Wildlife Commission to consider waterfowl seasons, discuss elk with hoof disease

[pianoman9701]

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

July 31, 2014

Contact: Commission Office, (360) 902-2267

Commission to consider waterfowl
seasons, discuss elk with hoof disease

OLYMPIA — The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider adopting 2014-15 hunting seasons for migratory waterfowl and discuss a disease that affects the hooves of elk in the southwest portion of the state during a public meeting Aug. 8-9 in Olympia.

The commission also will consider a proposed regulation that would require hunters to leave the hooves of any elk taken in the affected areas of southwest Washington on site to help minimize the spread of the disease.

The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will convene in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. both days.

An agenda for the meeting, which includes public hearings on the 2015-2021 Game Management Plan and proposed updates to the state Hydraulic Code, is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/ .

State waterfowl seasons proposed by WDFW are similar to those adopted last year. The general duck season would be open for 107 days – from Oct. 11-15 and from Oct. 18-Jan. 25. A special youth hunting weekend is also proposed for Sept. 20-21.

As in previous years, goose hunting seasons would vary by management areas across the state, but most would open in mid-October and run through late January.

In other business, the commission will receive a briefing on a scientific panel’s determination that a disease that leaves elk in the St. Helens and Willapa Hills areas with misshapen hooves most likely involves a type of bacterial infection.

Members of the panel, composed of veterinarians and researchers throughout the state, agreed that the disease closely resembles contagious ovine digital dermatitis in sheep. The panel's diagnosis is consistent with the findings of the USDA National Animal Disease Center and four other independent diagnostic laboratories that have tested samples of elk hooves submitted by WDFW since last year.

For more information on elk hoof disease, see WDFW’s recent news release at http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/jun2314a/ and the department’s wildlife health webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/health/hoof_disease/ .

[bobcat]

I will try to be there Saturday from 8:30 to 10:30 so I can listen to Dave Ware talk about the 2015-2021 game management plan.

[jongosch]

I won't be able to attend this meeting.  If anybody could take notes or make an audio recording of the hoof disease portion that would be a great help.  Audio recordings are easily made and shared with most any smart phone.  Thanks in advance.

[pianoman9701]

Interesting there's no public commenting in the Hoof Disease section. I wonder why? I can't attend, either Jon.

[idahohuntr]

Interesting there's no public commenting in the Hoof Disease section. I wonder why? I can't attend, either Jon.

1. There has been substantial public comment opportunity on this issue
2. There is open public comment time at the beginning of the meeting

You guys don't really have anything new or useful to add in updating the commission though...I know it must kill you to miss a potential opportunity to grand stand but do you really have anything more useful to add to this complex issue that isn't already well documented? I think we've all got it...wdfw works for chemical companies and wants to kill off all the elk and promote big timber companies.  Can we move on to serious discussion now? 

[t6]

Who said anything about "Grandstanding"  they both simply said they wanted a recording.  Something else WDFW has failed to do... Post the minuets of their meeting as required. 

Everyone knows where you stand on the issue Idaho... the problem is that WDFW's approach or your defense of their mismanagement has come up with reasonable answers. 

Time to think outside your box!   

[t6]

..... and maybe that's the other problem.... neither you or WDFW thinks that Hoof Rot or whatever their current guess is a serious issue.

 


Keep waving the WDFW flag.... we'll all watch the elk die together.

[t6]

Maybe you can enlighten us as to how the WDFW naysayers are profiting at all or in any way by raising questions about NEGLIGENCE of WDFW? 

I for one believe that they are simply ones vocal enough to bring to light the questions and concerns that many people have but afraid to ask.  I've been to the community meetings and heard questions in large numbers about WDFW mismanagement.  WDFW may want to ignore the critics...... but they are still there.   

[idahohuntr]

t6, wdfw is working hard on this issue and they have made huge progress given the complexity they have been faced with.  It is absurd for you to suggest wdfw (or me...but Im a nobody so who cares) doesn't care about hoof rot or washingtons elk herds.  You've got people who've dedicated their careers and significant portions of their lives working for our wildlife within wdfw...And you want to give all the credit to a few whiny critics who have offered no solutions?  That is perhaps my biggest issue with some of those who are blindly critical of all things wdfw does...they whine and cry but they rarely, if ever, provide useful input to these complex problems...its just "wdfw is stupid and corrupt bla bla bla..."

[t6]

20 yeas and counting and all we've heard is "Blah blah, we're working hard for you, blah blah."   

Keep up the good work!   (Sarcasm intended)
 

[elk247]

You can leave out all the other issues that people are critical of wdfw. This is only one issue,  that wdfw has dropped the ball on. Fact. To suggest anything else only makes you look uninformed. Is it not our right as a voter, taxpayer, American and primary source of income to the wdfw to hold them accountable when they screw up? It's really nice that they finally appear to be looking in to this. That was swell of them. After they figure out when the *censored*ing goose season opens they will have a one sided dialog at the meeting.  Hopefully a lot of people show up to pat them on the backside and tell them good job.  This is the bed they made for themselves. Some people care.

[Landowner]

WDFW can be criticized on a number of things.   But the department's biologists do a pretty good job. 

[t6]

I appreciate most everyone that works in the field.  Your right, most are friendly and do a great job. 

Its the blind eye the administration and (mis)management seem to have towards a number of issues. 

One of the quickest ways to find a government official that is struggling to justify their existence........ wait for them to tell you "We're working hard for you."    In most cases if it were true, they wouldn't have to tell me, it would be obvious.