Pheasant Release Program Cut Out of Budget

[shorthair-on-point]

There is a rumor going around the WDFW that the governor is going to cut out the funding for the pheasant release program all together. In fact there are rumors of big budget cuts across the board for the WDFW. Keeping in mind that no extra money is going to pheasant habitat, what is everyone's opinion about this?

[DOUBLELUNG]

It's a shame, but given the state budget situation, I can't justify continuing to spend general fund $$ to raise domestic ringnecks for guys to shoot in eastern WA.  Let the west siders determine how big their program will be by the amount they pay for authorizations to shoot pen-raised birds. 

I don't dislike the program, and am more than happy to have the general fund pay for anything that benefits hunting; but I am not much interested in having my license dollars spent to pay for pen-raised birds to be released to die - whether shot or not.  That strikes me as a low priority for scarce wildlife management funds.  And yes, I've hunted the release areas and enjoyed shooting those pen-raised birds.  It's more practice for hunting, than real hunting. 

[guyg]

http://www.ofm.wa.gov/budget09/default.asp

is a link to the governor's budget proposal.  Yes, there is time to influence things, though I suspect that the gov's gauntlet has been flung...don't like it? OK, change it, but save money to save your preference elsewhere. Fair enough I guess, but by any measure, DFW is decimated.

Wildlife is not a priority for this administration, was not for the previous two, and frankly is not for the largely urban population of this state. Like it or not..that's the way it is. It isn't gonna be, either, as long as we rugged individualists insist on water resource development, international promotion of ag products, 3 strikes and other sentencing laws, and bigger and more freeways, while at the same time eschewing new taxes, and the continuation of our outrageously regressive tax system. 

Nothing is free.

[clindsayrun]

Eastsiders already contribute to the program in the form of a pro-rated small game license. If they cut the release program does this mean license fees will decrease?

[sisu]

Eastsiders already contribute to the program in the form of a pro-rated small game license. If they cut the release program does this mean license fees will decrease?

Awwww has any tax ever been rescinded once it went into effect?

[T-Bone]

To be candid, I've always thought the W. WA Pheasant Release Program was stupid anyway. Kinda like trying to grow Kentucky bluegrass in the Arizona desert.

W.WA has forest grouse hunting a New Englander can only dream of; why not promote habitat/access improvement for grouse in W.WA and pheasants and quail in E. WA?

Bob O. a now retired, friend of the sportsman in Olympia, in the state legislature started this well intentioned, mis-guided mess years ago; I think it's time for a change.

[FrankDown]

Im not from Washington originally, but I think that anyone that has hunted pheasant can tell that western Wa doesnt support the general habitat for a healthy population of self thriving birds.  I had wondered about the pheasant hunting in "western" Wa in the hunting regulations.  Seems theres a time and place for everything but spending money to, like one said about, release birds to die whether shot or not seems like a waste of valuable resources.  Theres some backwards thinking here in the resource management programs, as far as I can tell, like the pheasant in western Wa and the netting of salmon and wondering why no fish are coming back next year.  I dont think that either one of them is a necessarily a good thing from a resource management point of view.  It may make some people happy, but does it really accomplish anything?

[clindsayrun]

Even if they do cut the program it will be back. Might take a year or two, but they'll figure out a way to charge us more for a little less.
I would rather see some money spent on constructive, sustainable habitat rather than 50 gallon barrel feeders full of cracked corn out there.

[FrankDown]

I beleive that realistically they should put that money to indigenous species or land aquisition.  However I would like to see them introduce the fox squirrel here, even if it were a planted release site lol.

[high country]

frank, we will never be able to hunt squirrel in wa............they're too cute........doesn't fly with the majoity of the 206er's. I have killed one marked bird in my life so I guess life won't be too different.

[FrankDown]

Those things have huge teeth and sharp claws.  You could put the bands on your squirrel call lanyard.