9 new members appointed to WDFW Wolf Advisory Group

[wolfbait]

Tim Coleman is our biggest enemy in Ferry County, right smack dab in the middle of wolf country. This puke is 100 % anti-everything unless it's enviro related. He is well known around here..................who picked these people anyhow. No wonder nothing gets done. Again, the deck is stacked against us hunters, ATVers etc.

Kettle Range Conservation Group is anti-everything, it's their way or no way. One of the members we know live near our cabin in Curlew and he gives the private timber company, we live next to, a hard time all the time... until he needs firewood then it's okay.

It's funny how true that is. One of the commies even lives in a log house. Another one, has a famous mountain climber relative there name  starts with Whittakker (?) that left garbage all over the world on tall mountains. They are all very popular people around here....

They like to hold the "we're saving the planet" badge in your face, but we know it's really about power and control... ruler of the sandbox if you will.

We were talking about them at coffee this morning. It's really irritating to the ranchers I know how all the anti's are on this committee.

I don't understand the surprise, look at the wolf plan WDFW gave us, look at their wolf management with livestock predation, and the impact the wolves and other predators are having on the game herds.  Instead of feeding deer in the winter, WDFW are predicting the weather and killing the breeding stock.

[CAMPMEAT]

Off subject here, but the cougar season is closed already because of a damn quota. I bet we have the highest cougar count in the state here in Ferry, or at least very close to it, WTF !!


Wolves and a very high population of cougars, lotsa cattle and fewer deer everyday.....

[wolfbait]

There could be a way that we could speed up wolf recovery, but it would take a commitment from a few people. What if we were to put together a few teams of people to document/confirm wolf packs in WA.. these people would only document/confirm in their area of WA. 

People report wolves here on W-H, and if we advertised that we would like any wolf sightings reported to this site and then if we had people in those areas who followed up on these different sightings with trail cameras etc., and reported to the county commissioners, maybe then we could force WDFW to confirm wolf packs earlier, instead of waiting for livestock predation to confirm?

[bobcat]

People report wolves here on W-H

This is H-W, not W-H. Just FYI, since I see you write it that way all the time.

As for your idea, the WDFW already has a wolf reporting tool on their website:   http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_wolf/reporting/

[wolfbait]

People report wolves here on W-H

This is H-W, not W-H. Just FYI, since I see you write it that way all the time.

As for your idea, the WDFW already has a wolf reporting tool on their website:   http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_wolf/reporting/

Thanks for the correction Bobcat

As for WDFW I would leave them out of the loup, although if they were interested the info would be here for them to view, remember the whole idea is to confirm wolf packs early and not wait until WDFW are forced to confirm or not.

[Special T]

The Cattlemen and Sheep Associations contribute quite a bit I bet.. They are hunters too, along with being business men and women. They have a lot of earning power loss at stake, because of the wants of the antis and the lack of say by the hunters and their associates.

I think on this issue they are our ally. I mostly mean that as a "shareholder" Im not so sure that they contribute to the WDFW financially.  What im trying to point out is that half of those represented should be hunters/related stakeholders. The anti's are over represented especially when it comes to how much they contribute $ to the system... I think they COST the WDFW plenty tho.

[Humptulips]

Off subject here, but the cougar season is closed already because of a damn quota. I bet we have the highest cougar count in the state here in Ferry, or at least very close to it, WTF !!


Wolves and a very high population of cougars, lotsa cattle and fewer deer everyday.....

Just so you won't feel lonesome the cougar have eaten up just about everything that moves around here from elk to beaver and that includes coyotes. I think the cougar population is down from a few years ago because there is little left for them to eat around here.

[VarmintVentilator]

Here in Whitman county it's so open and wolves are always on the move that it's been almost impossible to get them on game cams.  About the only way it becomes an affirmed pack is if WDFW sees them themselves or the game cam.  (Preferably one they themselves have set up.)  Helicopter is actually the best option for around here but so far they have said no.  Too high of cost.  WDFW has been one to two steps behind them all winter.

[Special T]

COST is how the the department Slow Plays the the whole process.  The "We dont have the $ excuse" is the non confrontational way to blow us off.
Funny the Cattlemen have said they would put up $ to document wolves if they have a say in it.... IE a trapper THEY hire.... So it cant really only be about the $ 

[bearpaw]

If history is any indicator, the composition of this group will have little effect on the outcome anyway. Advisory groups tend to serve as little more than cover for what WDFW wants to do regardless.

 

I think this advisory board is pretty evenly split between pro-wolf and pro-management with 2 to 3 wild cards that I'm not sure about. Overall, I think this group will prove to be more reasonable and knowledgeable than the original wolf working group, I'm hoping WDFW will listen to them.

[elk247]

  I see it as even with a few very key swing votes. I'm not sure how this commission helps. It seems more likely to be a stalemate than having an odd numbered advisory board. It's not a win outright but some good people will have their voice heard. Hopefully (B.C.) Canada will put the screws to the DFW and the U.S. to delist and save the northern wildlife. Outside influance couldn't hurt. These border packs could be important towards amending the current wolf plan.

[MuleDeer]

As meetings happen with the WAG, I will try my best to make periodic entries here for you all that are interested in the process and what's going on.  A mediator has been brought on board, and I believe she will help make some progress in the processes we will be dealing with, mainly facilitating our ability to make decisions as a group.  No, it's not going to be easy, but it IS possible.  Our first meeting, in about a week, is going to be focusing on showing ALL groups how they do share similar concerns and have worked for like goals in the past.  Call it a "team-building" exercise if you want...it isn't the cure all, but we have to start by setting the rules, recognizing the playing field and the players, and knowing where we can most easily make some headway.
I agree with all of you on a couple of the groups represented, mainly HSUS and not understanding how they should or do have a role here...but, there are two groups that I have worked with on projects and know the members/leaders of, and they are actually on "our" side, although most of you would never believe it.
One example, and I'll start with a question first: How much do any of you really know about Wolf Haven International?  Do you know that, other than the Ruby wolf taken there last year, every other wolf there is a "captive born", "filming and production" wolf?  It surprised me that they openly said they would euthanize the Ruby wolf if she doesn't adapt, even though that would cost them many financial supporters by saying that.  Do any of you know that both the ladies that run WHI are active parts of hunting families?  They both grew up in hunting families, and their spouses are both active hunters.  They eat venison.  They have no issues at all with hunting, and see it as an American heritage and support it fully. 
When I was appointed to the WAG I decided I didn't want to go into the meetings with mis-conceptions if I could help it.  So, I decided to go and spend a few hours at WHI and learn everything I could about them as a business and individuals.  Granted, I still have my opinions on a few of the other groups in the WAG, but,, as they say, it is vital to "know your enemy".  Sometimes they aren't who we think they are.
This post may not gain me any friends here, but I'm only speaking from facts that I know first-hand, and they are good news for us as hunters.  I'll post more as things get rolling, and hopefully we will see some positive changes coming our way...

[haus]

Thanks for the update and perspective Muledeer. Do they allow you to bring an assistant note taker/recorder to the meeting? If so sign me up 

Though I might put a muzzle on the HSUS rep. They have no business having a direct voice in our states "issues".

[Curly]

.........
Do any of you know that both the ladies that run WHI are active parts of hunting families?  They both grew up in hunting families, and their spouses are both active hunters.  They eat venison.  They have no issues at all with hunting, and see it as an American heritage and support it fully. 
....

Interesting.  That is good to know.  I've always assumed wolf haven to be HSUS types and PETA members.

[Special T]

Thanks for the report...