CURRENTLY WDFW FEDERAL AGENTS SHOOTING 15 bulls in Skagit River Unit!!!!

[pianoman9701]

Bob, I don't think I understand your question. Are you saying you think it's possible that the Federal government took action regarding our state's wildlife without the DFW's cooperation or knowledge? If that's where you're coming from, I don't think that's even remotely possible. The feds will rarely take any action without the appropriate state agency at least getting a heads up, if not full participation in the operation.

[Bob33]

Bob, I don't think I understand your question. Are you saying you think it's possible that the Federal government took action regarding our state's wildlife without the DFW's cooperation or knowledge? If that's where you're coming from, I don't think that's even remotely possible. The feds will rarely take any action without the appropriate state agency at least getting a heads up, if not full participation in the operation.

Not at all. What I am saying is that WDFW is very aware of the negative public perception that can result from shooting elk. Organized hunters of any sort, versus essentially "hired professional exterminators" can play differently in the public's eye when it comes to removing numbers of problem wildlfe. I am in no way saying that I am in agreement with bringing in snipers. I am saying that I don't believe the decision was made lightly, nor was it done without any regard for licensed hunters.

All licensed hunting was stopped during the 2009 season because of the worldwide condemnation that resulted with the archery shootings that occurred off Highway 20. I believe the department is still very sensitive about what they do to cull the herd.

[returnofsid]

Bob, I don't think I understand your question. Are you saying you think it's possible that the Federal government took action regarding our state's wildlife without the DFW's cooperation or knowledge? If that's where you're coming from, I don't think that's even remotely possible. The feds will rarely take any action without the appropriate state agency at least getting a heads up, if not full participation in the operation.

And paying for it...

[pianoman9701]

There are two separate issues here. One is the botched handling of the 2009 hunt, which is directly attributable to poor management and planning on the part of the DFW. They are ultimately responsible for how that went down. They didn't put proper controls in place.

The second issue is that if their emphasis from now on, because of their piss-poor handling of the 2009 event, is going to be a perfect image for the public to see, they should discontinue all hunting in the state immediately and use only government snipers to control wildlife populations from now on. This is how they do "game management" in many NJ townships. Otherwise, whenever wildlife need to be culled in this state, they should be trying to figure out a way for hunters to assist and benefit. Hopefully, they'll have learned from their 2009 fiasco and be better at pre-planning such an event so that the hunt coordinator(s) can implement it in a far different manner.

[Boss .300 winmag]

There are two separate issues here. One is the botched handling of the 2009 hunt, which is directly attributable to poor management and planning on the part of the DFW. They are ultimately responsible for how that went down. They didn't put proper controls in place.

what controls? some hunters were given permission, and some took to tresspassing on a farmers field. if my facts are right.

in a rural area with farms its the hunters job to get permission to hunt, not the wdfw. some bad eggs made it so the rest of us can't hunt!

[JLS]

There are two separate issues here. One is the botched handling of the 2009 hunt, which is directly attributable to poor management and planning on the part of the DFW. They are ultimately responsible for how that went down. They didn't put proper controls in place.

what controls? some hunters were given permission, and some took to tresspassing on a farmers field. if my facts are right.

in a rural area with farms its the hunters job to get permission to hunt, not the wdfw. some bad eggs made it so the rest of us can't hunt!

I don't think WDFW can control whether or not folks are idiots.  Even master hunters not exempt from being idiots, as I've heard of more than one being cited for rather egregious violations.

[Bob33]

"The second issue is that if their emphasis from now on, because of their piss-poor handling of the 2009 event, is going to be a perfect image for the public to see, they should discontinue all hunting in the state immediately and use only government snipers to control wildlife populations from now on."

or...wisely use a combination of both.

WDFW did not use licensed hunters to remove the six problem wolves from NE WA. Do you believe they should they have, given the intense scrutiny that any killing of wolves generates?

[pianoman9701]

There are two separate issues here. One is the botched handling of the 2009 hunt, which is directly attributable to poor management and planning on the part of the DFW. They are ultimately responsible for how that went down. They didn't put proper controls in place.

what controls? some hunters were given permission, and some took to tresspassing on a farmers field. if my facts are right.

in a rural area with farms its the hunters job to get permission to hunt, not the wdfw. some bad eggs made it so the rest of us can't hunt!

Then the illegal actions of hunters involved should have been addressed. That's still another issue. That's like saying I shouldn't get to own a gun because someone else killed someone with a gun. When I hunt, I obey the law. When someone doesn't they should lose their privileges. If a Master Hunter trespasses, they're supposed to immediately lose their certification.

That should have no effect whatsoever on the state's handling of problem wildlife issues.

[JLS]

There are two separate issues here. One is the botched handling of the 2009 hunt, which is directly attributable to poor management and planning on the part of the DFW. They are ultimately responsible for how that went down. They didn't put proper controls in place.

what controls? some hunters were given permission, and some took to tresspassing on a farmers field. if my facts are right.

in a rural area with farms its the hunters job to get permission to hunt, not the wdfw. some bad eggs made it so the rest of us can't hunt!

Then the illegal actions of hunters involved should have been addressed. That's still another issue. That's like saying I shouldn't get to own a gun because someone else killed someone with a gun. When I hunt, I obey the law. When someone doesn't they should lose their privileges. If a Master Hunter trespasses, they're supposed to immediately lose their certification.

That should have no effect whatsoever on the state's handling of problem wildlife issues.

And you blaming an agency for the actions of public hunters would be akin to me blaming the sporting goods store that sold a gun to a murderer.

[Boss .300 winmag]

There are two separate issues here. One is the botched handling of the 2009 hunt, which is directly attributable to poor management and planning on the part of the DFW. They are ultimately responsible for how that went down. They didn't put proper controls in place.

what controls? some hunters were given permission, and some took to tresspassing on a farmers field. if my facts are right.

in a rural area with farms its the hunters job to get permission to hunt, not the wdfw. some bad eggs made it so the rest of us can't hunt!

Then the illegal actions of hunters involved should have been addressed. That's still another issue. That's like saying I shouldn't get to own a gun because someone else killed someone with a gun. When I hunt, I obey the law. When someone doesn't they should lose their privileges. If a Master Hunter trespasses, they're supposed to immediately lose their certification.

That should have no effect whatsoever on the state's handling of problem wildlife issues.

And you blaming an agency for the actions of public hunters would be akin to me blaming the sporting goods store that sold a gun to a murderer.

Nice!

[Boss .300 winmag]

There are two separate issues here. One is the botched handling of the 2009 hunt, which is directly attributable to poor management and planning on the part of the DFW. They are ultimately responsible for how that went down. They didn't put proper controls in place.

what controls? some hunters were given permission, and some took to tresspassing on a farmers field. if my facts are right.

in a rural area with farms its the hunters job to get permission to hunt, not the wdfw. some bad eggs made it so the rest of us can't hunt!

Then the illegal actions of hunters involved should have been addressed. That's still another issue. That's like saying I shouldn't get to own a gun because someone else killed someone with a gun. When I hunt, I obey the law. When someone doesn't they should lose their privileges. If a Master Hunter trespasses, they're supposed to immediately lose their certification.

That should have no effect whatsoever on the state's handling of problem wildlife issues.

Yep i agree, but we still have not had a general elk hunt in the area since!

[pianoman9701]

"The second issue is that if their emphasis from now on, because of their piss-poor handling of the 2009 event, is going to be a perfect image for the public to see, they should discontinue all hunting in the state immediately and use only government snipers to control wildlife populations from now on."

or...wisely use a combination of both.

WDFW did not use licensed hunters to remove the six problem wolves from NE WA. Do you believe they should they have, given the intense scrutiny that any killing of wolves generates?

Absolutely. Instead of the near-$1million helicopter fun rides, you bet. The Pro-wolf people couldn't have howled any louder than they did and are still. The DFW threw away money that could've been saved.

[pianoman9701]

"The second issue is that if their emphasis from now on, because of their piss-poor handling of the 2009 event, is going to be a perfect image for the public to see, they should discontinue all hunting in the state immediately and use only government snipers to control wildlife populations from now on."

or...wisely use a combination of both.

WDFW did not use licensed hunters to remove the six problem wolves from NE WA. Do you believe they should they have, given the intense scrutiny that any killing of wolves generates?

Absolutely. Instead of the near-$1million helicopter fun rides, you bet. The Pro-wolf people couldn't have howled any louder than they did and are still. The DFW threw away money that could've been saved.

However, this is not an apples to apples comparison. Elk are a game species and wolves are protected.

[pianoman9701]

There are two separate issues here. One is the botched handling of the 2009 hunt, which is directly attributable to poor management and planning on the part of the DFW. They are ultimately responsible for how that went down. They didn't put proper controls in place.

what controls? some hunters were given permission, and some took to tresspassing on a farmers field. if my facts are right.

in a rural area with farms its the hunters job to get permission to hunt, not the wdfw. some bad eggs made it so the rest of us can't hunt!

Then the illegal actions of hunters involved should have been addressed. That's still another issue. That's like saying I shouldn't get to own a gun because someone else killed someone with a gun. When I hunt, I obey the law. When someone doesn't they should lose their privileges. If a Master Hunter trespasses, they're supposed to immediately lose their certification.

That should have no effect whatsoever on the state's handling of problem wildlife issues.

Yep i agree, but we still have not had a general elk hunt in the area since!

And that's because the DFW is mismanaging. It's costing the farmers, the townspeople, and the hunters. If I lived up there, I'd be living on the doorsteps of my legislative reps and screaming at the top of my lungs.

[Boss .300 winmag]

There are two separate issues here. One is the botched handling of the 2009 hunt, which is directly attributable to poor management and planning on the part of the DFW. They are ultimately responsible for how that went down. They didn't put proper controls in place.

what controls? some hunters were given permission, and some took to tresspassing on a farmers field. if my facts are right.

in a rural area with farms its the hunters job to get permission to hunt, not the wdfw. some bad eggs made it so the rest of us can't hunt!

Then the illegal actions of hunters involved should have been addressed. That's still another issue. That's like saying I shouldn't get to own a gun because someone else killed someone with a gun. When I hunt, I obey the law. When someone doesn't they should lose their privileges. If a Master Hunter trespasses, they're supposed to immediately lose their certification.

That should have no effect whatsoever on the state's handling of problem wildlife issues.

Yep i agree, but we still have not had a general elk hunt in the area since!

And that's because the DFW is mismanaging. It's costing the farmers, the townspeople, and the hunters. If I lived up there, I'd be living on the doorsteps of my legislative reps and screaming at the top of my lungs.

oh just wait till someone dies from hitting one of these elk and dies, all the press about mismanagement and the such the state/wdfw is ripe for a big lawsuit.