Trash on our NW rivers.

[kingfisher82]

  You know I'm sick and tired of finding garbage on the rivers here in WA. Went fishing on Monday to get away from the shoulder fishing on the Skookumchuck river and I was completely hurt what I saw. I cant believe all the jig wrappers and bait containers. So I went down river a bit and found more of the same stuff from where only the locals go. I packed out my whole backpak of trash from lazy people just dropping it on the ground. And another thing that chapped my ass is farmers gates being left open, and fences wired open so you can just step over it. I stopped fishing all the popular rivers because of this stuff why dont we all be true sportsmen and Pack it in pack it out. If you see someone do please educate them and teach them that it your river/woods too. Ok thats my 

[huntnphool]

I always pick up a garbage bag full when I am out as well.

[Mfowl]

I agree! Its not just our rivers either. I am constantly cleaning up spent shells and other trash from my favorite public land duck hunting spots. If an area provides you with the activities you enjoy, you should have the decency to take care of it! I try to earn myself "field karma" by cleaning up the areas I hunt and fish when I'm there. It has proven effective as I usually get rewarded after doing so.

[ML_Hunter]

If we want to utilize the outdoors, either fishing or hunting, then we should ALL learn how to pick up after not only ourselves, but others as well.

Going back to the Boy Scouts Outdoor Code..."leave no trace"

Thanks for bringing up this topic. Hopefully it will make more people stop, think, and ACT.

[scotty1969]

i pick up garbage almost everywhere i go to shoot,hunt fish wherever always wonder why these people dont get fined by the always prevalent wardens.dont get me wrong ive never had any probs with wardens never break the rules but when they are watching with binos at the river they could give citations unless they are worried about blowing there cover for something bigger great post also get this one out

[BigGoonTuna]

i don't understand what's so damned hard about packing out your trash...surely it can't be hard to stuff it back in your pocket where it came from?

fished a special little SW river yesterday...couldn't believe all the trash down there, never seen it like that before.

[boneaddict]

5 full pickup loads from the LT Murray to the dump last year.  Most of it gathered around shooting areas.  I was embarrassed to be a sportsman. 

[Skyvalhunter]

Should never be embarrassed to be a sportsman. Just like being a teacher there are going to be a few bad apples in every batch. Unfortunately some like to focus on the few.

[LowRange]

 I have always thought that on a typical 3 day weekend that it could be very helpful if the Forest Service or the Sheriff in the area could just make a friendly visit to people camping in the areas were put on notice that after the 3 day weekend the various sites will be visited again and any litter and trashed out sites/fire pits etc. would be noted and sent a litter fine in the mail.
 Seems to me that  taking notes of license numbers and some friendly conversation would let people know that the way they leave the sites will be noticed.

 My hope is that the word will get out and this non sense will be reduced through education and fairness.

 Not a heavy handed warning,just a friendly Hello,how you all doing kinda thing this weekend,oh and by the way we will be making the  rounds again after the weekend is over just so this area does not get put on a list for be closed.
 I think that it could make an impact.       

[boneaddict]

Could you imagine the banter on here.       

[eastsidemallard74]

I live in Moses, and at acal shooting area , same thing. So on Saturday we were coming out from hunting yotes.As were driving back to the main road, theres one sites,everyone and their mother dumps crap. me and my hunting buddy awere digusted by it, than we notice, on top of some garbage, a dead dog and doe.Placed on top of a sheet of wood.As we got onto the frontage road we saw fish and game, tried to flag him down,eventually caught up to him doing 50 down the dirt road.Asked if he seen the doe and dog, no BS his exact answer......Oh yeah on top of all the garbage, it's been here a few days. I was blown away. Why don't they set up stings to keep these areas clean and free of debris. Set up a game cam, heck I bet most of the garbage is traceable because of reciepts,mail,etc....We're thinking about renting a tractor to clean up the area, it's gross and sad.

[kisfish]

It is very sad. The rivers and coast line are littered with trash. I think most sportsman do pick up after the slobs but they seem to outnumber us by 20 to 1. The other thing that gets me fired up is the huge balls of line that people leave on the shores. Two days ago some butt hole dumped an appliance off on my property just after the drive entrance. I was so ticked off. I am going to get another drive way monitor as the one I have stopped working about three weeks ago

[npaull]

Totally with you kingfisher. I wish littering had MUCH harsher penalties. So many unbelievable slobs out there. Makes me furious.

[boneaddict]

That looks even worse than LT, Eastmallard.  Probably because more folks clean up LT, like the Smokepole guys etc.    That spot is horrible.   

[kingfisher82]

It is very sad. The rivers and coast line are littered with trash. I think most sportsman do pick up after the slobs but they seem to outnumber us by 20 to 1. The other thing that gets me fired up is the huge balls of line that people leave on the shores. Two days ago some butt hole dumped an appliance off on my property just after the drive entrance. I was so ticked off. I am going to get another drive way monitor as the one I have stopped working about three weeks ago

yeah I live on the river and let people fish and that was a mistake. Spinner wrappers and what not on my bank so now I'm very shy on letting people fish.

[h20hunter]

There is hope....just a bit.

Last Sunday my brother in law and I were heading up to my cam. At the gate we met a fella and his granddaughter. I've chatted with them a few times and seem like nice folks. While we were chatting the young lady just started picking up a few pieces of trash here and there. I'm embarassed to say I've walked past the same old pop can two weeks ago. Told myself then I am going to keep a plastic bag and do a better job myself.

[turkeyfeather]

See now this would be a great opportunity for WDFW. They could hold clean up days that would have some sort of incentive for sportsman to help with clean-up.  Like give out extra points. When we go shooting my kids and I will always pick up all our shells and then some, but I gotta be honest I am not picking up others garbage.

[xd2005]

See now this would be a great opportunity for WDFW. They could hold clean up days that would have some sort of incentive for sportsman to help with clean-up.  Like give out extra points. When we go shooting my kids and I will always pick up all our shells and then some, but I gotta be honest I am not picking up others garbage.

Discover Pass 

[scotty1969]

  but also while they are watching for violaters breaking fish and game rules fine these people

[kingfisher82]

 

[Taco280AI]

Unfortunately there are some trashy people who also hunt and fish and it makes us all look bad. I was fortunate to have a friend invite me on his hunting lease down here and their blinds are full of trash from the local bubbas. Bottles, cigarette butts, all kinds of trash just left in them. He can't stand it either and can't wait to retire and move away.

[Taco280AI]

Which just reminded me about the roads, there is litter everywhere! Couldn't believe how much junk you see just driving. Seems to be a southern thing - Alabama and Georgia in particular from what I've seen so far.

[Becky]

It's become standard practice for us to bring extra garbage bags, and we've literally spent almost an hour filling them up and placing new bags out in a tree for people to fill with their garbage that we grab on the next trip. It IS horrible, but unfortunately I'm not one to speak up and tell someone to pick up their trash though, too many drunk fishermen already yelling at each other for crossing lines, I don't want to get into it.. I do however, walk over to their item they just threw down, and pick it up while looking at them and walk over and put it in the trash. I let other people yell at them haha.

[Becky]

-Also, this is why places get closed down for public access!

[kingfisher82]

Im glad to see so many people feel the same way. I think I'm going to devote one day a month to pick up trash in my local river.

[fishingfool]

I went down to the Grande Ronde yesterday, and other than broken bottles and such in the fire rings I was pleasantly surprised. Very little trash, considering the amount of traffic the river sees. Fishing report; river was high, off color, coming back into shape, all the ice gone, no fish. ff

[cohoho]

Good job...

[BOWHUNTER45]

tHIS IS THE ONLY REASON I HATE HUMPY FISHERMEN ...They just pollute they river with shrimp containers -beer cans and beer bottles ... I have picked up many garbage bags full of trash off the Skagit and everytime I was allowed to take the bags to the land fill for free ....everyone should do the same ! 

[6x6in6]

tHIS IS THE ONLY REASON I HATE HUMPY FISHERMEN ...They just pollute they river with shrimp containers -beer cans and beer bottles ... I have picked up many garbage bags full of trash off the Skagit and everytime I was allowed to take the bags to the land fill for free ....everyone should do the same ! 

Make sure and lift the trash entirely out of the water before taking a picture.
Wouldn't want it to go badly for you.

just sayin'   

[huntnphool]

tHIS IS THE ONLY REASON I HATE HUMPY FISHERMEN ...They just pollute they river with shrimp containers -beer cans and beer bottles ... I have picked up many garbage bags full of trash off the Skagit and everytime I was allowed to take the bags to the land fill for free ....everyone should do the same ! 

Make sure and lift the trash entirely out of the water before taking a picture.
Wouldn't want it to go badly for you.

just sayin'   

Now thats some funny chit right there!

[Becky]

tHIS IS THE ONLY REASON I HATE HUMPY FISHERMEN ...They just pollute they river with shrimp containers -beer cans and beer bottles ... I have picked up many garbage bags full of trash off the Skagit and everytime I was allowed to take the bags to the land fill for free ....everyone should do the same ! 

How do you get it dumped for free? Just let them know it was publicly collected?

Im glad to see so many people feel the same way. I think I'm going to devote one day a month to pick up trash in my local river.

I'm doing this soon, maybe make a weekly trip or effort out of it.