Master hunter enrollment suspended!

[Dip-Zag]

Does this bother anyone? Are the master hunter draw hunts still a go? Are the master hunters excited that there odds for getting drawn are now improved. This seems to send the wrong message. Any details  i'm missing guys?

[Dan-o]

Is this some special suspension or it it the standard thing they do every year where they only take apps at certain times of the year?

I think it's the latter.......   Which is fine.   I have no issue with them having "open" enrollment periods and "closed" times.

[Dip-Zag]

WDFW freezes enrollment in Master Hunter Program

OLYMPIA – With current enrollment nearing 2,000 hunters, the Master Hunter Permit Program administered by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has stopped accepting new applications for membership until further notice.

The enrollment freeze is designed to give the department time to absorb an increase of nearly 30 percent more certified master hunters over the past four years and clearly define the program’s role, said Sgt. Carl Klein, WDFW program manager.

“Since 1992, the program has produced a highly skilled pool of volunteers that assist the department in controlling wildlife damage,” Klein said. “Now we need to make sure we can utilize the skills of all master hunters.”

Klein said WDFW often calls on master hunters to participate in hunts designed to remove problem animals that damage property or threaten public safety. To maintain their certification, master hunters are required to participate in volunteer projects, ranging from maintaining elk fences to restoring wildlife habitat.

Mike Britton, chair of WDFW’s Master Hunter Advisory Group, said he supports the department’s review of the program.

“There is an urgent need for WDFW to identify priority volunteer needs and to actively engage master hunters in meaningful work,” he said.

[Dan-o]

Interesting.   thanks.

Don't worry, I'm sure they'll still let you fix elk fence and do other service projects.     

[CP]

It doesn’t bother me.  The number of MHs should be limited to a manageable amount.  Those that still wish to join can go on a wait list. 

[pianoman9701]

It sounds to me like we have enough MHs, according to this article. I have no problem with that. It doesn't increase odds for MHs tags at all. To the contrary, it means that we have more MHs than we have in the past and the odds will be greater than they have been. Most of the MHs I've had the pleasure of meeting are more concerned with the integrity of the program and their personal adherence to guidelines and ethics, than for their chance of a nice tag. The program has changed greatly over the last 3 or 4 years.

[Bob33]

I support the program and believe this is a prudent move.

[Dip-Zag]

Thanks for the input guys. It seems to me that WDFW could never have enough ethical hunters, volunteers, or those that support the integrity of the program. Since I was not at the meetings I'm attempting understand the logic. How has the integrity been jeopardized?

[Humptulips]

If it's truly about integrity, good marksmanship and giving back to the sport and wildlife why would they freeze it?
It sounds more like it's about a pool of free labor for WDFW and they are trying to figure out where to put them top work.
Wasn't originally like that. When I went through it you could find your own project. I did that with a clean up project on USFS land.
If there are going to be special hunts for MH it's only fair to allow anyone in that can qualify.
I hope this is just a short pullback and not a longstanding freeze.

[pianoman9701]

If it's truly about integrity, good marksmanship and giving back to the sport and wildlife why would they freeze it?
It sounds more like it's about a pool of free labor for WDFW and they are trying to figure out where to put them top work.
Wasn't originally like that. When I went through it you could find your own project. I did that with a clean up project on USFS land.
If there are going to be special hunts for MH it's only fair to allow anyone in that can qualify.
I hope this is just a short pullback and not a longstanding freeze.

You can still find your own projects. You just need to get them pre-approved. The program is very much about integrity and ethics. As far as limiting the number of those enrolled, I can only assume that the more people in the program, the more it takes to manage. As far as free labor for the DFW is concerned, the labor is used for conservation, so it's more for the wildlife than the department. Especially where there are increasing budget constraints at every level of government, to be able to expend volunteer labor on conservation means that paid DFW labor can be expended elsewhere.

[billythekidrock]

If it's truly about integrity, good marksmanship and giving back to the sport and wildlife why would they freeze it?
It sounds more like it's about a pool of free labor for WDFW and they are trying to figure out where to put them top work.
Wasn't originally like that. When I went through it you could find your own project. I did that with a clean up project on USFS land.
If there are going to be special hunts for MH it's only fair to allow anyone in that can qualify.
I hope this is just a short pullback and not a longstanding freeze.

You can still find your own projects. You just need to get them pre-approved. The program is very much about integrity and ethics. As far as limiting the number of those enrolled, I can only assume that the more people in the program, the more it takes to manage. As far as free labor for the DFW is concerned, the labor is used for conservation, so it's more for the wildlife than the department. Especially where there are increasing budget constraints at every level of government, to be able to expend volunteer labor on conservation means that paid DFW labor can be expended elsewhere.

I agree that if special permits are given then they need to continue to allow people to join.

I was told MHs could find their own projects but they could not be for private land owners and they had to be WDFW or RMEF. The hours and maintenance we provided to a landowner allowed hunters access to hunt his land and to pass through to some land that thin on public access. They would not approve my hours only months before the deadline and they told me to find something new. I declined since the program is joke. Screw 'em.

[pianoman9701]

If it's truly about integrity, good marksmanship and giving back to the sport and wildlife why would they freeze it?
It sounds more like it's about a pool of free labor for WDFW and they are trying to figure out where to put them top work.
Wasn't originally like that. When I went through it you could find your own project. I did that with a clean up project on USFS land.
If there are going to be special hunts for MH it's only fair to allow anyone in that can qualify.
I hope this is just a short pullback and not a longstanding freeze.

You can still find your own projects. You just need to get them pre-approved. The program is very much about integrity and ethics. As far as limiting the number of those enrolled, I can only assume that the more people in the program, the more it takes to manage. As far as free labor for the DFW is concerned, the labor is used for conservation, so it's more for the wildlife than the department. Especially where there are increasing budget constraints at every level of government, to be able to expend volunteer labor on conservation means that paid DFW labor can be expended elsewhere.

I agree that if special permits are given then they need to continue to allow people to join.

I was told MHs could find their own projects but they could not be for private land owners and they had to be WDFW or RMEF. The hours and maintenance we provided to a landowner allowed hunters access to hunt his land and to pass through to some land that thin on public access. They would not approve my hours only months before the deadline and they told me to find something new. I declined since the program is joke. Screw 'em.

I find it to be quite rewarding. I'm sorry your experience was different. I've been participating for three years now and have done a crap load of projects. I'm not sure about the private land thing, but the projects are certainly not limited to DFW or RMEF. There are DU projects, Pheasant Forever, you can pick up trash on any public lands.

There's a lot of misinformation out there that has to do with ignorance of the program (I'm not calling you ignorant), and due to a past that was sometimes not stellar (see the Skagit Valley fiasco). My experience is overwhelmingly positive and I have yet to go on a MH hunt, although I'm on call for a Region 5 damage tag if they get to my name way down the list. I don't care if I get called or not. The stuff I learned about hunting during the qualification period was excellent. The way I now relate to non-hunters (I'm not talking about anti-hunters) is far different and vastly more productive. And, the program, sometimes much to the chagrin of the DFW, has awakened in me a passion for pursuing legislative and departmental cure for the ills which hunters face in our country today. I'm now very active politically with regards to sportsmen issues. I also stared mentoring due almost completely to my participation in the program.

Billythekid, once you have certified and are a part of the program, you get out of it exactly what you put in. If you're expecting something from the DFW just because you're now a MH, you're going to be greatly disappointed. The tags are only so much fluff. Those who will glean the most are in the program for the true benefits, personal achievement and education, benefits to the hunter, the hunted, our youth, and to the future of our sport through activism and volunterrism.

[Kowsrule30]

I fixed a lot of elk fences I know that... And haven't gotten a call or drawn a tag for anything... Most the tags are antlerless... Some any elk... And a lot of the areas are private land... If you can't get access you're wasting your time applying... Or Like a friend did two maybe three years ago... He was drawn for an any elk tag... Called the game dept... It was one of those tags that they will call you when needed... He was told he was first on the list.... He was very excited having not gotten and elk in years... Didn't go on his regular season hunt to save the time and money for the tag he drew... He never got a call even after repeated attemps to contact WDFW and figuring out who owned the land, who managed it, and who to try to contact.... He didn't spend a day hunting elk that year and has since pulled his MH card... So it's really a great program with lots of rewards to some... Others not so much....

[Bob33]

I fixed a lot of elk fences I know that... And haven't gotten a call or drawn a tag for anything... Most the tags are antlerless... Some any elk

All the elk permits are antlerless.

[Kowsrule30]

I fixed a lot of elk fences I know that... And haven't gotten a call or drawn a tag for anything... Most the tags are antlerless... Some any elk

All the elk permits are antlerless.

I didn't apply for any this year... Thought there use to be some any elk ones?? Maybe a few years ago??? Don't know if I'm right but maybe around the Toledo area??