Help shape game-management priorities at upcoming meetings

[jackelope]

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

June 10, 2014

Contact: WDFW Wildlife Program, (360) 902-2515

Help shape game-management
priorities at upcoming meetings

OLYMPIA – Hunters and other members of the public will have an opportunity to help shape the state’s game management plan for 2015-21 at a series of public “open house” meetings scheduled by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) this month.

The public can also comment on key aspects of the six-year plan via an on-line survey, available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/gmpobjectives , from June 12 through July 18.

The meetings are scheduled to run from 7-9 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

•June 17 – Wenatchee, Red Lion Inn Wenatchee , 1225 N. Wenatchee Ave.
•June 18 – Kennewick, Red Lion Inn Kennewick, N. 1101 Columbia Center Blvd.
•June 19 – Spokane, Double Tree by Hilton Spokane City Center, 322 N. Spokane Falls Court.
•June 24 – Vancouver, Heathman Lodge, 7801 N.E. Greenwood Dr.
•June 25 – Lynnwood, Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St. S.W.
•June 26 – Olympia, Red Lion Olympia, 2300 Evergreen Park Dr. S.W.
Once adopted, the plan will be used by WDFW to guide development of hunting seasons and other management policies in future years, said Dave Ware, WDFW game program manager.

“Hunters and members of the public have a real stake in the direction set by the next game management plan,” he said. “We want to hear people’s concerns, especially those that address significant conservation or management issues.”

Key issues in the draft plan include hunter recruitment and retention, hunter access to timberlands and possible new rules requiring the use of non-toxic shot. WDFW will also consider new proposals for managing predator/prey relationships and developing a plan to manage wolves after they are no longer classified as an endangered species.

Ware said comments received at the public meetings and from the online survey will be used to develop additional recommendations, which will be available for further review.

Final recommendations will be presented to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission for a public hearing in August and adoption in September.

[vandeman17]

Might have to hit the one here in Wenatchee if I am not working. Thanks for the heads up Josh

[Eli346]

 It's nice they finally have some meetings for the public that aren't during work hours. I'll be at the Olympia one.

[Curly]

I will give my 2 cents.

Sent from my SM-T900 using Tapatalk

[billythekidrock]

Same here.

[fair-chase]

I like the fact that they are giving us 'till July 18th to complete this survey. Took me an hour just to get through the first page. I have sooo much I want to tell them. 

[jackelope]

Yes, it seems like some more advanced notice, more meetings and at better times maybe than in the past.

[bearpaw]

I will not be able to make the Spokane meeting so I am doing the survey.

I think there are some very important topics of concern for many hunters in the 2015-2021 Game Management Plan, I'm very glad to see WDFW addressing the topics in this plan. For those who can't attend a meeting you can help shape game-management priorities here:

2015 - 2021 Game Management Plan DSEIS Comments
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/gmpobjectives

[bobcat]

I should be able to make the Olympia meeting on June 26th. But I will still do the online survey.  Hopefully we can pack those meetings with hunters. Even if we don't all get up and speak, just to show that we care. I might have to wear something that makes me look like a hunter. Camo hat maybe?