IMPORTANT POLL: Does WDFW Appreciate and Listen to Hunters & Anglers?

[Gringo31]

I think the key words are WDFW, APPRECIATE AND LISTEN.

I don't count LEO's in this discussion.  I take it to mean policy, regs etc.

[bigtex]

Those in Enforcement, the Bios, the lunch bucket people working hard at 40 hours a week trying to make a living are great people.  I will never say a negative word about those people.

Little known fact here. WDFW Officers work 171 hours per month compared to the usual 160. Yet those extra 11 hours aren't considered to be OT. Most of your urban city cops/county deputies who only work 160 make about $10k per year more than WDFW Officers despite the fact that WDFW requires in most cases a 4-year degree and most city/county agencies require a high school diploma or GED....

[PlateauNDN]

Why not break this down to wdfw pencil pushers and wdfw officers? 1 does more then the other for the hunters and anglers.

[bobcat]

Not sure about that when you consider Mike Cenci.

[PlateauNDN]

Field officers then?

[Bushcraft]

I edited the original question by adding the key word "leadership":

Do you feel like WDFW leadership genuinely appreciates and listens to Washington's hunting and fishing communities?

If warranted, feel free to modify your original response.

Thank you for all the valuable feedback thus far...keep it coming!

[buglebrush]

With these poll results it is apparent WDFW has a perception and PR issue.  Surprising, NOT.

It's not merely perception / PR, but a genuinely awful reality.

[fireweed]

my YES was based only on the difficulty of working with other groups(specifically the USFS, DNR and private timber) compared to the WDFW.  I've been trying to improve recreation and access in SW Washington for all types of recreation. My community has approached the WDFW, DNR, and USFS about multiple recreation and access issues, and the best response we have received has been from the WDFW.  They are the only agency to actually improve the situation on the ground, albeit modestly.  Due to suggestions from our group the WDFW 1) created the Whittier elk tag 2) expanded the Mudflow hunting area 3) opened Green River/Toutle to catch/release trout fishing 4)has written letters of support  5) kept 5,000 acres of public land open to hunting.
It's not much, but the WDFW is much more responsive than the DNR or USFS.

[Gringo31]

How much money do you send directly to DNR and USFS every year?