Heated Wolf Meeting In Colville

[bearpaw]

WDFW held a wolf meeting in Colville last night that was attended by 300+ people. WDFW detailed their compensation program, discussed cattleman's contracts, and how ranchers need to handle predation on cattle.

WDFW thought they were going to break the meeting into small groups, Len McIrvin stood up and said "No, this group wants to stay together as one group!" after loud applause faded WDFW continued explaining how the evening would be handled. Len McIrvin spoke up again and said "Maybe you didn't understand were staying together as one group so everyone can hear what each other has to say!" Once they started calling on people to ask questions McIrvin explained that the WDFW did not remove the whole wedge pack, within 2 days there were more wolves near their cattle. Another thing McIrvin stated later in the evening is that he and his family were threatened by WDFW that if any wolf was found dead they would be fully investigated and their firearms taken from their homes and ballistic tests done.

County commissioners were present and two of them spoke out. Mike Blankenship, Ferry County Commissioner, said they need to go back to Olympia and explain to the director that wolves are out of control. Steve Parker, Stevens County Commissioner, wanted to know who was involved in the threat to McIrvins of a full investigation and confiscation of firearms. WDFW personnel at the meeting said they didn't know, Steve Parker said he wanted a reply from WDFW on who threatened the McIrvins, he made it clear he expected a reply.

Many people spoke about subjects such as Joel Kretz's legislation to move wolves to western WA, why wolves were illegally introduced, laws that were violated, wolf tapeworms, agenda 21, a young girl nearly broke into tears explaining that she has goats and sheep and her parents are not allowed to protect them, an old lady said she is afraid to walk outside her home because of all the wolf sightings near her home. Hunters and landowners talked about how deer are disappearing in many areas, places where it was normal to see 100 to 200 deer in alfalfa fields and now only 20 to 30 deer remain.

I told them I was insulted that they were telling us they are surprised at how fast wolves have multiplied after knowing and seeing what happened in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, I spoke about how residents in Idaho were taking care of the problem in Idaho and that WDFW was going to force people in NE WA to do the same. I spoke of restaurant and motel owners in Idaho who were forced out of business, how Idaho F&G has lost millions in funding which means small communities have lost far more in their economies with many businesses shutting down. I explained how important hunting is to our local economy and that local people depend on wildlife to feed their families. I noted that I always reported poachers in the past but I would never report a wolf poacher, I mentioned that Bill White used to live in Colville, he's a good man and that what they did to him and his family was not right, it cost the White's over $100,000, they destroyed his life and his children's lives over two wolves.

I asked why their was only 2 or 3 or 2 1/2 trappers as they had explained it in our state which has thousands of square miles territory and that there should be 15 to 25 trappers to adequately find and collar all the wolf packs. I explained how sightings indicate we have in excess of 100 wolves just in NE WA with at least 15 packs.

A rancher drove up from Lincoln County who has wolves on his ranch and wanted to know why WDFW wasn't trying to help in his county. He said he doesn't have time to babysit a pack of wolves. There were many other questions and comments made by local residents, too many to remember or list. The meeting was very heated at times and no doubt the WDFW got a good taste of local dissatisfaction.

[Houndhunter]

That would've been a great one to attend!

[pianoman9701]

Yeah, I'd have loved to have seen that. I hope they take it to heart. I'm afraid that the Commission has taken the decision-making out of their hands completely, though.

[358NM]

Thanks for the report, would have loved to been able to attend.

[Fl0und3rz]

Video would be awesome.  Thanks for taking the time to share and for relating how a lot of us feel, even if we are coasties.

[bearpaw]

There is a meeting tonight in Okanogan for anyone who can attend, the more they hear from unsatisfied people the better. 

[turkeyfeather]

Sounds like WDFW is in some serious denial. I think they got caught with their pants down on this and don't know what to do now.

[huntnphool]

Once they started calling on people to ask questions McIrvin explained that the WDFW did not remove the whole wedge pack

Exactly what I said when they claimed they did, just more political BS and lies.

they were telling us they are surprised at how fast wolves have multiplied after knowing and seeing what happened in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming,

I attended all of those early meetings, there were several people, including Vice Chair Duvia that gave them statistics from those other states. When the estimated numbers where on the screen from their powerpoint presentation Duvia told them flat out that their numbers were way low and asked them why they believed Washington would be any different...................there were crickets!!!

[boneaddict]

Good stuff Dale.  I wish they'd listen.  I wish theyd have listened to all of my chirping for the last 10 years.

[hunter-4-life]

Thanks for the update as to what went on at the meeting for all of us that couldn't make it.

[buckfvr]

This isnt about the Commission...( IMHO ), and they  ( WDFW ), are not in denial.....THEY ARE ON SCHEDULE.  The politicians of this state are following the lead in DC....And its not new. 

Ive said it here before, wolves are the end run to eliminate hunting.  We will all see the need  for the state to protect ungulate herds.  No hunting, no need for guns.  Our legislators, and our governor are moving in that direction.  Do not see this as just another state issue, rather its part of the big picture.

People continue to say no hunting, no WDFW LEOs.....well guess what....they are state police, they will not loose their jobs.  They are past caring about local impact of any kind....they are part of the machine that is broken.  They are quick to say   " we work for you ".....so if thats the case, why cant we fire them ?   They ALL need firing for derelection of duty for not rising up and being counted in Spokane and Olympia. They go with the flow and survive......just what we need in a situation like this. 

We, as hunters and fishers, have an unlimited enemy in this state.....our own regional politicians are so heavily out numbered by the drones of the puget sound basin,  it is starting to seem like a no win situation.  They ( state managers ) intend to do what they want without regard to anyone else.  The antis cancel the votes of our local representation.

I only hope they get to the bottom of who in WDFW threatened McIrvins......a job should be lost in short order.

[AspenBud]

It would be helpful to have as many different faces and voices show up at these things as possible. If it's the same people making the same arguments they'll just brush it off as "that's old Joe Bob, he shows up at all of these things and is never agreeable."

[bearpaw]

They made a slight slip of the lip, not sure how many people caught it, but they said something like "there is a lot of emotion on both sides of the issue and "money" involved with wolves. I caught it and at that point I knew exactly as I previously thought, that what rural people and hunters say matters very little. Unfortunately when I spoke I forgot to comment about that.

One thing is obvious: WDFW is happy suckling on the tit of the wolf.

[Kc_Kracker]

next time strap a go-pro to your hat and put it on you tube!!

[h2ofowlr]

We don't hunt Idaho anymore as the wolves killed our spot.  I still will never turn in someone that shoot a wolf.  I wish all these guys that say they would turn in a wolf shooter could walk in the shoes of these farmers/ ranchers.  They would become changed individuals over night!