Cougar Attack Highlights Shortage of WDFW Officers

[bigtex]

One of the largest complaints about WDFW Enforcement is the expanded duties they've taken on over the years. Some have been forced upon them by the legislature, others WDFW have often taken in order to get more money (such as boating enforcement). However, this isn't only a WDFW thing. You can look at every state's wildlife enforcement program and see activities/disciplines they work in and think to yourself "why is that under the purview of the game warden?" A couple examples:

-In the New England states Search & Rescue is the responsibility of the game wardens. Doesn't matter if it's a hunter who is lost or little Tommy. Once SAR is activated it's the game warden's show
-In Florida game wardens are responsible for enforcing speed laws in Florida panther zones during night hours. Basically there is a daytime speed limit and a night time speed limit in panther areas. It's the wardens enforcing it.
-In California wardens are responsible for enforcing oil spills. A new task is that wardens are now the ones issuing permits for marijuana grows.
-In the Midwest many states have their game wardens also take on the state park ranger role. Essentially their first task is the park, when they can they are able to go throughout the state and work off-park fish/wildlife work

One common thing nationwide though is unfunded mandates. The legislature of the state comes up with new laws, wants the game wardens to enforce it, but doesn't give them any new money to do it. Essentially its the old "do more with less" concept.

I was going to bring up the unfunded mandate part.  Is there a break down as to how much time is spent for these unfunded mandates?

This is a very specific beef we should all have. If sportsmen are pay half the bill how much  time is being spent on other stuff

No and you would have to go through decades of bills to see what was enacted and if funding was provided.

Like I already said, the wildlife funds recreational hunting and fishing enforcement. The general fund funds the enforcement of other things.

You could get 10 people in a room, provide them with the activities/seasons WDFW monitors and each one of those 10 people will come up with 10 different priorities. We had someone earlier saying WDFW shouldn't be doing restaurant/market inspections, I disagree (and apparently so does every state) because that's how you can still find illegally taken fish.

[257 Wby Mag]

Having worked for the state for 20 years I gotta laugh.  The wastage  of $$$$ in state government is gross, I see it daily....  it’s funny, the more ground that gets locked up, the more officers we need??? Haha.....

2 weekends ago was a prime example, 3 educated idiots, and 2 game wardens checking folks at the boat launch at Westport.... really??

I am tired of paying more and getting less....

Any hound hunter, wolf killer, trapper, or bear baiter  will get a pass from me....

[olyguy79]

Having worked for the state for 20 years I gotta laugh.  The wastage  of $$$$ in state government is gross, I see it daily....  it’s funny, the more ground that gets locked up, the more officers we need??? Haha.....

Because poaching doesn't happen behind gates?  Heck, a lot of hunters are now hunting behind gates.

WDFW still has about 40 less officers now then they did when the merger happened in 1994.

[257 Wby Mag]

And there’s more since the gates went up??? Haha wow.....

[bigtex]

And there’s more since the gates went up??? Haha wow.....

Um no.

[buglebrush]

Stop giving WDFW a pass because of Governor etc...  WDFW's totally at fault because they're not standing up and educating/demanding predator management etc...  Instead they whine about needing more funds and claim that animals can't really be managed anyhow.   

[TriggerMike]

It all starts with the last few Governors we've had. And we all know how well Democrats and the WA State Legislature is at managing money and being even a little bit responsible or accountable for their actions and inactions. Pathetic excuse for a state government.

[bearpaw]

One of the largest complaints about WDFW Enforcement is the expanded duties they've taken on over the years. Some have been forced upon them by the legislature, others WDFW have often taken in order to get more money (such as boating enforcement). However, this isn't only a WDFW thing. You can look at every state's wildlife enforcement program and see activities/disciplines they work in and think to yourself "why is that under the purview of the game warden?" A couple examples:

-In the New England states Search & Rescue is the responsibility of the game wardens. Doesn't matter if it's a hunter who is lost or little Tommy. Once SAR is activated it's the game warden's show
-In Florida game wardens are responsible for enforcing speed laws in Florida panther zones during night hours. Basically there is a daytime speed limit and a night time speed limit in panther areas. It's the wardens enforcing it.
-In California wardens are responsible for enforcing oil spills. A new task is that wardens are now the ones issuing permits for marijuana grows.
-In the Midwest many states have their game wardens also take on the state park ranger role. Essentially their first task is the park, when they can they are able to go throughout the state and work off-park fish/wildlife work

One common thing nationwide though is unfunded mandates. The legislature of the state comes up with new laws, wants the game wardens to enforce it, but doesn't give them any new money to do it. Essentially its the old "do more with less" concept.

I was going to bring up the unfunded mandate part.  Is there a break down as to how much time is spent for these unfunded mandates?

This is a very specific beef we should all have. If sportsmen are pay half the bill how much  time is being spent on other stuff
?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Humptulips made a good point about this too, budget items need separated so we know what is being paid by sports folks. Most of the mandated endangered species stuff should be funded by general fund.

And the answer to H's question was provided

I had missed that, thanks for the info. I would like to see an accounting in WDFW to see if sportsman's dollars are actually going where they are supposed to go. I wonder if PR funds are being used for wolves? USFWS used them in the past to plant wolves.

[acnewman55]

Cougar attacks are just a convenient event to create a media buzz about WDFW’s “budget shortfall”.

The implication is raise taxes or watch your children get gobbled up by cougars.

Typical government incompetency and the only answer is to raise taxes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bigtex]

Cougar attacks are just a convenient event to create a media buzz about WDFW’s “budget shortfall”.

The implication is raise taxes or watch your children get gobbled up by cougars.

Typical government incompetency and the only answer is to raise taxes.

Well considering the legislature wants to give WDFW less tax $, I doubt it. A license fee increase however..

[idahohuntr]

Cougar attacks are just a convenient event to create a media buzz about WDFW’s “budget shortfall”.

The implication is raise taxes or watch your children get gobbled up by cougars.

Typical government incompetency and the only answer is to raise taxes.

Well considering the legislature wants to give WDFW less tax $, I doubt it. A license fee increase however..

And this is where they come begging at the doorstep of sportsmen and their various organizations...seeking support for fee increases.  And when folks look at the poor job the Department is doing on issues important to us, while spending millions on a wolf facilitator...well, that's when they will find out what budget problems look like.

[JimmyHoffa]

Cougar attacks are just a convenient event to create a media buzz about WDFW’s “budget shortfall”.

The implication is raise taxes or watch your children get gobbled up by cougars.

Typical government incompetency and the only answer is to raise taxes.

Well considering the legislature wants to give WDFW less tax $, I doubt it. A license fee increase however..

And this is where they come begging at the doorstep of sportsmen and their various organizations...seeking support for fee increases.  And when folks look at the poor job the Department is doing on issues important to us, while spending millions on a wolf facilitator...well, that's when they will find out what budget problems look like.

  Cougars....so, the agency setting quotas too low, ending seasons too early (should be year round), limiting to a single tag, charging for a tag, not allowing trapping, etc for an animal taking lots of the game animals would want to charge even more for those game animals while it makes the reduction of cougars even more difficult.  Not a good trade.

[Shannon]

I view a license fee increase as a tax increase.

[Fl0und3rz]

Might be nice if WDFW didn't have their officers doing things pertaining to fish & wildlife issues and not writing parking or other no related WDFW issues.

About 3 or 4 months ago a friend and I were having lunch at the Tokyo House in Arlington. About half way into our lunch a wdfw agent came in to look through the Tokyo House's fish receipts. Couldn't the state find someone else to do that, why does it have to be a guy that should be out in the woods or on the water.

So a Fish & Wildlife Officer is investigating a restaurant by looking at their fish receipts. You do realize that's a vital part of their job right?

I think the point is that menial admin tasks can be performed without a badge and a gun, perhaps more economically.  I agree.  Sounds like accounting work.

[Bob33]

Might be nice if WDFW didn't have their officers doing things pertaining to fish & wildlife issues and not writing parking or other no related WDFW issues.

About 3 or 4 months ago a friend and I were having lunch at the Tokyo House in Arlington. About half way into our lunch a wdfw agent came in to look through the Tokyo House's fish receipts. Couldn't the state find someone else to do that, why does it have to be a guy that should be out in the woods or on the water.

So a Fish & Wildlife Officer is investigating a restaurant by looking at their fish receipts. You do realize that's a vital part of their job right?

I think the point is that menial admin tasks can be performed without a badge and a gun, perhaps more economically.  I agree.  Sounds like accounting work.

My guess is that accountants make as much or more than many enforcement officers.