WDFW and Fisheries hurt hunting?

[Diehard0123]

I was thinking the other day and a thought crossed my mind.  If Washington didn't have the saltwater fisheries how much money would the WDFW have to spend on hunting, Conservation, game management and other hunting related things?  It seems that states such as Montana, Idaho and other states that do not have a majority of their budget have better hunting oppertunities, more and better game for hunting.  Keep in mind that I am not saying that the WDFW alloting a certain % of their budget to fisheries is a bad thing I just think that Washington neglects hunters and game in this state because they have to distribute the wealth where other states do not.

[WAcoueshunter]

I'm not sure about the budget breakdown, but we've got some other issues that I think play a much bigger part relative to Montana, Idaho, etc.  Namely (1) less public land, and (2) significantly more people.  Tough for them to give us better opportunities when they don't have the land resources of other states and the public is clamoring for over-the-counter rifle hunts.  End result, you just have to work harder here.

[Yummy and Tasty Animal]

Montana and Idaho are sparsely populated compared to Washington.  I think Montana and Idaho also have better habitat for wildlife especially big game.

[Wacenturion]

Worst thing that ever happened was merging Dept. of Wildlife with Dept. of Fisheries in 1993.  Bigger isn't better. 

[WDFW-SUX]

Here is How the budget breaks down by %

Fish 45%
Business 20% (what ever that is)
Wildlife 16%
Enforcement 7%
Habitat 7%

Fish get 3x the money Wildlife gets.

They spend more on the bureaucracy at WDFW than they do for all for the Wildlife activities and 3x more than all Habitat related activities.................

[Wacenturion]

Somewhat deceiving.....Habitat 7%.  Most of the habitat buget deals with environmental issues.....such as permits. prospecting, water rights etc.  So one could say even less spent on habitat.  Lots of smoke and mirrors......wildlife mostly administration....i.e. surveys, season setting, etc.....very little on the ground enhancements any more.  Unfortunate.....so much science, so little common sense.

[Jerbear]

I have felt for a long time that the name should be changed to the Washinton State Dept. of Salmon.  That is their main concern.  They get big salmon dollars from the Bonneville Power Administration.  Hunting is just a pimple on their ass that they have to deal with.  Merging with the Dept of fisheries was the slamming of the door to hunters.

[JoshT]

Montana and Idaho are sparsely populated compared to Washington.  I think Montana and Idaho also have better habitat for wildlife especially big game.

And... you left out the drastically reduced population of "Native Americans" raping and pillaging the wildlife.