WDFW Director Unsworth has a bad day

[JimmyHoffa]

If things stayed at least about the same since the last price increase, I could go along with the inflation and new tools argument.  But opportunities have declined to where in some cases it isn't worth what they are selling anymore.  Halibut season offered up like 60 days eight years ago, it will be three days this year.  Westside pheasant...  2016 Salmon season...  Grouse reductions...  Steelhead..  I think the only way to convince people to pay for lower quantity is to increase the quality.

[Rainier10]

Thanks for the insight wacenturion.

[Mr Mykiss]

Seriously...
I'm a senator>>> "I can't afford to go hunting anymore"
Way to budget...and you're managing our money??!!

[nwwanderer]

Good rant.  Thanks.  Individual programs like yours have worked in the past but generally most problems have existed for a very long time.  Elk problems in the late forties have simply moved around the state as little or no fore sight is still the norm.  Your mentioned little kingdoms still thrive and the right hand rarely knows where the left is digging.  And dig they do.  How deep is that hole now? 
Even with the likes of Inslee, a rare individual director would turn things around.  Will it ever happen?  Does that person even exist?  Hard questions.  The resources are in surprisingly good condition given the situation.

[Mr Mykiss]

SNAP!!! Just got to 01:11:45!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[ucwarden]

Well said wacenturion, and I couldn't agree more.  Now what do we do about fixing it, or is that even possible?

[Mudman]

My bad, I will try to be civil.  frustrated.  Thanks for your input, Its an informative rant and I am glad you guys see it the way you do, gives me some hope.  Every day Idaho or Wyoming look better.  This isn't just wdfw its pervasive in so many gov. agencies in this state and country.  One of you wardens should apply for Director heh???

[Special T]

Having spent my career working in the legislative branch I'd be shocked if there's not a fee increase, I don't think it'll be to extent of the current proposal however.

It's essentially a damned if you do, damned if you don't.

If the legislature raises fees then sportsman will complain about paying more.

If they don't raise fees then WDFW will cut back on services (hatcheries, lands upkeep, enforcement, etc.) and sportsman will complain about the cut in services.

Either way sportsman complain.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thier actions of punishing sportsmen is very telling. It is just another example of how they overlook the very people who make thier jobs possible. There are examples out there for sucess if the WDFW actually cared.

Another example of sucess that got cut short was all the mowing done at cherry Valley and stillwater due to the private donations of equiptment, fuel,and time. @happygilmore had a large hand in that with his dog training club.

[ucwarden]

My bad, I will try to be civil.  frustrated.  Thanks for your input, Its an informative rant and I am glad you guys see it the way you do, gives me some hope.  Every day Idaho or Wyoming look better.  This isn't just wdfw its pervasive in so many gov. agencies in this state and country.  One of you wardens should apply for Director heh???

No problem Mudman, and I fully understand the frustration (I have been working hard to force change, in WDFW, for over four years now).  The beauty of this forum is to be able to share our thoughts, facts, and opinions with other interested parties, through the generosity of the website host.  We get to hear different opinions from all kinds of different perspectives (although I doubt too many liberals are on here).  I just don't like it when comments get personal between members, but I too have been guilty of such. 
Thanks for your opinion, and for having the time and interest to keep apprised of this issue.

[Odell]

The ending of that was beautiful. That was a very pointed dismissal.

[ucwarden]

The ending of that was beautiful. That was a very pointed dismissal.

I was a thing of beauty, wasn't it?   What goes around comes around....eventually.

[northwesthunter84]

Watched the video. That was plain funny. He has the public speaking skills of a grade school student.  I'm hoping this level of realization will spread beyond the ways and means committee. At least it was a brief and not testifying. He got caught lying with his pants down.

[huntnphool]

 What pisses me off about this guy is he goes over reason after to reason to increase fees, lies about having public support, and never once mentions ways they can reduce wasteful spending or salary freezes.........and I'm quite sure there are plenty WE could find.

[7mmstalker]

Not to derail the thread, but this guy may be just ahead of the game. Perhaps he believes that the trend of paying for access to private hunting land is the future, and does not care to give his time to serving the public interests?

[bigtex]

What pisses me off about this guy is he goes over reason after to reason to increase fees, lies about having public support, and never once mentions ways they can reduce wasteful spending or salary freezes.........and I'm quite sure there are plenty WE could find.

There's wasteful spending literally every form of government. At the last WDFW Commission meeting the commission was briefed on recent cost savings by being more efficient, the presentation is here: http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings/2017/02/feb1017_08_presentation.pdf

But regarding salary freezes. This is something that can only be done by the governor or legislature, not independent govt agencies, and it'll effect all agencies. The feds work the same way. You can't have WDFW in a salary freeze for example but all state other agencies not.