POLL: Is WDFW fulfilling it's legislative mandates?

[Humptulips]

The Commision and Director job is so politisized they won't make any decisions that aren't PC.
I don't know how you will ever get around that.

[bearpaw]

 

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Nothing in this title shall be construed to infringe on the right of a private property owner to control the owner's private property.

This is where things get sticky, because private property owners don't always do what's best for wild fish and game populations. In fact it's not always in their perceived best interest. Ranchers and farmers may want more water than is prudent for maintaining fish stocks for example. Deer and elk may harm crops. Then the farmers and ranchers may push for a reduction in game populations on public land, not just private land, because the state property (deer and elk) move freely from public to private land. And it's not just farmers and ranchers. How many people still pour ant-freeze down the drain? How many cars leak oil that ends up in ditches or storm drains? How many private property owners spray harmful chemicals on their yards or gardens? And the biggest source of harmful chemicals being spread that I know of are timber companies spraying herbicides. But examples are everywhere.

One place I do have a problem is farmers who want to be paid for crop damages but won't permit hunting (when and where appropriate) to help control the problem. They want public money to pay for their private losses, then treat a public resource like it's a private crop and lease hunting on their property.  If you're going to take public money, you should allow public hunting.

[snowpack]

One of the problems with farmers allowing hunting is that in many cases it results in even more damages.  I would like for those farmers to allow hunting too, but most were burned in some way or another previously.  Some hunters would chase animals all over the field trampling crops or forcing the animals to damage fences when they tried to escape.  One farmer I knew thought he did right by allowing hunting and when the guys shot an elk, they drove their pick-up through his field to get the animal (doing more damage than one elk would have).  Others had issues with gates left open and livestock getting into the crops. 

[janttihunter]

I give them a D...this is coming from someone who has lived and held hunting and fishing licenses in 3 other states in the past 10 years.

[Odiewon]

I am more than just disappointed that WDFW and DNR are not enforcing the law in certain GMU's that have the green dot road closure system in place. For several years now I have hiked in several miles to get to my favorite Elk areas only to find guys on Quads and ATV's already parked and/or driving (road hunting) on the closed roads. They manage to run the elk out completely within a couple of days. Last season I witnessed a guy who had an electronic cow call hooked up to the horn switch on his quad...he'd drive a little ways, stop, cow call (illegally with an electronic call) then move on and repeat the calls. All Day long!!!

How do we get the authorities to do something about this?

[Elkaholic daWg]

 Seen that problem with trucks too when the occupants were Englishly challenged   At least they  :chuckle:claim to be

[hunterrcc]

It is not illegal to use an electronic caller for elk.  FYI

[Elkaholic daWg]

 Wondering who the 5 are?

[bigtex]

I am more than just disappointed that WDFW and DNR are not enforcing the law in certain GMU's that have the green dot road closure system in place. For several years now I have hiked in several miles to get to my favorite Elk areas only to find guys on Quads and ATV's already parked and/or driving (road hunting) on the closed roads. They manage to run the elk out completely within a couple of days. Last season I witnessed a guy who had an electronic cow call hooked up to the horn switch on his quad...he'd drive a little ways, stop, cow call (illegally with an electronic call) then move on and repeat the calls. All Day long!!!

How do we get the authorities to do something about this?

From DNR's standpoint they have 12 officer positions statewide including their Chief. Two are new positions added in 2013. There are a whopping two DNR Officers in E WA. There is one officer in Colville who handles the counties bordering Canada and Spokane County. Another officer in Ellensburg handles ALL other counties in eastern WA. One of the new positions that was funded in 2013 will be based in Yakima. Unfortunately this Yakima position has been advertised twice and is still not filled (so if you know a LEO who wants to work for DNR out of Yakima tell them to contact me for more info  ) So you can see how dwindled DNR LE efforts are for their lands.

[Forks]

The Commision and Director job is so politisized they won't make any decisions that aren't PC.
I don't know how you will ever get around that.

This is the simple truth. To many groups to please, not all will be happy.

[bigtex]

The Commision and Director job is so politisized they won't make any decisions that aren't PC.
I don't know how you will ever get around that.

This is the simple truth. To many groups to please, not all will be happy.

What's better; having a Director that is appointed by the Commission (WDFW), or having one that is elected by all citizens (such as the DNR Director)?

[sakoshooter]

The WDFW has put way too much emphasis on the almighty $ and less on wildlife and even less on hunter opportunity. It's slowly getting worse also. Not too late to turn it around in my book if we get more people writting letters and some better people running the Dept.

[Forks]

Elect whoever you wish, it is still politics anyway one looks at it.

[Humptulips]

The Commision and Director job is so politisized they won't make any decisions that aren't PC.
I don't know how you will ever get around that.

This is the simple truth. To many groups to please, not all will be happy.

What's better; having a Director that is appointed by the Commission (WDFW), or having one that is elected by all citizens (such as the DNR Director)?

In reality they are all defacto appointed by the Governor, Commisioners and Director.
Not really the way it is supposed to be. Commisioners are supposed to be confirmed by the Senate but it doesn't really work that way.
If the Senate  had to confirm before they could serve it would allow better representation by rural areas IMHO. It would make it easier to block more controversial appointments like Keyne.