WDFW News Release: Public comment sought on state game management plan

[Fl0und3rz]

Received this in email, yesterday.

Public comment sought on
state game management plan

OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is conducting a public opinion survey to help identify key wildlife issues to be addressed in the department’s 2015-2021 Game Management Plan.

The information gathered from the survey will help WDFW update its current plan, originally developed in 2003 and updated in 2009. The plan guides the long-term management of game species, and is used to develop three-year hunting packages that set annual regulations for hunting seasons.

The survey is available on WDFW’s website through Jan. 3 at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/game/2015/ . Paper copies of the survey also are available by contacting the Wildlife Program at (360) 902-2515.

"The public’s involvement is essential in creating a comprehensive and effective game management plan," said Dave Ware, WDFW game division manager. "We look forward to hearing from people as we go about updating this plan that will guide game management priorities."

The opinion survey addresses a number of game management issues, including:

    Hunter recruitment and retention
    Hunting regulations
    Land access for hunting
    Wildlife conflict
    Habitat enhancement
    Questions directed at specific species

Once the survey results are analyzed, WDFW will incorporate them into a draft plan, which will go out for public comment next spring. The plan will be considered for final approval by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission next summer.

Direct link to survey here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2015-2021gmpscopingsurvey

Note that you can raise issues that are a priority to you outside of their canned categories.

Consider adding some or more of the following.

• Wolf delisting in Eastern WA.
• Discover Pass exemption for lawful hunters/fisherman on WA State lands that are not developed camp sites or state parks. Discover pass equality of applicability across all user groups.
• Equality of hunting and fishing (bag and possession limits, limitations on gear allowed, seasons, etc.) between WA tribes and the non-tribal members of the public on non-reservation lands.
• Affordability of hunting/fishing licenses and retention associated of fees for game management purposes.
• Mole traps should be exempted from body-gripping traps restrictions.
• Return of the allowance for predator hunting with dogs.  Specific guidance for the allowance of tracking and recovery of wounded game animals. 
• Elimination of true spike units in preference for special permit hunts.

I realize that some of these may not be strictly within the purview of the WDFW and game management.  Please do not turn this thread into a rant about any one of these topics; there are plenty of threads for that. 

Take the survey and consider listing some of your additional priorities here so that others' might also remember and mention them as well.

[pianoman9701]

Thanks for posting this. I'll definitely take the survey. 

[bullcanyon]

Just took it. Thanks for posting.

[pianoman9701]

Done

[Dhoey07]

I just took the survey and i didn't really like how you couldn't add general comments.  They just allow you to select the points that interest you.  Oh well.  Hopefully they use the information well.

[eastsidemallard74]

I just took the survey and i didn't really like how you couldn't add general comments.  They just allow you to select the points that interest you.  Oh well.  Hopefully they use the information well.

I could add comments after each section

[Dhoey07]

I just took the survey and i didn't really like how you couldn't add general comments.  They just allow you to select the points that interest you.  Oh well.  Hopefully they use the information well.

I could add comments after each section

I thought it said you could only pick 10 areas of interest and that included any comment sections below.  So if you had a concern and a comment, that took up 2 of the 10.  I'll go back and look, maybe i screwed up

[buckfvr]

10 for the entire survey...............

[fireweed]

It's goofy---said ten, then let me pick more. 

[buckfvr]

What I noticed is for once they seem to be qualifying us personally by asking our hunting history, hopefully indicating they finally realize hunters who pay should have the say.

Even though they cant really determine if a non-hunter goes in and lies, maybe they are on the right track.  I personally think verification should come via WILD ID.  If people want to change things, they should be paying along with the rest of us.

And for those who support wolves, make them buy a Wolf Lovers Permit to fund the managemant.....If they ever get to the point we will help by purchasing tags.

[BullCrazy24]

What I noticed is for once they seem to be qualifying us personally by asking our hunting history, hopefully indicating they finally realize hunters who pay should have the say.

Even though they cant really determine if a non-hunter goes in and lies, maybe they are on the right track.  I personally think verification should come via WILD ID.  If people want to change things, they should be paying along with the rest of us.

And for those who support wolves, make them buy a Wolf Lovers Permit to fund the managemant.....If they ever get to the point we will help by purchasing tags.
[/quote

the wolf lovers should have to pay for a hunting tag if they want add their BS!

[Elkaholic daWg]

Ah surveymonkey.......... I m sure MANY antis will take it. So as many of us as possible should            Done

http://www.humanewatch.org/why-is-surveymonkey-funding-hsus/

[Fl0und3rz]

Ah surveymonkey.......... I m sure MANY antis will take it. So as many of us as possible should

http://www.humanewatch.org/why-is-surveymonkey-funding-hsus/

Well that makes sense, WDFW in bed with surveymonkey, in bed with HSUS.   I had wondered why .gov would us a private company for its data collection.  Thanks for clearing that up.

[bobcat]

It's goofy---said ten, then let me pick more.  :dunno:

  :yeah:

I don't know how many I picked but I'm pretty sure it was more than ten. There was no way of knowing how many you had already selected, and no way to know how many options were left. Terrible format! I doubt they can get any meaningful data from it.

[Bob33]

Ah surveymonkey.......... I m sure MANY antis will take it. So as many of us as possible should            Done

http://www.humanewatch.org/why-is-surveymonkey-funding-hsus/

Survey takers can choose from many charitable organizations to donate to: https://contribute.surveymonkey.com/charity