Senator Asking For Washington Hunter, Angler Input On Fee Increases

[Bob33]

Mule deer foundation elk foundation turkey foundation NRA GOA,these are all groups advocating for us.Nobody is listening though.

No those are groups that widely focus on one thing. Mule deer foundation advocates for mule deer, Turkey federation for turkeys. There is no overall hunter advocacy group. CCA advocates for every type of fishermen in WA.

Safari Club advocates for hunting.

I know a lot of hunters who see the Safari Club as a rich guys club. May not be true but I can honestly say I hear that from hunters more than I do "I just joined the safari club"

Does SCI have a full time lobbyist in Olympia? CCA does. CCA has very close ties with Sen. Pearson as well.

I know a lot of hunters that see a lot of things, and I also happen to know a lot of hunters in Safari Club chapters with limited means who are strong advocates of hunting.

SCI chapters do support the Hunter Heritage Council which does have lobbyists in Olympia. Senator Pearson has personally appeared at several Safari Club events that I've attended.

So I guess we just take up basket weaving. WDFW can't do anything, and there are no hunter advocacy groups in Washington that care for all hunters or aren't run by rich folks according to Bigtex.

[Oh Mah]

Its my op that the WDFW should be our strongest advocates but are not.Weak very weak.

[bigtex]

Mule deer foundation elk foundation turkey foundation NRA GOA,these are all groups advocating for us.Nobody is listening though.

No those are groups that widely focus on one thing. Mule deer foundation advocates for mule deer, Turkey federation for turkeys. There is no overall hunter advocacy group. CCA advocates for every type of fishermen in WA.

Safari Club advocates for hunting.

I know a lot of hunters who see the Safari Club as a rich guys club. May not be true but I can honestly say I hear that from hunters more than I do "I just joined the safari club"

Does SCI have a full time lobbyist in Olympia? CCA does. CCA has very close ties with Sen. Pearson as well.

I know a lot of hunters that see a lot of things, and I also happen to know a lot of hunters in Safari Club chapters with limited means who are strong advocates of hunting.

SCI chapters do support the Hunter Heritage Council which does have lobbyists in Olympia. Senator Pearson has personally appeared at several Safari Club events that I've attended.

So I guess we just take up basket weaving. WDFW can't do anything, and there are no hunter advocacy groups in Washington that care for all hunters or aren't run by rich folks according to Bigtex.

I'm just saying I've seen CCA do a ton of things in the very short time they've been in WA in terms of getting policies and laws changed relating to fisheries. I can't really say that on the hunting side.

[Oh Mah]

A lot antis don't see fishing in the same light as hunting,That could be why more is able to be done by them.

[bigtex]

A lot antis don't see fishing in the same light as hunting,That could be why more is able to be done by them.

There is alot more big $ on the fishing side compared to hunting. When CCA advocated WDFW to change the recreational & commercial crab allocation the commercial industry sued WDFW. WDFW either won or the commercials dropped the suit.

CCA pushed WDFW for the change in the gillnet policy on the lower Columbia. The commercials sued WDFW.

When was the last time WDFW was sued over a hunting decision not relating to tribal matters? I honestly can't remember.

[Oh Mah]

So we need more lawsuits from the hunting community against the WDFW?

[bigtex]

So we need more lawsuits from the hunting community against the WDFW?

The lawsuits occurred because CCA advocated for a bigger share of fisheries for recreational fishermen. Commercials didn't like that, sued and continue to lose.

There is nobody forcing WDFW to make those policy changes on hunting like CCA is doing on fish matters.

[Oh Mah]

Gotcha,Is there a lawyer in the house 

[Hunter4Life]

The Hunters Heritage Council does have a full-time lobbyist in Olympia and in our 17 years of existence, we have killed every piece of anti-hunting legislation.  Their track record is outstanding. The Hunters Heritage Council will be giving their input on Wild Futures.  The Council has earned the respect of policy makers in Olympia. Senator Pearson is a good friend of the Council and has received the Council's highest awards.

Unfortunately, if anyone has read the Real Wolf, the antis don't win in at the legislative level.  The antis haven't got anything through Congress, they win through the unelected bureaucracies, agencies, and Commissions.  They killed the increase in the cougar quotas in this state through the governor.  Making major policy changes on hunting is much harder than it is on the fishing side.  The Hunters Heritage Council was able to get the cougar pilot program through a pretty hostile legislature and renewed once, but the antis threw major money to kill it when that came up for renewal.  The antis do see hunting in a different light as they do fishing.  Fishing is a much easier sell.

I am I saying everything is roses and sunshine?  Hell, no, not even close to it.  Hunters have a long way to go before they even see sunshine.  Having the state house controlled by the Democrats makes going on the offensive tough, even though we could not have a better friend than Brian Blake as chair of the House Natural Resources Committee.  The hunters couldn't have a better friend than Brian.  He is truly an awesome guy, but the Seattle liberals control house leadership.  Add to the equation a governor that is champion to the antis that will veto a pro-hunting bill.  What I am saying is that hunters would be a lot worse off if the Hunters Heritage Council wasn't representing hunters interests in Olympia.

[Hunter4Life]

The sportsman of this state need to rally and boycott everything that has a scent of anti to it and i mean truly boycott it.Yes that includes the Seahawks.Hit this state and all the liberals where it counts.

I couldn't agree more with this comment.  Who pumped in millions to every anti-gun initiative?  Who was the driving force behind the animal-rights initiative 1401?  Paul Allen.  He is not a friend of the sporting community.

[Hunter4Life]

Hunters need to be involved.  Hunters can't stand alone.  There are great organizations out there that deserve your support.  The Hunters Heritage Council fights for hunters'-rights, but one can't join the Council as it is an organization of organizations.  Washingtonians for Wildlife Conservation is an organization dedicated to grassroots activism.  SCI is an organization truly deserving of your support.  They carry the torch at both the national and local levels.  Supporting these organizations not only supports hunters-rights, but supports education and outreach efforts on behalf of the hunting community.  Even without their support of the Council, each of these organizations do outstanding work.  They deserve the support of every hunter.

[Oh Mah]

I agree 100%.Only thing is that by definition support means money,Money that most of us don't have.Money leads to corruption so what group will accept me for who and what i am at that without holding the hand out for my much needed paycheck?What group will fight with me along side them for little to no money to join their group?

[Oh Mah]

when you don't have to hire an attorney (They belong to the group i would think)It does not cost very much for litigation.Maybe $400 to file a suit,Maybe a few $1000 for depositions from experts(I would think a few of these in the group also)So take that one back.back to around $400.Get witnesses(also in the group)Wow in my opinion it almost seems like not much money is needed at all with all the members in a group that are in the group to advocate for a cause wouldn't they also volunteer their time and expertise to fight?Or is it really all about the money?

[Hunter4Life]

I agree 100%.Only thing is that by definition support means money,Money that most of us don't have.Money leads to corruption so what group will accept me for who and what i am at that without holding the hand out for my much needed paycheck?What group will fight with me along side them for little to no money to join their group?

Not everyone can afford to be part of a hunting group, I understand that.  Life comes first.  Survival comes first.  No one can fault anyone for not paying when the dollars aren't there.  Here is where hunting groups do fall down, they need to communicate calls to action better.  Your post is perfect.  No everyone can afford to join, so groups need to communicate to better to the hunting community at large on how to activate the base.   This thread is an excellent threat.  Senator Pearson is an outstanding friend to the hunting community and he needs to hear our voice.

[Oh Mah]

I am a member of the Eagles and when there are problems the members do everything they can to get whatever needs done done.Lawyers to auto mechanics,people with the know how help out without their hands out.A true group with honest intentions could no doubt make a huge difference.What group could or would be that one as it pertains to us on this forum?