We are making Small Waves

[dbllunger]

WE need to make bigger waves.  I am telling you to keep after the politicians.  Do the work for your friends, and just give them the email to send off.  Please read below and it is the real deal not something I made up.

Hello:
I am writing to let you know about an important legislative hearing regarding the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and our operational budget.  The hearing is sponsored by the House General Government Appropriations Committee and will take place tomorrow night, January 28, 2009, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in House Hearing Room C of the John O’Brien Building. A number of natural resource agency directors will present agency budget overviews and respond to Committee questions.  These presentations will be followed by a formal public hearing.
 
Many of you know that the Governor’s operational budget proposal for next biennium reduced WDFW by $30 million and 157 full time positions.  This reduction is primarily driven by a 20% cut to state general funds, a proportion that is two to three times greater than any other natural resource agency.  Reductions at this level will have serious impacts to our customer services, including enforcement, providing access to recreational opportunities, and conservation of our state resources.
 
Interim Director Phil Anderson will provide the Committee with details as to projected budget impacts.  It will be important for the Committee to understand how service reductions will occur. It will be even more important for legislators to hear related concerns from our stakeholders.  A number of legislators have questioned the proposed disproportionate state general fund cuts and may be willing to adjust reduction levels to WDFW if strong stakeholder support exists.  Please consider attending this important hearing.  If you have any questions feel free to call.
 
Joe Stohr, Deputy Director
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
360.902.2650
 

[dreamingbig]

***My opinion and only my opinion***

The significant reduction in the WDFW budget is why I believe the current 3-year season proposal so "friendly" to modern firearm hunters.  They need the extra revenue from increased permit sales to attempt to head off the budget shortfall.

Hence I have little hope in any changes being made to the current proposal but I will not stop fighting for revisions.

[SuperDave]

***My opinion and only my opinion***

The significant reduction in the WDFW budget is why I believe the current 3-year season proposal so "friendly" to modern firearm hunters.  They need the extra revenue from increased permit sales to attempt to head off the budget shortfall.

Hence I have little hope in any changes being made to the current proposal but I will not stop fighting for revisions.

  I wondered that myself when I read the proposals.  I think that is played in to the equation, more tags, more revenue.  My thoughts as well.

[NoBark]

IDK a few extra permits isn't that much money guys.  Most of the damage of the proposal is in the reduction of archery opportunity and the addition of rifle  GENERAL tags in the 100 units.  No extra money from that.??

[dbllunger]

No doubt the decisions/proposals is driven by money.  But I believe these were in the process well before our current budget problems. 

[12Gauge]

I agree we need to ban together and fight.  Look at the restriction they are trying to pass.

HR6257  Assault weapon ban
SB5588  Suspend WDFW
HR45     Holt Firearm Registration (federal gun registration)
HB3359  Ammo Accountability
SB5095  Lead ban for upland hunting

What is going on here? NObama gets elected and all kinds of gun bans, restrictions are coming out of the wood work.  I wonder how many more are out there that we are not aware of.

[Wenatcheejay]

You guys are going to get all worked up again when you read the new edition of "The Reel News." We have been sold out by WDFW. We are so fractured and divided. I was talking to one of my friends about the new regulations. He said that because he does not hunt in August he just can't get worked up. He does not hunt with hounds so he doesn't care about that either. I told him that if it is established that "user conflicts" is an acceptable reason to ban hunting on public land during the summer, it is acceptable to ban it at all times. Just wait and see. That is the future of our hunting rights. They will be banned. Ban baiting, hounds, spike rules, no cow tags, true spike rules on and on it goes, death by a thousand slices. Hunting as a way of life is going to be done if this continues. Besides, wouldn't it be reasonable to ban American's from hunting their public land? After all, with the Tribes now being entitled to HALF of all game in Washington we need to stay out of their way. It's done, WDFW has lost their freaking minds.

This is being done the same way that gun control is working. Ban the groups that are small first. The larger group will say well, I don't use those guns, I don't need them, it's OK it isn't about me. Until it is.

Divide & conquer.

[Gamblin Guy]

***My opinion and only my opinion***

The significant reduction in the WDFW budget is why I believe the current 3-year season proposal so "friendly" to modern firearm hunters.  They need the extra revenue from increased permit sales to attempt to head off the budget shortfall.

Hence I have little hope in any changes being made to the current proposal but I will not stop fighting for revisions.

  I wondered that myself when I read the proposals.  I think that is played in to the equation, more tags, more revenue.  My thoughts as well.

And watch what they do next after they get these changes through, they will double the cost for the permit application to raise even more revenue, but they wont say anything about that until after these current proposals are approved.