A call for action

[stumprat]

I hope all of you have read through the new proposals.

I have some real fears with some of the proposals as written. I called Donny Motterelo the other day, not an encouraging conversation at all. Managing predators with public relations in place of sound science is not management. More importantly giving up hunting bear during the most effective time  is rediculous. Relying on incidental kills alone means many more fawn killers in the years to come.

Now the scary aspect. Losing hunting privilege on public land that we all pay taxes for is a very scary proposition. As someone else on this site mentioned, September is great hiking weather these days. What then, are the archers ready for that attack. Once we lay down for this public land closure WE WILL NEVER REGAIN IT!!!!!

Another issue I have is with outlawing coyote hunting with dogs. For those of you that find this method of hunting unethical, check your feelings at the door. For you may be next.

As a former big game houndsman I know first hand what it feels like to not be restricted but LOSE WHAT YOU LOVE. I have read hundreds of posts on this site urging everyone to unite and not get caught up in user group against user group. I say it's time to put your money where your mouth is. Over the years I have been to many game department meetings and my personal opinion is that all the department and the commission listen to is your money.

If these two proposals are adopted as written I will not put another dime or my faith in WDFW anymore. I know many fellow hunters voted against the houndsmen of this state. This still burns me to no end! But I think we need to stand together as a whole on these issues. I would ask that all of you let the WDFW know that if these plans are adopted you will join me by hunting with your camera and not your weapon of choice for one year. Unfortunately I feel that the only way we will get heard is by severing thier financial lifeline.

I know many of you don't have the balls to do this. But if we do not I fear it is only the beginning.

Thank you for your time.

[FrankDown]

I emailed the WDFG and teold them several seperated things I didnt like.  One was closing public land to hunting, one was closing august bear hunting, and another big one was hound hunting coyotes.

Does anyone have a PDF letter or something with these topics to snail MAIL to the WDFG?  A PDF would be able to be printed and signed and mailed in to the WDFG.

If someone has a letter about each of these three topics I will create a PDF file that can be emailed between each other and to friends not on this board that can print them out and stick it in an envelope.  A desk full of letters will get a better point across than an email that gets deleted before its fully read.

A PDF can be opened by everyone, if they dont have the program to do it, it can be downloaded in seconds.  I will also host it on my website if this site doesnt have a place to upload files to.

If we can get a clear letter on these three topic sthat we can agree on Ill create the PDF file to start mailing to friends and aquaintances through email to start a campaign.

(1) Public land closed to hunting in August
(2) Bear hunting closed in August
(3) Hound hunting for coyotes.

Lets get working on a letter.  Post it here and lets start working on it.

[FrankDown]

Anybody?

[Machias]

Already done and going to the meeting in Ellensburg.   

[FrankDown]

Does anyone care to PM me or send their letter so I can put it in a file to be emailed around to other hunters who may not be on this board?  Also could be printed and left at hunting store or gun stores? 

How many people really know about these chagned that are going to be discussed?  Im just thinking that getting as many people to send them letters and emails may help...

[stumprat]

Sorry I already sent my letters. Talked with Dave Ware today on the phone. He told me that the August Bear closure on public land was the departments move. The advisory council was against it. If this is how the department want to conduct thier buisiness why have an advisory council??

[FrankDown]

Maybe thats why they are talking about suspending the game commision...

[Wenatcheejay]

I think the goal is to reduce the total number of hunters in Washington. Or, we have accepted so much loss and so many bans in the last twenty years what is a few more slices to a small section of hunters?  Letters to Congress and WDFW will be sent off and I will give a CC copy to you guys. I will also be there in Elle in March. It seems that the powers that be don't care. I will also send copies to the local medias. You might consider letters to the editor of your local papers. We need to inform people about what is going on. In the Wenatchee paper they printed a small article (P.B2) on the new proposals. However the the closing of the early bear season (ban public land hunting) was not even there. Nor was the banning of hound hunting. That is how things are passed now days.

[FrankDown]

Who funds them?  Whose hands do they bite?  I dont understand the WDFW...