Heated Wolf Meeting In Colville

[bearpaw]

I know cattle is a very high profile part of this mess, but there is an important big game equation in this that affects many more of us than cattle issues.....

I completely agree, unfortunately so many people do not understand that, for some reason cattle gets more attention, I suspicion it's because they are better organized.

I've been a bit confused as to why the vast majority of the attention is being paid to depredations with almost no discussion about maintaining a certain level of hunter opportunity. My only guess is that most of the consulting WDFW officials receive is from wildlife managers who were/are operating in NRM states that have a much more powerful livestock lobby. They may also just be unprepared to handle that issue at this point. 

Dale, who from the WDFW took a prominent role in the meeting and how did they perform under the intensity?

It can be a lonely feeling to stand in front of a large crowd who are not happy with you.....

Livestock producers had losses last summer in excess of $100,000, just as they have in other states, no doubt a reason for addressing ranching impacts first. The WDFW is supposed to be back in 1 month to discuss wolf impacts on wildlife herds. Please understand that they heard a lot about wildlife as well as ranching at this meeting. Local hunters and ranchers do not have as much division as there is in urban WA. Ranchers and hunters tend to support each other far more in rural areas. At the next meeting I would expect ranchers will be represented as well as hunters.

Donny Martorello, Dave Ware, Steve Pozzanghera, and a new woman who's name I don't recall, spoke for most of the meeting. Gary Douvia from the Wildlife Commission was there as were some other WDFW personnel who didn't speak much. They all did very well representing WDFW and handled themselves as best as they could in my opinion considering the WDFW position on wolves.

WDFW was made very aware that unrealistic western WA wolf management is not welcome in NE WA, hopefully they discussed the details in Olympia. But many people were left feeling WDFW was just here so they can say they conducted public meetings and they offered some "limited" help to ranchers. Sort of a fuzzy feel good approach that is lacking in any real compensation for actual livestock losses. I think most people feel WDFW will not take any real action to address wolf problems in rural Washington. It's very apparent ranchers and hunters are second rate citizens after I-5 wolf lovers whom the WDFW seems to dance for.

FYI - Numerous people stated that they were not directing their comments at WDFW personnel on an individual or personal basis.

[huntnphool]

The WDFW is supposed to be back in 1 month to discuss wolf impacts on wildlife herds.

You see Dale, this is just BS!!! They sat there at the proposal meeting and flat out told everyone there that "wolves would have no impact on big game populations", so why must they now have a meeting in a month to discuss the impact wolves are having on the ungulates?

Then, after they lied through their teeth, they posted up their powerpoint presentation. It showed rediculously low predation numbers, and Duvia argued and estimated half the available elk to be killed will be taken out by wolves.  To rebut that, they stated that the wolf predation on the elk would be compensatory so it wasn't a 1:1 wolf taking an elk that could be hunted.  Yet they did not know an actual number.

They seem to forget that some people actually take notes and don't sleep through the BS they're shoveling.

[buckfvr]

Its a sad state of affairs when the agency you represent sends you out to lie to the public........and thats exactly whats happening.  THrowing their own employees to the proverbial wolves........

AND that right there get s me a red *** as much as anything else, is the fact that they are willing to show up and lie to us.....we all know it, theres nothing else it can be called.   

[Ridgeratt]

   

[turkeyfeather]

Its a sad state of affairs when the agency you represent sends you out to lie to the public........and thats exactly whats happening.  THrowing their own employees to the proverbial wolves........

AND that right there get s me a red *** as much as anything else, is the fact that they are willing to show up and lie to us.....we all know it, theres nothing else it can be called.   

This is the result of the classic problem of them thinking they are smarter than everyone else. WDFW grossly underestimates the hunters and the fact that we can put 2 and 2 together and figure out their line of el toro caca.

[johnsc6]

Hate to say it but you guys are to late. I attended the local meeting here in Skagit Valley about 10 years ago when the WDFW was putting together thier proposals, and yes all of the proposals where gross. But some where much better than what we got. We ended up with the second most destructive of the proposals as far as hunting and ranching is concerned. The sad part was out of the I would guess 100 attendees only five or six of those were anti wolf introduction. Four hunters (three of which were with me) and one Timber manager that helped bring back the Nooksack Elk herd (and I am sure also looking after his timber harvest interests) were the only ones to speak out against the wolf reintroduction.. Get involved early in the developmental stages to make a difference. I'm not saying don't try to change what has happened, but early volunteer involvment is what it takes.  This whole show stinks as badly as I-655 in '96.  If you don't remeber what that was, shame on you. This will not be the last assault on Sportsmen, remember we are the vast minority.

[pianoman9701]

John, a great many of us from all over the state have been working against this program. The state didn't care what any of us had to say because they were swapping spit with the feds, who were swapping spit with the animal rights crowd, who were having orgasms about the prospect of ending hunting with the repopulation of wolves in our state. You might think you're the only one who's been involved but you're not and you're not the only one who's upset about it. Respectfully, pointing fingers has absolutely no positive effect on the situation, especially at this time. It is good to know that you stand with those of us who oppose wolves in WA.

[huntnphool]

Hate to say it but you guys are to late. I attended the local meeting here in Skagit Valley about 10 years ago when the WDFW was putting together thier proposals, and yes all of the proposals where gross. But some where much better than what we got. We ended up with the second most destructive of the proposals as far as hunting and ranching is concerned. The sad part was out of the I would guess 100 attendees only five or six of those were anti wolf introduction. Four hunters (three of which were with me) and one Timber manager that helped bring back the Nooksack Elk herd (and I am sure also looking after his timber harvest interests) were the only ones to speak out against the wolf reintroduction.. Get involved early in the developmental stages to make a difference. I'm not saying don't try to change what has happened, but early volunteer involvment is what it takes.  This whole show stinks as badly as I-655 in '96.  If you don't remeber what that was, shame on you. This will not be the last assault on Sportsmen, remember we are the vast minority.

If you are suggesting that because so few of us were absent at those early meetings that we are at fault or in any way should shoulder the blame, then I would have to respectfully disagree. How many of the commission members that allowed this to happen were there at those early meetings 10+ years ago?

[BOWHUNTER45]

WELL ...THINKS ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE  Senate OKs Killing of wolves without a permit .....about freakin time ... the Washington state senate passed a measure Friday to allow livestock and pet owners to kill wolves without a permit when wolves are attacking livestock or threatening their animals . Bill opponents say it would hurt the states wolf recovery efforts and contradicts years of effort put into hashing out a state wolf plan . five years ago ,there was only a handful of wolves in Washington and now they figure we have over 100 wolves roaming the hills of Washington ...most of them to be east of the Cascades ....dah !! 

[bearpaw]

The Senate Bill is a great step, but it still has to get through the House and then get signed by the Governor. Many phone calls will be needed to try and get it through the House. 

[buckfvr]

What about  if we personally feel threatened.......and I can say for a fact, I wont stand by and watch my dog get killed.....

[BOWHUNTER45]

maybe I jumped the gun a little ...There are holes still to fill ...You know how the papers are ... but it seems we have a fighting chance at this .. like BEARPAW said we need to keep on writting -emailing and calling to keep the pressure on them ...

[johnsc6]

Not placing blame at all. Just stay informed.  We are the minority  but can make a difference. Keep up the good work
It all helps. The solution is for the state to quickly count all viable packs and delist our furry friends. Then  they can start to be managed.!