"WDFW News Release: WDFW invites public to help identify conservation and recreation priorities" 
It is important that the voices of the hunting and fishing communities are heard loud and clear with a significant number of hunters and anglers giving input; please take action and help to rally the hunting and fishing communities to take advantage of this opportunity to give input. It is always good speak to the Commission in person with enough copies of your testimony (11) to give to the WDFW Commission members (
http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/members.html), the WDFW Director, Jim Unsworth (
http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/director/), and an extra if needed. However, if you can’t testify in person, at the very least, please send an email before the deadline.
Specifically, make sure the WDFW is very aware of the significant contributions that hunters and anglers contribute to the WDFW, wildlife management, wildlife conservation, and the economy. For example, 1,005,000 hunters & anglers spent $1.6 billion in Washington in 2011 (
http://www.sportsmenslink.org/uploads/page/EIR_Washington_final_low.pdf). They know this, but we should remind them and the public that will be listening. Acknowledgement of these contributions may have been somewhat subdued over the past several years due to the unfortunate political climate and cultural changes in the urban centers that has tended to sway away from supporting and promoting the activities of hunting and fishing.
Push for the management of our wildlife by wildlife management professionals. Put forth the expectation to stop allowing animal-rights and anti-hunting organizations dictate wildlife management policies via emotional diatribe, propaganda, references to flawed and/or biased “science”, and their incessant threats of lawsuits and abuses of the ESA (local, state, and national) and Equal Access to Justice Act (at the national level).
Be sure to mention the evolving state focus on promoting outdoor recreation for the obvious economic reasons and the social benefits of getting people outdoors. Mention the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation (
http://www.rco.wa.gov/boards/taskforce.shtml) and the Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition (
http://bigtentcoalition.info/).
Mention that the proper control and management of all predators (i.e. wolves, cougar, bear, etc.) is critical in order to maintain healthy and sustainable wildlife populations, and to minimize wildlife-human conflicts. Along with this it may be appropriate to mention RCW 77.04.012 Mandate of department and commission (“
The commission shall attempt to maximize the public recreational game fishing and hunting opportunities of all citizens, including juvenile, disabled, and senior citizens.”) (
http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.04.012).
Bring up the issues of diminishing access to public lands and waters (i.e. road closures and decommissioning); the current trend is unacceptable. Without access to public lands and waters, hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation is a moot point.
These are just a few thoughts from which to add other conservation and recreation priorities.
Excerpt from the WDFW News Release:
“People can talk with WDFW managers at six regional forums in September and October. Comments will also be accepted through Oct. 31 on WDFW's website at
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildfuture/ and by email to WildFuture@dfw.wa.gov . People may also participate in the conversation through the WDFW Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonFishWildlife.”
Thanks.
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From: WDFW Public Affairs [mailto:do.not.reply@dfw.wa.gov]
Sent: Friday, August 28, 2015 1:08 PM
Subject: WDFW News Release: WDFW invites public to help identify conservation and recreation priorities
WDFW NEWS RELEASE Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/ August 28, 2015
Contact: Joe Stohr, 360-902-2650
Bruce Botka, 360-902-2262
WDFW invites public to help identify
conservation and recreation prioritiesOLYMPIA - State fish and wildlife leaders are asking people to share their views on the values and priorities that should drive the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) over the next several years.
The opportunity is part of WDFW's new multi-year initiative, "Washington's Wild Future: A Partnership for Fish and Wildlife," which is an effort to strengthen the department's relationships with communities, increase support for conservation and outdoor recreation, and help ensure WDFW programs and services meet the public's needs.
People can talk with WDFW managers at six regional forums in September and October. Comments will also be accepted through Oct. 31 on WDFW's website at
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildfuture/ and by email to WildFuture@dfw.wa.gov . People may also participate in the conversation through the WDFW Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonFishWildlife .
Public comments and proposals will help determine priorities for conserving and managing Washington's fish and wildlife in the coming years, said WDFW Director Jim Unsworth, who was hired to lead the agency in January.
"Since I joined WDFW, I have been asking people, 'If you could tell the director of Fish and Wildlife one thing, what would you say?'" Unsworth said. "This is a great opportunity for people across the state to do just that. I want to hear about what we are doing right, where we need to improve, and where we should focus our efforts and our funding over the next five to 10 to 20 years."
Unsworth, senior WDFW managers, and regional staff are scheduled to attend the meetings, where people can discuss fishing and hunting and other outdoor recreation opportunities, as well as habitat protection and restoration, licensing, enforcement, and other fish and wildlife management issues.
The meetings are scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. at the following dates and locations:
• Sept. 10 - Selah Civic Center, 216 1st St., Selah.
• Sept. 30 - Center Place, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley.
• Oct. 6 - WDFW Mill Creek Office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd, Mill Creek.
• Oct. 8 - Saint Martin's University, Norman Worthington Conference Center, 5300 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey.
• Oct. 14 - Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver.
• Oct. 20 - Port of Chelan County Confluence Technology Center, 285 Technology Center Way, Wenatchee.
Each meeting will include a brief presentation from a WDFW regional director about the importance of fish and wildlife management to Washington's quality of life and the economies of local communities throughout the state. Participants will then be invited to talk in small groups with representatives of the department's Fish, Wildlife, Enforcement, Licensing, and Habitat programs, as well as Unsworth and his staff.
Later this year, WDFW will summarize the comments and suggestions from the public, as well as input from outdoor organizations, advisory groups, tribes, and state and local elected officials. The information will be used to help identify potential changes in WDFW's operations and services, and to develop future policy, budget and fee proposals.
"We face major management challenges over the next several years, and for us to be successful we need the public's support and assistance," Unsworth said. "That can only happen if the department has strong relationships with anglers, hunters, outdoor recreation groups, and others interested in fish and wildlife in Washington."
More information about WDFW is available at
http://wdfw.wa.gov/ # # #
Editors: A high-resolution photo of Jim Unsworth is available at
http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/director/ Persons with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the public meetings are invited to contact Dolores Noyes by phone at 360-902-2349, TTY at 360-902-2207, or email at dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov . Reasonable accommodation requests should be made at least three business days before the meeting to ensure availability. Please provide two weeks' notice for requests for ASL/ESL interpretation services. For more information, see
http://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/reasonable_request.html ________________________________________
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