WDFW Director Unsworth has a bad day

[Elkaholic daWg]

I totally agree.  When they push for money, it's always "What, you don't support your game wardens?"

That's every government though. For WDFW its officers and WDFW lands. For cities it's the police department, fire department, and parks. They try to go after the programs that the citizens support most.

So that makes it right?  NO......FIX IT

Pretty sure I didn't say it's right...

And I didn't mean it personally. We all need to help with that by not accepting it from those who think they are our rulers instead of employees .....

[Goshawk]

257 Weatherby for WDFW Director!

[fish vacuum]

Upper management in state government is a big stew. Old managers get tossed in and a new one pulled out, but the ingredients just get stirred and recycled.

[spoonman]

So how is it that a man in his position can really only speak the word "umm"?!?! His ability to make a intelligent statement and or argument is next to impossible.  My 15 year old daughter would slaughter him in a debate, it would be like having a battle of wits with a unarmed person!!!

[Goshawk]

Isn't it an appointed position by a gun fearing democratic Governor?
How could you end up with anything else?

So how is it that a man in his position can really only speak the word "umm"?!?! His ability to make a intelligent statement and or argument is next to impossible.  My 15 year old daughter would slaughter him in a debate, it would be like having a battle of wits with a unarmed person!!!

[pianoman9701]

Not positive, but i think the Wildlife commission picks the director and the Governor picks the Wildlife commissioners. Anyone? Beuler? Beuler?

[Rainier10]

Not positive, but i think the Wildlife commission picks the director and the Governor picks the Wildlife commissioners. Anyone? Beuler? Beuler?

You are correct sir.

[wolfbait]

I just now went back and actually watched the video presentation.  Wow, how embarassing to say the least. 

UC, to answer your question, I really doubt anything will ever change.  It's government and evolves as such.  The only hope would be to have someone come in that actually knows enough about resource management or has the managerial skills to trust people who do, to make tough decisions.

The last opportunity WDFW to do that in my opinion was Bern Shanks.  Although not what some would consider a natural resource expert, he has excellent management skills.  He was good at letting people make decisions that made a difference.  He could also recognize BS.  He bucked the system and pissed off a few Regional Managers and upper management types.  He eventually got rewarded with backstabbing and exit.

I used to believe in the commission, however I don't anymore.  They have shown they are inept.  Example...when the Alaska hire ( Koenings) who was director for ten years was forced out, they did a nationwide search for a new director.  Best they could do was Anderson, the previous director's assistant?  I had a hard time understanding how that was the best they could do considering he would probably not even meet the qualifications for a wildlife director's job anywhere in the county due to his lack of educational requirements and experience.  I'm not knocking him personally mind you, just the process. 

The previous director before him was another commission blunder.  Research biologists, as he was in the fish arena, tend to be held in high esteem in many agencies, but I can tell you they don't have the real world experience or interaction with the public that they need to serve.  All the commission saw was the word SALMON, the flavor of the day.  Enough said.  Decade wasted in my opinion. 

Considering we have and always probably will have a democrat for a governor, I certainly don't trust that option either.  The only possible hope would be to have an elected position like DNR, with a statewide elected official.  Might get lucky, but then again, the I-5 population corridor might drop a tree hugger in our laps.  Not to sure I'm comfortable with that either.   

I've been retired just over 14 years now.  I loved my job, but hated the politics and some of the egos I had to tolerate.  I also miss the old Dept. of Game, and what it was when I started.  Even with our shortcomings way back when, we were better.  We for the most part appreciated the folks that paid our salaries and made our careers possible.  I know I did.  Times have certainly changed.  Yesterday's sportsman who I met day in and day out, tend to be defined in today's agency, in two words, Joe Sixpack.  They have forgotten just who they serve.  Not all mind you, but policy and those who influence it, have.  Sad........    

"I also miss the old Dept. of Game, and what it was when I started.  Even with our shortcomings way back when, we were better.  We for the most part appreciated the folks that paid our salaries and made our careers possible.  I know I did.  Times have certainly changed.  Yesterday's sportsman who I met day in and day out, tend to be defined in today's agency, in two words, Joe Sixpack.  They have forgotten just who they serve.  Not all mind you, but policy and those who influence it, have.  Sad........ "

    You are not alone with these thoughts.

I remember the old Dept. go Game feeding deer through bad winters, managing ungulates by keeping predators in check along with a deer season that reflected the deer herds, how many different deer seasons are there now? And how many Doe permits will they issue this year after predicting the weather?

What we have today is a department hell bent on destroying what took years to build though fake science etc...   $$$$$$$$$$$

[pianoman9701]

Our WDFW has a mandate from the Governor through the Wildlife Commission to "green-up" the department and pay more attention to the environmentalist groups and wildlife watchers than to the people who pay the bills, us. You can see it in the appointments to the commission, the appointment of the director by the commission, the emphasis on the outrageous wolf plan. It's a self-destructive path that will intensify each year. The Governor cares not where the money comes from. When hunters and fishers take their dollars elsewhere, it'll justify funding the department more from the general fund, leaving us behind.

[timberfaller]

With Jay in charge, YOU didn't see this coming??    Olympia has been out of touch with reality for decades and THIS surprises you???

Liberals listen to Eco-terrorist, tree huggers and bunny huggers and give generously to Democrats, and the actions coming out of Olympia surprises you??

Staying home and NOT voting has consequences!  

[Special T]

Our WDFW has a mandate from the Governor through the Wildlife Commission to "green-up" the department and pay more attention to the environmentalist groups and wildlife watchers than to the people who pay the bills, us. You can see it in the appointments to the commission, the appointment of the director by the commission, the emphasis on the outrageous wolf plan. It's a self-destructive path that will intensify each year. The Governor cares not where the money comes from. When hunters and fishers take their dollars elsewhere, it'll justify funding the department more from the general fund, leaving us behind.

Since sports men came to the rescue of the WDFW to prevent the parks merger and this is the thanks we get, where do we go from here? All I see is a slow downward spiral.

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[bigtex]

Our WDFW has a mandate from the Governor through the Wildlife Commission to "green-up" the department and pay more attention to the environmentalist groups and wildlife watchers than to the people who pay the bills, us. You can see it in the appointments to the commission, the appointment of the director by the commission, the emphasis on the outrageous wolf plan. It's a self-destructive path that will intensify each year. The Governor cares not where the money comes from. When hunters and fishers take their dollars elsewhere, it'll justify funding the department more from the general fund, leaving us behind.

Since sports men came to the rescue of the WDFW to prevent the parks merger and this is the thanks we get, where do we go from here? All I see is a slow downward spiral.

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It was a merger proposal that outside of the governor's office (Gregoire) had very little support in the legislature. Not saying that sportsman didn't have an impact, but it wasnt going anywhere anyways.

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[Special T]

Our WDFW has a mandate from the Governor through the Wildlife Commission to "green-up" the department and pay more attention to the environmentalist groups and wildlife watchers than to the people who pay the bills, us. You can see it in the appointments to the commission, the appointment of the director by the commission, the emphasis on the outrageous wolf plan. It's a self-destructive path that will intensify each year. The Governor cares not where the money comes from. When hunters and fishers take their dollars elsewhere, it'll justify funding the department more from the general fund, leaving us behind.

Since sports men came to the rescue of the WDFW to prevent the parks merger and this is the thanks we get, where do we go from here? All I see is a slow downward spiral.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

It was a merger proposal that outside of the governor's office (Gregoire) had very little support in the legislature. Not saying that sportsman didn't have an impact, but it wasnt going anywhere anyways.

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This may be true, but I remember the WDFW making a plea to sportsmen, and then thanking them for a great show of support. I know that many state reps were flooded with calls and letters.

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[ctwiggs1]

Hey I recognize the first name on that list of council members...

[Bushcraft]

Hey I recognize the first name on that list of council members...

Yep. I suspect I was chosen as the token hunter.  You know..."diversity".