New WDFW Director Named

[CAMPMEAT]

I think we need to remember that the Director of WDFW isn't the god in WDFW who can suddenly do whatever he wants.

If we want change in terms of policy it needs to be from the commission.

In reality, the Director manages the people, the commission manages the policy o


It's the commission who approved the wolf plan, its the commission who sets seasons, etc.

It's a great start, but a lot needs to change in the commission for things to

Bigtex,

I thought the people voted and had a 100% say in our gubmint ? Why is it based and voted on by the commission ? How many private citizens vote towards anything in the WDFW ?

Well I am sure some would say we do. We vote for the governor who then appoints the fish and wildlife commission, state parks commission, liquor control board, etc. That's why fish and wildlife, parks, etc really are impacted by who gets voted into the governors office.

I don't think there is any state where fish and wildlife commission members are voted on by the public. They're always appointed by someone, be it the legislature, governor, et








I see that as a huge problem.

[timberfaller]

Brad Smith's bio,     Time will tell, but it is not looking good!

"Dr. Smith received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and the Environment."

There was a "University" in Michigan, who in order to get a passing grade from a certain Profs. and get your PhD,  YOU had to go out and stop a "active" timber sale! Had to deal with them in the Methow.

There are a few on here that know more about it then I remember.  I just remember the stupidity of it all!!

 

[Hunter4Life]

Don't praise a person, who has to fight with all the CNW types, until he can prove he can win a fight. Don't forget, this is the Liberally run State of Washington WDFW. He's an outsider and hopefully he will get rid of some worthless yes people... I wish him the best, to work for US and not the anti's with tons of monies to blow.

He's dealt with that, Idaho had plenty of lawsuits over wolves.

The biggest difference is that in Idaho he had Butch Otter in his corner....here he'll have Inslee who signed our wolf plan for Washington.  Inslee won't want to eat crow and admit the wolf plan was wrong for Washington.

It'll be a challenge to say the least going from Butch Otter to Jay Inslee

Great point.  Otter was a friend to the hunting community, Inslee is not.  While he was in Congress he was rated worst on sportsmen's issues.

Brad Smith might not be the best, but he is a step up from Miranda Wecker.  Wecker is the worst commissioner on the Commission.

[KFhunter]

Ohhh please help us!

Why do you say this?

[sled]

Ohhh please help us!

Why do you say this?

i hope it gets better!

[KFhunter]

 

Seems they are happy to have him gone in Idaho?

https://www.facebook.com/SaveWesternWildlife?fref=nf

tag - hafta check out the FB later.


No one can please everyone, so far I'm very optimistic.

[wolfbait]

Do You Have the Courage to Admit the Truth?

Review What Has Happened Since 1990 When the IAFWA Hired Bird-Watchers and
Other Predator Preservationists to Replace Public Hunting in North America

By George Dovel

The Washington, D.C. – based international group that once represented the interests of state Fish and Game agencies by lobbying Congress and the President for them, is now their master. Although it chose to drop the word “International” from its name in order to sound “more friendly” to the North American hunters and fishermen it once supported, the “Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies” even added the State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China to the long list of federal agency members it represents.

In 1990, IAFWA hired non-hunting bird watcher Naomi Edelson to establish non-consumptive wildlife recreation as all state F&G agencies’ number one priority. This shocking violation of the law in many states was ignored by commissioners and biologists.

In July of 1990, IDFG Research Biologist (now Deputy Director) Jim Unsworth wrote a 1991-95 elk plan based on the IAFWA directive which blatantly violated Idaho Wildlife Policy in Idaho Code Sec 36-103. That 74- year-old law clearly states that wild animals, wild birds and fish within the state of Idaho shall be preserved, protected, perpetuated and managed to provide continued supplies for hunting, fishing and trapping.

Yet the introduction to Unsworth’s Elk Plan said:

“Although this document is called an Elk Management Plan, it is really the plan of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (hereafter called the Department) for managing the many and varied impacts of people upon wildlife and wildlife habitat.

“...The Department believes the greatest return to society from the wildlife resource occurs when the maximum variety of products is provided and that maximizing a single product (e.g., harvest) is not necessarily desirable. We will encourage and promote nonconsumptive use of elk.”


http://www.idahoforwildlife.com/files/pdf/georgeDovel/The%20Outdoorsman%20No%20%2047%20January%202012-%20Do%20you%20have%20the%20courage%20to%20admit%20the%20truth..pdf

It’s Time for Elected Officials to Take the Blinders
Off and Admit Their State F & G’s Real Agenda

 http://idahoforwildlife.com/files/pdf/georgeDovel/The%20Outdoorsman%20No%2041%20Sept-Dec%202010.pdf

In Spite of Directors’ Claims, Idaho Fish and Game Refuses to Control Wolves Decimating Elk Herds


http://tomremington.com/2013/04/25/in-spite-of-directors-claims-idaho-fish-and-game-refuses-to-control-wolves-decimating-elk-herds/

[idahohuntr]

I'm surprised Unsworth applied.  He is a good person and I have very similar views to his on wolf management.  He has been a key player in idaho wolf management from the beginning. I am glad wdfw hired outside of the agency...Jim could do a lot of good. 

My concerns are his ability to work effectively in this very different political landscape.  Also...Jims predecessor at idfg, the current director, went to odfw as director and lasted 11 months before returning to Idaho.  I wonder if this is merely a stepping stone so Jim can come back to idfg as director...or if he can transition without getting 'homesick'.  Time will tell, but either way he has a lot of opportunity to do good for Wa wildlife.  Maybe he can steal some of his colleagues to join his staff...maybe an enforcement chief?? 

[Curly]

Hopefully the new director will clean house.

[jasnt]

Idaho seems pretty happy he is gone

[Tom Tamer]

Read up on this guy, everything I'm seeing and reading. Idaho is glad to be rid of him due to his help in the wolf issue. He is quoted as to want Non-consumptive uses of elk. So far the Anti-wolf crowd has nothing but bad things to say about him. At first glance he looks to be a Wolf Humper. I'm pretty leery of this guys, so far. Be careful what you wish for.

I saw another comment while haven't confirmed anymore that just a sentence is that Oregon also just hired a new Director? also supposedly a Wolfer? Don't know more than that.

[Mr.OutdoorsAJ]

Bad with the good. Hopefully better than what we have. Even if he doesn't do anything for wolves we can still use his help with other animal conservation and land use issues and permit issues and WDFW licensing and formatting issues and overal WDFW as a total. WDFW has nothing to speak of now...guess well shall see.

[JimmyHoffa]

Read up on this guy, everything I'm seeing and reading. Idaho is glad to be rid of him due to his help in the wolf issue. He is quoted as to want Non-consumptive uses of elk. So far the Anti-wolf crowd has nothing but bad things to say about him. At first glance he looks to be a Wolf Humper. I'm pretty leery of this guys, so far. Be careful what you wish for.

I saw another comment while haven't confirmed anymore that just a sentence is that Oregon also just hired a new Director? also supposedly a Wolfer? Don't know more than that.

From what I'm reading, doesn't exactly give me warm fuzzies.  Sounds like he could be a clone of the WSU professor that loves predators so much.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

My advice would be, give the guy a settling in period and see what he gets or tries to get accomplished before you get antagonistic with him. And don't turn on him just because he does one thing you don't agree with. You will never agree 100% with anyone. Give him time and look at the body of what he does, not just that wart on his nose.

[actionshooter]

Read up on this guy, everything I'm seeing and reading. Idaho is glad to be rid of him due to his help in the wolf issue. He is quoted as to want Non-consumptive uses of elk. So far the Anti-wolf crowd has nothing but bad things to say about him. At first glance he looks to be a Wolf Humper. I'm pretty leery of this guys, so far. Be careful what you wish for.

I saw another comment while haven't confirmed anymore that just a sentence is that Oregon also just hired a new Director? also supposedly a Wolfer? Don't know more than that.

I might be wrong but from what I read he had taken the wolf issue, which was not going away, and cooperated with the feds to get started on the management (hunting seasons) part of the issue.

  I don't think he had any responsibility in introducing the wolves. On the other hand, I have read a little that the Idaho hunters are happy he is leaving. For now I am optimistic that this will be good for the state hunters.