Special T]

idahohuntr thankyou for taking the time to let us know. I think its interesting that the WDFW always wants input from its members yet never takes the time to engage the hook and bullet crowd where we are. The Best thing YOU can do for us that want to facilitate change is to help keep us informed. 

[pianoman9701]

I was selected.  I look forward to serving on this council...depending on rules and requirements hopefully there will be opportunities to engage with folks on this forum about issues that matter to them.

Good to hear.

[winshooter88]

Actually most of the people on the GMAC are avid hunters and outdoorsmen and women. All of them take the position seriously. I've been a member for 5 1/2 years, and can tell you that it isn't easy to get the department to change their course. As for as I know there are no totally pro wolf people in the group. There are reps from sportsman's conservation  groups, archers, muzzle loaders, modern rifle, cattlemen, ranchers, the disabled community and a few others. We had several new members at the December meeting. Anyone who wants to can apply next year as the director wants to address the complaint that he has heard that no one new has a chance to serve on the group, and all of the current members will have to reapply next year.

On of the biggest discussions at this meeting was support for the WDFW and the leathal take of the Wedge pack. The department got over 12,000 negative comments within 48 hours of the announcement that they were going to kill the wolves and just a handfull of positive comments. They need our support for these kind of things. This is a battle that we are all interested in and as a group we need to show that we support wolf management.

Hunters are a very small group of the total population of the state and if we are going to have any chance to keep hunting in the future we need to work togeather and stop all the bickering between user groups.

[washelkhunter]

They should except as a defacto truth that 95% of all hunters are opposed to the wolves being allowed to reestablish themselves in Wa. st.

[Ridgerunner]

I didn't apply this year but last year and wasn't selected.  Was bummed

[csaaphill]

would be nice yes someone to post concerns to and hunting reg and oportunity's 

[Special T]

There is a guy on here that IS on the Council and He IS posting about meetings...
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,111598.0.html
Idahoehuntr is on the council.

[bobcat]

Don't forget wingshooter88, who posted previously in this thread.

He is on the council as well, and has been for several years.

[Special T]

Looks like we have a couple of people that will keep us informed! 

[popeshawnpaul]

I've been on the GMAC for 2-3 years.  The "rubber stamp" and negative comments about current members are not even close to factual reality.  I've kept WSB members or those interested informed on what occurs at the meetings for years.  I think there might be some misconception on the purpose of the GMAC from a few.  I know of at least two other members that have not spoken up or seen this thread that are also on here.  Most are hunters.  Few like wolves.  A broad range of types are selected to represent each type and group.  Perhaps your interests are duplicative of current membership...

[bobcat]

I never even heard of the GMAC until a couple years ago when the new special permit categories were created by the WDFW, and Dave Ware announced that the GMAC supported and approved of it. So because of that fiasco, I'm not sure I trust the GMAC. 90% of the hunters on this forum were against the changes to the permit system, yet the GMAC told the WDFW and the Commission that it was a wonderful idea.   

[Bob33]

Don't forget that Dave Ware also said hunters supported it...

[winshooter88]

Dave said that the GMAC unanimously supported the increases, in fact it was more 65%-35%. I think some of the members on the forum feel the GMAC has more influence than is really the case. We give our opinions to the WDFW director and they make the decisions, not us. Most of the members are there as representatives of a group or organizations and share the ideas or concerns of those groups as well as the hunting community in general.
Something to remember is that there are a wide range of opinions just on this forum, so it is hard to present every possible idea put forth by the forum members.

As far as sending in comments in support of the WDFW like on the Wedge pack, yes the WDFW already knows where most hunters stand on this issue. The point is, that they need the current comments in support of things going on now to show that not everyone feels the same as the animal rights groups who have a huge comment machine in place. It would help in the court of public opinion.

[Kola16]

I never even heard of the GMAC until a couple years ago when the new special permit categories were created by the WDFW, and Dave Ware announced that the GMAC supported and approved of it. So because of that fiasco, I'm not sure I trust the GMAC. 90% of the hunters on this forum were against the changes to the permit system, yet the GMAC told the WDFW and the Commission that it was a wonderful idea.   

Never heard of it till just now 

[TheHunt]

On of the biggest discussions at this meeting was support for the WDFW and the leathal take of the Wedge pack. The department got over 12,000 negative comments within 48 hours of the announcement that they were going to kill the wolves and just a handfull of positive comments. They need our support for these kind of things. This is a battle that we are all interested in and as a group we need to show that we support wolf management.

Hunters are a very small group of the total population of the state and if we are going to have any chance to keep hunting in the future we need to work togeather and stop all the bickering between user groups.

WOW, we need to step it up.  12,000 verses a few is very disturbing.

[Special T]

Dispite the negative comments by a few those of you who attned WDFW meeting like the DMAC or the WAG etc NEED to speak up and hold these guys accountable. The comment about the truth being that hunters supported somehting 100% when that was NOT the case is a great example of the problem. WE (collectively) let them tell lies and do nothing to keep them honest. In return people who volunteer (tying to do the right thing) get the hammer for something that is not true. PLEASE do not be the fall guys for the WDFW. SPEAK UP! Call their lies on the carpet, If they are not listening then YOU MUST SPEAK UP!... That is if you want things to change for the better. Thankyou for volunteering.