I have been asked to let you know where the archery season-setting matters stand as of today, March 3, 2009.
But first an announcement: the conference room at the Bar 14 Restaurant in Ellensburg has been reserved by WSB from 5:00 PM until closing time on Friday March 6, 2009. Archery hunters, whether members of a state archery organization or not, are encouraged to stop in, buy dinner (and maybe a beverage) and to discuss with other bowhunters a strategy for the following day. It will be an opportunity to meet, compare notes and establish an outline for Saturday’s Commission meeting.
The WSB GMAC representative Rick Liebel, with input from the Washington Archery Coalition as a guideline, has fought for every improvement that has been made since the WDFW season recommendations first came out. The summary that follows should not be viewed as being neither final nor fair; it is perhaps where we should have been from the start. It should have never come to pass that so much work had to be done to get to this point. The near rape of archery hunting opportunity with little or no substantiated biological reason should serve as an eye opener to us all, for it demonstrates what can happen if archery hunters don’t stay actively involved in the processes, and more poignantly, what can happen if agendas instead of biology drives policy.
As per a telephone conversation today between Rick Liebel and Jerry Nelson, the WDFW deer and elk section manager, the WDFW says now that the following changes will appear in a supplemental sheet to the recommendations they will put before the Fish & Game Commission at the March 6 – 7 meeting in Ellensburg:
Archery GMU 178: Leave as per the status quo.
Archery GMU’s 209, 215, 233 & 243: Late general season: Nov 21-30.
They are going to adjust permits for many of the Region 2 GMU's as per the following:
M/F: change GMU 209 & GMU 215 permit quantities from 30 to 5, change GMU 233 permit quantities from 30 to 5, change GMU 239 & GMU 242 permit quantities from 39 to 20.
M/L: Delete permits from GMU’s 209, 215, 233 & 243. Add 20 permits to GMU 242.
Archery: Delete permits in GMU’s 209, 215, 233 & 243.
The Washington Archery Coalition doesn’t see this as a win-win scenario. This whole process could have been handled differently and better. It needs to be recognized that the WDFW is very unhappy with having to make adjustments to their recommendations under duress. Archery season-protection measures appear to be forthcoming but only because of your demands as citizens and the work done by members of the organized archery community. It can’t be stressed enough that until we get to Ellensburg and see these recommendations in writing and until the gavel then drops we don’t know where this will all end up. To quote Yogi Berra, “The game isn’t over ‘til it’s over.”
Keep in mind that the WDFW’s long range plan has not changed: the department is determined to go to Eastside permit-only deer hunting after November 1st of every calendar year. So if we don't want to keep fighting this same battle year after year we need to come up with some long-term solutions. Ideas are welcome… How about you get involved if you aren’t already?
D. Sharp
For the Washington Archery Coalition
