WDFW - What do We Want in a New Director?

[pianoman9701]

The Wildlife Commission is already looking for candidates to fill Mr. Anderson's seat. This would be a good time to let them know what you think and put it down in an email or letter. Many might say that someone more focused on hunting and hunters, since our hunting population is dwindling rapidly. Some might suggest we get more aggressive on wildlife crimes and pursue poachers with more vigor. You might think that we need more tags or less tags overall or in specific areas. There may be a need for more predator control. Community and volunteer outreach might be something you're hot about. How about better communication with the public?

Let's hear your ideas on the focus of the ideal director for the WDFW.

[headshot5]

It'd be nice to get someone even mildly interested in our wildlife.  On top of that, someone who can understand our current problems with predator control.  Since our most effective tool to manage predators was removed, (talking bears and cougars) with the initiatives banning hounds and bait.  I would think it would be in the State's best interest to lengthen hunting seasons, (especially in spring for bears). 

Some people will argue that Washontonians are currently killing just as many bears and cougars as they did back when baiting and hounds were legal.  It should be noted though that the population has more than doubled making encounters more frequent bringing up the kill rate for hunters without the aid of hounds or baiting.  Meanwhile, the population continues to climb for predators and fawn and calf escapement continues to dwindle.

[Netminder01]

For me, it's less about their stance on one topic or the other; he/she should be inline with the majority of the issues facing us nowadays.  I want them to craft a vision  and lead a diverse set of people together to achieve common results.  This takes leadership and perseverance in a government system where rationale choice seem to elude the most intelligent people. I would also expect an increased level of transparency and open dialogue with all of us.

We don't want a "yes" candidate and we don't need to agree with every decision made as long as we believe they'll get us and continue to make positive & balanced changes for hunters and wildlife alike.

My .02

[huntnphool]

It'd be nice to get someone even mildly interested in our wildlife.

 Actually it's the "wildlife" minded administration overhaul that has put us in our current state.

 What we need is someone interested in "game" again.

 So to the OP, what really should be asked is "What do we want in a new Governor?" Without winning the Governors race, you may as well prepare for another left wing wolf lover.

[pianoman9701]

 

[returnofsid]

It'd be nice to get someone even mildly interested in our wildlife.

 Actually it's the "wildlife" minded administration overhaul that has put us in our current state.

 What we need is someone interested in "game" again.

 So to the OP, what really should be asked is "What do we want in a new Governor?" Without winning the Governors race, you may as well prepare for another left wing wolf lover.

And for A LOT longer than a Governor's term!

[pianoman9701]

We're never going to get what we want for a governor again unless something so horrible happens that all the libs in King and Pierce Co.s decide to become Libertarians or Rs. Because of those two counties and the massive union influence in this state, WA governors will be Ds for a long time to come. So, we must focus on what we have to work with. Giving input to the Wildlife Commission at least gets each of us on record and gives them an idea of what the dwindling number of hunters would like to see.

[bobcat]

A good leader and someone who is not just promoted from within the WDFW, or any other state or government agency for that matter.

Someone who grew up in this state and has been a life long hunter and fisherman.

A current hunting license should be a mandatory requirement for the new director.

[pianoman9701]

  Excellent BC.

[pianoman9701]

Although, might a good candidate come from a Wildlife position in AK or MT or ID or WY?

[bobcat]

Possibly, but it would be nice to have someone who fully understands the unique issues we have with tribal harvest, timber land access, excessive predators, poor wildlife  habitat, and a lack of enforcement, especially with the commercial poaching of wildlife, as proven by Todd Vandivert's book.

Speaking of which, can we also require that the new director read Operation Cody his or her first week in office?

[Bob33]

We need a director who is honest. He needs to be able to delegate and then motivate, inspire, and correct subordinates’’ behavior when necessary.

He should be committed to Washington wildlife, not just professionally but personally.

He needs to earn the respect of his peers, staff, the public, and elected officials.

It would be nice if he had a passion for the job, and enjoys it such that his positive attitude influences those around him.

Personally, I don’t care much about where he comes from. Good leaders come in all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds.

[Curly]

I want a director that will clean house in the enforcement division.  Someone to get rid of Cenci.  UC Warden opened our eyes to what is/has been going on by writing his book.  Having Cenci still employed by this state is terrible.  He shouldn't be employed by the state, much less be the enforcement chief.

Someone who will try to improve relations between wdfw and the sportsmen of this state.  Stop pandering to the leaf licking, wolf hugging types. 

Someone that doesn't look bored to death at the wildlife meetings.  (One meeting I went to Anderson looked like he was ready to fall asleep).

I want a director who will make it known to his enforcment chief that ticky tack, b.s. type citations issued to normally law abiding sportsmen are not what they should be out doing.  If there are laws on the books that they can technically cite someone for, but it is a b.s. law, they should not be citing for it.  For example issuing citations to a hunter for wastage if he leaves a coyote lay is ludicrous.  Same with harassing a hunter, accusing him of spotlighting, when he is simply walking out of the woods after dark with a headlamp on.  (They need to be getting the poachers, not the guys that get caught in honest mistakes or little known laws).

We need a director that will do what it takes to get a certain tribe in the south-central part of the state to quit selling game commercially.  Maybe he can get behind installing gates and keeping winter range a safe place for deer and elk.

Hoof rot should have been a higher priority than it has been.  Only took 20 years for them to start to get serious about it.  (So, hopefully when issues like that arise, there will be quicker response).

WDFW needs to find ways of getting hunters to kill more coyotes.  Instead, wdfw has tried to eliminate hunting coyotes at night, want to eliminate predator hunting derbies/contests; they have stopped us from hunting coyotes with dogs.  They are not doing the deer and elk fawns any favors by continually making it harder to take coyotes.

Apparently the director needs to step in and overrule some biologists.  The cougar and bear bios are nuts.  Spring bear permits could be issued for probably every GMU in the state.  And the cougar quotas they have are a joke.

It's almost like we need someone who is a longtime hunter, fisherman, trapper, and is good in politics.  Someone with a biology degree may be a good thing, but that could be bad too depending on their views.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Pretty much all the above  I wish he had someone who understands what it takes to manage wildlife and who can explain to the non-hunting public that hunting is the best way to control wildlife populations . not counting the fact that big game was meant to be hunted .. That's why they are called Big Game Animals ..and to eat . I can tell you one thing up here where I live we have watched the elk population just explode and they can not get it threw their heads that we need a little more opportunity to put some meat in the freezer . Giving out a couple tags for each user is not cutting it . At the meetings they have up here they always talk like something good is going to happen and we will get more opportunity but it has not happened yet . We need someone who understands what it takes to keep animals healthy in an area ..and not hunting is not one of them .Same for bear and cougar ..Right now I believe we have more bear than deer    I have seen 3 bear since spring and only about 6 deer . Obviously there is something wrong with the picture ..also when I can drive about 6 miles in the evening and see over 100 elk there is something wrong with this picture too ! Just frustrating on who is making these decisions  Lets all just suck it up one year and let them eat the revenue that we hunters put into it and see what happens next  I know it will hurt others but in the long term it will be worth the wait !  If I can do it so can everyone else  Again .....

[Northway]

I want a director that will clean house in the enforcement division.  Someone to get rid of Cenci.  UC Warden opened our eyes to what is/has been going on by writing his book.  Having Cenci still employed by this state is terrible.  He shouldn't be employed by the state, much less be the enforcement chief.

Someone who will try to improve relations between wdfw and the sportsmen of this state.  Stop pandering to the leaf licking, wolf hugging types. 

Someone that doesn't look bored to death at the wildlife meetings.  (One meeting I went to Anderson looked like he was ready to fall asleep).

I want a director who will make it known to his enforcment chief that ticky tack, b.s. type citations issued to normally law abiding sportsmen are not what they should be out doing.  If there are laws on the books that they can technically cite someone for, but it is a b.s. law, they should not be citing for it.  For example issuing citations to a hunter for wastage if he leaves a coyote lay is ludicrous.  Same with harassing a hunter, accusing him of spotlighting, when he is simply walking out of the woods after dark with a headlamp on.  (They need to be getting the poachers, not the guys that get caught in honest mistakes or little known laws).

We need a director that will do what it takes to get a certain tribe in the south-central part of the state to quit selling game commercially.  Maybe he can get behind installing gates and keeping winter range a safe place for deer and elk.

Hoof rot should have been a higher priority than it has been.  Only took 20 years for them to start to get serious about it.  (So, hopefully when issues like that arise, there will be quicker response).

WDFW needs to find ways of getting hunters to kill more coyotes.  Instead, wdfw has tried to eliminate hunting coyotes at night, want to eliminate predator hunting derbies/contests; they have stopped us from hunting coyotes with dogs.  They are not doing the deer and elk fawns any favors by continually making it harder to take coyotes.

Apparently the director needs to step in and overrule some biologists.  The cougar and bear bios are nuts.  Spring bear permits could be issued for probably every GMU in the state.  And the cougar quotas they have are a joke.

It's almost like we need someone who is a longtime hunter, fisherman, trapper, and is good in politics.  Someone with a biology degree may be a good thing, but that could be bad too depending on their views.

++Stop pandering to the leaf licking, wolf hugging types.++

What is a leaf licking, wolf hugging type?