Washington's Wild Future=Higher prices will save us

[fireweed]

I feel we've all been duped by the "Washington's Wild Future" initiative.  Seems all that WDFW outreach was to simply soften us up for higher fees.  For their top issues (like access) the WDFW's answer, raise the costs of everything and do nothing with any backbone.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildfuture/

[Special T]

Price increases are all they have to offer because they dont know how to/dont want to/cant recruit new hunters. 

[Dhoey07]

More, more, more, more.

WDFW- We want to offer more, we just need more $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[fireweed]

Fishing is outrageous  $70 MORE for fishing than what I pay for today!  Over twice the cost

[Special T]

Ive already given up fishing and cut back my tags and no draws. Ive decided I wont buy my tags early and will only do so right before hunting so that they dont get my $ before I get to hunt. 2 can play thier game.

I get to shoot my bow as much as I want at the club or my guns without supporting them.

[Fl0und3rz]

[csaaphill]

While; I only clicked one of the stories on that page, I get the feeling each one said pretty much the same thing: More money more money. 

[pianoman9701]

In lieu of disciplinary changes to the leadership of enforcement and changes to predator management, I'll not support the second fee increase in three years. The combination of unprofessionalism in the enforcement leadership,  the lack of support for enforcement in the field to pursue and convict wildlife offenders, and the downright refusal of the department to properly manage predator populations is costing the department the confidence of our hunters and results in decreased revenue as hunters leave the state for better success opportunities. Without a more aggressive approach to both, I can't support even the slightest increases in fees. If the department wants more revenue, start by drastically improving the hunting experience. Improve it first and then we can talk about increases. This is nothing more than ransom.

[HUNT]

Just another money grab 

[Special T]

Pman there has to be a huge disconnect in the department. I thi k the carrot &stick are important. From some in and near the department the concensus is defeat. Its very true that the department is being attacked  on all sides. I think they have set themselves up for failure and now have too deep of a hole to climb out of. What the wdfw fails to even attempt is to regain sportsmens trust. For the life of me I cannot understand why they have not acknowledged it and made an attempt. We are thier greatest asset yet they do everything they can to distance themselves from us. Without us there is no need for them. We could just have dnr & parks.

[Old Dog]

I only read the hunting proposal, but 

Offer incentives to open reduced fee access to private timber land, two more biologists and increase license fees in hopes of improving hunting.    

[fireweed]

I only read the hunting proposal, but 

Offer incentives to open reduced fee access to private timber land, two more biologists and increase license fees in hopes of improving hunting.   

re-read it.  The access fee "solution" is even worse than you state.
It says offer incentives to keep fees moderate.  They don't even have the backbone to even attempt to keep fees low or reduce fees.  Let alone suggest a legislative review to look at existing tax incentives.

[Stein]

I only read the hunting proposal, but 

Offer incentives to open reduced fee access to private timber land, two more biologists and increase license fees in hopes of improving hunting.   

re-read it.  The access fee "solution" is even worse than you state.
It says offer incentives to keep fees moderate.  They don't even have the backbone to even attempt to keep fees low or reduce fees.  Let alone suggest a legislative review to look at existing tax incentives.

With the state reducing the funding, there is no chance of that.  The state of WA (and many others) have chosen to defund fish & wildlife which makes it a pay to play game.  In the past, it was subsidized by taxpayers, but the future is hunters and anglers pay 100% of the cost.

[huntnphool]

Ive already given up fishing and cut back my tags and no draws. Ive decided I wont buy my tags early and will only do so right before hunting so that they dont get my $ before I get to hunt. 2 can play thier game.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,196825.msg2612243.html#msg2612243

[fireweed]

maybe their system crashed because of all the irate hunters and anglers logging in to bash their weak ideas and higher prices.

[JimmyHoffa]

I only read the hunting proposal, but 

Offer incentives to open reduced fee access to private timber land, two more biologists and increase license fees in hopes of improving hunting.   

re-read it.  The access fee "solution" is even worse than you state.
It says offer incentives to keep fees moderate.  They don't even have the backbone to even attempt to keep fees low or reduce fees.  Let alone suggest a legislative review to look at existing tax incentives.

With the state reducing the funding, there is no chance of that.  The state of WA (and many others) have chosen to defund fish & wildlife which makes it a pay to play game.  In the past, it was subsidized by taxpayers, but the future is hunters and anglers pay 100% of the cost.

If having more of the burden meant also getting more control of shaping the future, I would think some would be a little more favorable.  But WDFW seems to just keep steering the direction CNW/HSUS/WFC points them in.  With the predator loving and the hatchery reductions, just feels like the 'product' is getting worse while the price is going up.

[Special T]

Hp linky no worky on taptalk

[huntnphool]

Hp linky no worky on taptalk

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,196825.msg2612243.html#msg2612243 Try that one.

[Special T]

Gotcha! Oil and draw tags are a huge source of income where they dont really give up that much resource. Since I no longer buy anyof those I dont follow that close.
I will second the fact that if the department was more responsive to sportsmen instead of predator lovers then I would feel inclined to support them more.
If they just supplied a predators package or the old combo of deer bear cougar I would sing thier praises. I always bout the deer bear cougar combo and never went out looking for anything but deer!
As a business owner I can appreciate the financial bind they are in. If $ is tight you dont go kicking your best customers in the shins. You do what ever you can to butter them up and say thankyou with out it costing too much. The wdfw did the opposite when they took away the deer or elk bear cougar option kickin us in the shins, & could give it back without any real cost. Instead we get lots of $ spent on wolves because they cozied up to those groups who only use the stick. Hunters need to use both the carrot and stick but they still seem to have no intrest in listening. IMO its because they have too many inside the box thinkers.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Gotcha! Oil and draw tags are a huge source of income where they dont really give up that much resource. Since I no longer buy anyof those I dont follow that close.
I will second the fact that if the department was more responsive to sportsmen instead of predator lovers then I would feel inclined to support them more.
If they just supplied a predators package or the old combo of deer bear cougar I would sing thier praises. I always bout the deer bear cougar combo and never went out looking for anything but deer!
As a business owner I can appreciate the financial bind they are in. If $ is tight you dont go kicking your best customers in the shins. You do what ever you can to butter them up and say thankyou with out it costing too much. The wdfw did the opposite when they took away the deer or elk bear cougar option kickin us in the shins, & could give it back without any real cost. Instead we get lots of $ spent on wolves because they cozied up to those groups who only use the stick. Hunters need to use both the carrot and stick but they still seem to have no intrest in listening. IMO its because they have too many inside the box thinkers.

 

I loved that combo, no I have to by the full combo or pay more for less.

So now I have an elk tag I don't use. 

[Special T]

Boss you did exactly what they want. I did the opposite I only buy deer cougar or bear so they get less. I may even give up big game but with the purchase for duck hunting its only $20more so I choose one.

[winshooter88]

Their proposals also include asking the legislature for cost of living increases of fees and licenses every 2 years since the increases have to go through the legislature. This was brought up at the GMAC meeting and they did not get any favorable responses from anyone at that meeting.

[Dhoey07]

[tarbabyone]

Well they sure seem to able to come up with Grant Funding to do Salmon Restoration.  They have an 8 million dollar grant request in to remove the dikes on the Leque Island Unit.  That area has been used as a Pheasant release area for the past few years.  It may still be a Duck Hunting area when it is done but it will no longer be a Pheasant hunting area.  First the Skagit Headquarters and now Leque Island.  We have been promised replacement lands in the past but nothing has happened.  Guess we have to admit that with less then 6% of the public being interested in hunting we just don't hold much weight with the Department of Fish and Wildlife.  I guess more surveys are in order to try and determine why people quit hunting and buying hunting licenses.  Tarbabyone

[Skyhigh]

So, not to many years ago they needed a 7% "temporary" fee increase that never went away and now they want to add an additional 10%    Wow! 17% in less than a decade! And they can the ability to adjust every 2 years. They had better hire some damn good snake oil salesman to get us onboard.

[fireweed]

I only read the hunting proposal, but 

Offer incentives to open reduced fee access to private timber land, two more biologists and increase license fees in hopes of improving hunting.   

re-read it.  The access fee "solution" is even worse than you state.
It says offer incentives to keep fees moderate.  They don't even have the backbone to even attempt to keep fees low or reduce fees.  Let alone suggest a legislative review to look at existing tax incentives.

I think that some legislators that are in bed with the timber industry must have threatened the WDFW and warned them to not propose anything serious.  Either that or the entire agency is simply gutless and feckless. Incentives to keep fees moderate Can anyone really believe that is a policy that will do anything but hand over big game management to the largest timber companies??

[pianoman9701]

Gutless and feckless is right on the money. They have no guts and couldn't give a feck. That's why the animal rights crowd is running the show. The legislature thinks they're in trouble now? Wait another 10 years when they have to cut the elk tags in half.

[bb76]

I gave them my 2 cents.

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