Article about WDFW Budget

[Elkaholic daWg]

Let me get this straight.  They decided to reintroduce wolves, eliminate hound hunting for predators, eliminate hunting over bait for bears, and want to reintroduce grizzlies. None of which was supported by those  that typically purchase hunting and licenses.  And they cant figure out why less people are buying hunting licenses.  Our input wasn't a concern when they made those decisions, so now they have to live with the results.  Like any business, offer something that people want or they will go elsewhere.

WDFW didnt reintroduce wolves, and the ban on hounds was a voter initiative.

  But did they actively oppose either?

[Crunchy]

Clearly they did not. Which I would hope a non-political WDFW would would do. Voice our concerns about negative impacts and costs to monitor and control.

[Southpole]

Hey I have a swell idea. Why doesn’t Humane Society of US, Defenders of Wildlife, Conservation NW and any other predator lovin’ group hand over their donations they get from people all over the world to “save” the (fill in the blank) to fill in WDFW financial short falls. Get the people that want all these predators to pay up too since they have so much influence on state managed departments.

[Elkaholic daWg]

True, but to think they are apolitical is not wise......... and as rulers do they seem to care not for their paying subjects who have finance their existence from day one.... and pander to the PC crowd whenever possible, unless maybe they might be REQUIRED to kill a few wolves .

[Widgeondeke]

If the state has 7.5 million population and let's use 50% are taxpayers. Then 3.75 million people taxed  $116.50 should cover the budget. Then all combo fishing and hunting license should be free. There would no longer be a need for Discovery Pass. Only special tags or permits would be an additional fee.

Because everyone enjoys something that WDFW should be managing.
Hunters, fishers, hikers, bird & whale watchers, people that eat commercially caught seafood or buy flowers with wild brush in the boquets can all be happy

[Sitka_Blacktail]

It's an unfortunate situation. I expect we will see some price increases.

Price increases won't help in my opinion. Cost is probably the biggest reason people aren't getting into hunting. Access is right there and in the case of access permits these two factors are related.

Raising the cost of hunting will be counter-productive in the long run.

[Timberstalker]

It's an unfortunate situation. I expect we will see some price increases.

Price increases won't help in my opinion. Cost is probably the biggest reason people aren't getting into hunting. Access is right there and in the case of access permits these two factors are related.

Raising the cost of hunting will be counter-productive in the long run.

I agree with you however, I’m quite positive there will Be price increases.

[Special T]

When was the last time the department has undergone an independent audit?

In the real world when we have declining revenue we have yo take measure of the situation.  When is the last time they have done a SWOT assesment? ( Strength Weakness, Opportunity, Threat)

What have they done to address why we said no to increases in Lic fees? Whybis it that the only answer is an increase in fees or public $? Is it because they have resigned themself to reduced sales?

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[Special T]

It's an unfortunate situation. I expect we will see some price increases.

Price increases won't help in my opinion. Cost is probably the biggest reason people aren't getting into hunting. Access is right there and in the case of access permits these two factors are related.

Raising the cost of hunting will be counter-productive in the long run.

I agree with you however, I’m quite positive there will Be price increases.

I disagree that cost is the issue. Raising fees or getting more general fund $ is denying what the real problems are. They are ignorant to the cause and or have no effective plant to deal with it so they are punting

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[Humptulips]

I think everyone is looking at this wrong. This could be an opportunity.
They want something from us now which is acceptance of a price increase. Now is the time to say OK, What are you going to give me for that?

Would you say I'm OK with an increase if you got some changes you really wanted? Let us say an increase in cougar quotas and a redo on the wolf management plan to allow the eastern third of the State to be managed with public hunting.
Might be a bridge too far but put hound hunting and trapping on the table..
Could be more stuff but tell them we'll support a price increase if we get value for our money.

[bugs n bones]

I think everyone is looking at this wrong. This could be an opportunity.
They want something from us now which is acceptance of a price increase. Now is the time to say OK, What are you going to give me for that?

Would you say I'm OK with an increase if you got some changes you really wanted? Let us say an increase in cougar quotas and a redo on the wolf management plan to allow the eastern third of the State to be managed with public hunting.
Might be a bridge too far but put hound hunting and trapping on the table..
Could be more stuff but tell them we'll support a price increase if we get value for our money.

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍I agree with bruce

[Southpole]

No leadership from the top to the bottom...

[MisplacedAlaskan]

How about an OTC spring bear season? You can shoot two bears in the fall, why not make it one in the spring and one in the fall? More opportunities = more revenue. Until it improves here, I’ll keep spending my money in Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.

[idaho guy]

Hey I have a swell idea. Why doesn’t Humane Society of US, Defenders of Wildlife, Conservation NW and any other predator lovin’ group hand over their donations they get from people all over the world to “save” the (fill in the blank) to fill in WDFW financial short falls. Get the people that want all these predators to pay up too since they have so much influence on state managed departments.

.



I agree but I think those predator loving groups are getting exactly what they want less hunters every year and the eventual collapse of the North America wildlife management model that worked great for decades. Some people said they wanted to eliminate hunting first and then take guns because people wouldn’t need them! Ha ha sounded crazy at first but watching Washington’s story unfold might not be. At the very least promoting,protecting and introducing predators will end hunting as we have known it. Ineffective predator hunting seasons,small qoutas and outright protection of predators means less deer elk, less hunters, less money and the whole system falls apart. I think it’s exactly what those groups want and they are winning in too many states

[idaho guy]

I think everyone is looking at this wrong. This could be an opportunity.
They want something from us now which is acceptance of a price increase. Now is the time to say OK, What are you going to give me for that?

Would you say I'm OK with an increase if you got some changes you really wanted? Let us say an increase in cougar quotas and a redo on the wolf management plan to allow the eastern third of the State to be managed with public hunting.
Might be a bridge too far but put hound hunting and trapping on the table..
Could be more stuff but tell them we'll support a price increase if we get value for our money.

👍 they might actually listen to hunters instead of the predator loving groups now that they need their money! Could be an opportunity for sure