PETITION TO REMOVE WDFW DIRECTOR ANDERSON, CHIEF CROWN & DEPUTY CHIEF CENCI

[bobcat]

It's two issues for me. One is the tribal issue. I feel the WDFW could do more to limit the harvest (or maybe I should call it the slaughter) by certain tribes. But instead, the WDFW, along with the DNR, seem to bend over backwards to give the tribes anything they want. It seems us non-tribal people get less and less every year, and the tribes get more.

The second issue would be the commercial poaching that many of us read about in Todd Vandivert's book. The WDFW doesn't seem concerned about the poaching of wildlife, they put the majority of their resources into fish and shellfish. That's wonderful if you're a fisherman, but I'm not. Maybe I'm selfish but I want more deer and elk to hunt, and I want less of them going to the poachers, the tribes, and the predators.

Which brings up a third issue. I am sure the WDFW could allow hunting over bait for bears on a limited basis, along with hound hunting for bears and cougars. Yes the voters banned those things but there are ways around that, but obviously the WDFW isn't interested in increasing the harvest of bears and cougars, so that we humans can have more deer and elk to kill every year.

[Huntin4Ever]

Interesting seeing the sudden increase in out of state signees on the petition.

[trophyhunt]

Is there a way to see the list of who's signing and where they are from?

[Huntin4Ever]

Is there a way to see the list of who's signing and where they are from?
[/quote

Go back to the petition page and it lists the last 10-15 signees

[Huntin4Ever]

It also shows the number of signees so far....754, the total is going up much faster tonight

[ucwarden]

I guess my bigger point is that to be credible you have to attack the problem, not the individuals...not saying the individuals are not the problem, but what specifically are they failing at?  I know darn well no big conservation groups are going to sign on to the petition as written because it appears to be a pissing match between former colleagues.

And I am not throwing this out there to just be a jerk...I think there are legitimate issues to address with WDFW enforcement...but you have to approach this in a way that you can win.  For example, if you can articulate that WDFW is not focusing on elk poaching enough, then provide the corroborating evidence and get a group like RMEF to perk up and say "hey...whats going on wdfw...you guys are dropping the ball on elk with your over-zealous focus on shellfish".  To just go out and say Cenci needs to be fired is going to be dismissed as you simply being a disgruntled employee.  Bigtex's posted response from the puget sound guy is a perfect example.   

I don't know enough about the specific problems and evidence of the problems (sounds like some of the LEO folks do though) and I sure don't have the solutions...which is the other piece lacking in the petition.  No credible group is going to get much traction without providing their solutions to the problems.  Some of the best advice I have ever had in working with different people and groups was never to present a problem without some sort of solution.   

A while ago you (ucwarden) started collecting ideas on this forum for laws to change/modify to present to the commission...did you ever do anything with that?  I spent a few hours writing down changes I would propose that I sent you. That is the kind of thing I think you can do to build a relationship with commissioners/conservation groups and be seen as a problem solver as opposed to a disgruntled employee.  Also, I think focusing on eliminating some of the absurd and stupid laws WDFW enforces would do a lot of good for sportsmen...probably a lot more good than firing a couple of administrators that will get replaced with different administrators.

There are more problems than we have time to discuss.  Also; there is no chance we will all ever agree on everything.  That being said, when you have the number of WDFW employees signing the petition, that should tell you there is a huge problem.
I know it's killing a lot of you to know if there is a smoking gun, or something in particular to point out, and all I can ask is....be patient, it's coming.  But the timing ha to be right.  I want to have all my ducks in a row, before I fire both barrels, and the petition is just a piece of it.

[ucwarden]

I've gotten a few messages with positive comments regarding Director Anderson. Comments that he is taking the dept in a more positive direction than any if the past directors. Other comments saying the dept is a little lopsided in favor of fisheries, but getting better.   Other comments saying he's the best director the dept has had in a few decades. I haven't been in this state for very long compared to the rest of you guys and don't really have a solid opinion on this. Thoughts??

Look, I have nothing against the director personally, it is just that he has allowed a few bad people to run wild, and it has deeply affected a lot of really good officers.  We are losing good game wardens at an unprecedented rate, and as a result of that our resources are going to take it in the shorts.  It's that simple.

[ucwarden]

I know UCWarden. 

He's as ethical a person as you will ever meet.  Fortunately, he doesn't think any employee of WDFW is bigger than the Department or its reason for existence.

He's not gonna take action unless there's a very compelling reason to do so.

Thanks, that's great to hear.  I retired after 34 years, but I still think of it as going out early.  Had it not been for the administration, I probably would still be at it.  Unfortunately, I left behind some great folks and now they are suffering.  So this is part personal, and a great deal professional.  I sincerely want the best for our officers, the hunters of the state and the resources and that's it.

[LongTatLaw]

Signed. Noted specific failures and named a name or two. Ive hunted about 15 states in my life and there are only two who i would say that the FG dept is not a friend to the law abiding sportsman. This state is one of the 2.

If i didnt hunt lots of states every year I might get confused here and think all game wardens hate sportsmen and all game departments see us as marks to be taxed.

Hope to see an attitude change. Personnel change or not.

[SkookumHntr]

Signed!

[ELKBURGER]

The Weyco access issue is another example that WDFW doesn't care about the hunters. If it had impacted access to some of washingtons better fisheries, WDFW would have been all over it.

[jackmaster]

i love the number it has reached so far, keep signing fellas, there can be alot more if everyone on this site signed it, it isnt a conspiracy peeps, its someone standing up for are rights and most of all are game animals, people want there kids and their kids kids to be able to hunt, well that isnt gonna happen without a change 

[trophyhunt]

 

[ucwarden]

i love the number it has reached so far, keep signing fellas, there can be alot more if everyone on this site signed it, it isnt a conspiracy peeps, its someone standing up for are rights and most of all are game animals, people want there kids and their kids kids to be able to hunt, well that isnt gonna happen without a change 

Thanks, yet again, for all the support

[CoryTDF]

Shared it wit about 20 people so far.