OPPOSE ANY RESTRICTION ON BAITING - EMAIL TO WDFW

[Steve Jo]

This is a debate free topic.  If you are in favor of restrictions on ANY legal method of hunting based on something other than sound management practices, then you are by definition an 'anti-hunter' and not worth speaking with.  To the moderators of this site: Please keep this open and make it a sticky, to censure this is to deny voice in a fight to save hunting.  Again, anti-hunter
to be clear; This is hunter against ANTI-hunter. there is no grey area here. 

PLEASE READ: Baiting
There's still time to submit public comments on the proposed game regulations, including possible restrictions on baiting for deer and elk; the dealine is 11/17/2014.
I've forwarded the statement below and told the commission it captures my beliefs and sentiments fully. I encourage you to read it and either forward as I did or use it to help craft your own statement. It was written and submitted to WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife by my long-time friend and hunting partner, Donn Moyer.
Donn is a state-certified Hunter Education instructor and has volunteered for around a quarter of a century, having been involved in teaching an estimated 7,000+ hunters. On his teaching team, his lesson plan focuses on sportsmanship and ethics. He makes a compelling argument for retaining a broad range of optional tactics for ethical hunting of big game.
Thanks
________
sepadesk2@dfw.wa.gov
RE: Comment: proposed 2014-2021 Game Management
To the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission:
I am forwarding the below statement as it captures my sentiments and beliefs fully. I support the optional use of baiting for deer and elk and strongly oppose any proposed ban or alteration to the current baiting regulations as they pertain to deer and elk.
Very Respectfully
(INSERT YOUR NAME HERE)

To the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission:
I support the optional use of baiting for deer and elk. Objective 6 in the draft 2015-2021 Game Management Plan is to facilitate debate on this (and electronic equipment, which I’m not commenting on at this point). To be clear, I oppose any proposed ban on baiting for deer and elk. While this technique may not be for everybody, it’s the only option for others. I’ve seen no evidence of a biological or wildlife management need to ban this practice. Decisions such as these should not be made solely on the basis of the loudest voices or most voices expressing personal preferences or political ideologies. Wildlife management should be based on the best available science. That’s the mandate of the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Your draft game management plan explicitly states this, and also addresses authorizing multiple options and choices for hunters. Other than opinion, no evidence has been submitted that baiting deer and elk is unfair or unethical, or even that it’s more productive and successful. Certainly, there’s no scientific evidence. If there’s concern about public perception, it should be addressed with education rather than restriction.
Anyone who thinks a food pile violates the fair chase ethic because it’s too easy has apparently never tried the technique; it requires hard work, research, and skill. This is a time-honored technique that has its roots in American history, and is heritage in some hunting camps.
Ironically, Objective 5 regarding recruitment and retention of hunters urges policies that encourage hunters to participate more frequently and consistently, and to bring those who’ve quit hunting back to the field. In a time of fee access programs by private timber companies on forest lands for which a tax break is given, and dwindling public land access, it seems the better strategy for Objective 5 is to avoid unfounded cuts in opportunity based on personal opinions of the few or the loud. Banning bait for deer and elk is just that: an unfounded cut that will result in fewer hunters in this state.
There have been anecdotal comments about a commercial operation that hits the mule deer herd hard in two locations during a late archery season; if that’s the case and if that practice is harming the herd health and density, then manage the misuse of the resource by the people involved rather than making a blanket change, or make that a draw hunt. The commission must set seasons, approve tools and tactics, and determine harvest and recruitment goals on the basis of the need of the specific game populations in a given habitat or range — the science of wildlife management using biological information to guide those decisions. That’s your charge.
Respectfully,
Donn T. Moyer

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Please show your support by emailing and letting us know below.  As a hunter I really appreciate your support
Joe Rarey

[runamuk]

  judgey bossy preachy much....pretty sure the mods here do not like being told what to do.


While the topic already has a few threads going and it is a serious issue this is not really the way to make friends and influence people

sincerely an anti hunter according to you    I will speak for myself thanks though.

[Steve Jo]

you support a restriction on a legal method of hunting, then good on you for recognizing yourself as an anti hunter
I'm not here to mince words.  To be clear. You are hurting hunting, now go away, this is a save-able issue and I am trying to wake up the sleeping masses.

That this issue has devolved, internally from a few self righteous, arrogant individuals who call themselves hunters is repulsive to me.

[Lucky1]

 

[Bob33]

This is a debate free topic.  If you are in favor of restrictions on ANY legal method of hunting based on something other than sound management practices, then you are by definition an 'anti-hunter' and not worth speaking with.  To the moderators of this site: Please keep this open and make it a sticky, to censure this is to deny voice in a fight to save hunting.  Again, anti-hunter
to be clear; This is hunter against ANTI-hunter. there is no grey area here. 

Ir sounds as though you're the one who wants to deny voices.

You're welcome to express your opinion. Others that do not agree with you are welcome to express their opinion.

Keep it civil.

[runamuk]

you support a restriction on a legal method of hunting, then good on you for recognizing yourself as an anti hunter
I'm not here to mince words.  To be clear. You are hurting hunting, now go away, this is a save-able issue and I am trying to wake up the sleeping masses.

That this issue has devolved, internally from a few self righteous, arrogant individuals who call themselves hunters is repulsive to me.

Do NOT tell me to go away on an open hunting forum where debate is not only allowed it is encouraged.

You do NOT know where I stand because you are so busy being a preachy _________ you are not willing to listen to people who actually support your effort. Instead you declare exactly how things will go like a giant dicktater instead of inviting people to join you and offering a means of doing that.
You will NOT speak for me even if I agree with your position.

I have already written in opposition of any further restrictions without all your huff an puff but thanks for making more enemies and further eroding the hunting world.  Have a great day

have a great day

[Steve Jo]

Bob, There is a legal from of hunting under attack in Washington state.  you'll have to forgive me if I sound a little urgent, I'm a little late to the party.

To be clear, anyone who is for the reduction of hunting by means other than sound management is against hunting.  This is not intended for debate, I want to rally support.  I will keep as civil as I can with anyone arrogant enough to think that their perspective is superior to my own and use that narrow perspective to try to take something from me.  It's abhorrent.  To that end, I'm not interested in an anti hunter's emotional opinion on the subject and would ask you to delete their comments. 

Please make this a sticky and I really appreciate your support.
Joe Rarey

[Bob33]

To that end, I'm not interested in an anti hunter's emotional opinion on the subject and would ask you to delete their comments. 

Civil comments, for or against baiting will not be deleted.

[Steve Jo]

Congratulations for being the first show of support on this thread Runamuk, you sure had me worried there for a minute, i mean, you called yourself an anti hunter.  I hope the mods dont delete you

It gets my hackles up like no other to have the few leverage their narrow perspective in an effort to take something from me and those I call friend.  I want people to get off their *censored* and take 10 minutes to support hunting.  There simply is no debate here. 

Sorry for being a *censored*, but sometimes that is what it takes.



(this is a family site, please no profanity or intended profanity)

[Steve Jo]

It's your forum to moderate Bob, and I appreciate your time here, but if someone joined this forum and civilly posted about being a vegan and how we are all a bunch of animal murderers, would you allow their membership?  Not a personal question, I'm just curious what Hunting-Washington's position is on anti hunting comments?

To that end, I'm not interested in an anti hunter's emotional opinion on the subject and would ask you to delete their comments. 

Civil comments, for or against baiting will not be deleted.

[Bob33]

It's your forum to moderate Bob, and I appreciate your time here, but if someone joined this forum and civilly posted about being a vegan and how we are all a bunch of animal murderers, would you allow their membership?  Not a personal question, I'm just curious what Hunting-Washington's position is on anti hunting comments?

To that end, I'm not interested in an anti hunter's emotional opinion on the subject and would ask you to delete their comments. 

Civil comments, for or against baiting will not be deleted.

It's not my forum. I'm a moderator. I won't answer a hypothetical question about a vegan other than to say we evaluate topics and posts on a case by case basis.

I'd suggest toning down the rhetoric if you wish to get support behind your position.

[Hilltop123]

Oh good lord, here we go again.....this is why we are losing as hunters, other hunters( that don't hunt the way stated, but is totally legal)but get there knickers all twisted up. Everyone settle down and get organized.

[Wazukie]

Well, I recon baiting is legal this year, but then again, I remember when we had a game management department.  Just so ya know Jo, I am neither for nor against baiting.

[Steve Jo]

That's what we are trying to do Hilltop.  I apologize if this is old news and you have had to weather multiple debate style threads on the topic.  I really do not wish to debate anyone here. I want them to see this clearly. Show your support, please.  Mr. Moyer's message, I can assure you, is not rhetoric.  Send it in, say you support it.  Pretty Please - With Sugar on top.

[Steve Jo]

Well, I recon baiting is legal this year, but then again, I remember when we had a game management department.  Just so ya know Jo, I am neither for nor against baiting.

Do you support hunting?
I think you do, and you are exactly who I am trying to speak with.  your vote matters.  It directly impacts game management.  Tell them you oppose any restriction on this.  Please
Thanks
Joe