Mike Thorniley, RIP

[Humptulips]

Sad to report the passing of Mike Thorniley. Long time supporter and past officer in WSTA.

[bearpaw]

Sorry to hear, Mike was a good guy. My condolences to Bobby and their family.

[winshooter88]

Condolences to Bobby and family, knew them through the GMAC meetings.

[520backyard]

I have heard many many stories of good times had fishing and hunting with Mike and family. He had a wealth of knowledge of wildlife and the outdoors and passed that along throughout the Thorniley clan and now they too pass that knowledge gleaned from Mike along. One of the old guard has passed, they don't make'm like that anymore, truly a nice guy. My deepest condolences to all the Thornileys on their loss.

[Trapper John]

I've known Mike for some 35 years.  Great guy

To let you guys know, as Chairman for the Award Committee, I sent a letter out to Mike last week before he past to congratulate him on being nominated by his peers into the WSTA "Hall of Fame".  This award was going to be presented to him at this years Summer Rendezvous.  I'm sure some one will be there to accept the award if not I will deliver it personally to Bobbie.

An inductee in the Washington State Trappers Association Hall of Fame is the Highest Honor that can be bestowed on those that have given unselfishly of themselves to help protect the heritage of trapping in Washington State.  This is a memorial for all time.

JC   

[SkookumHntr]

He was a close family friend of ours too!

[CAMPMEAT]

OMG. I knew Mike and always saw him hunting in his green Toyota. RIP Mike...........GODSPEED.

[Machias]

Very sorry to hear this.

[Hunter4Life]

Mike Thorniley is also a founder member of both the Hunters Heritage Council and Washingtonians for Wildlife Conservation.  Mike is the Hunters Heritage Council Hall of Fame, the organization's highest honor, received a "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the organization, and is an "Honorary Lifetime Member" of Washingtonians for Wildlife Conservation.  He was a great one, a dear friend, and he will be sorely missed.

[Wacenturion]

So sad to hear.  Mike actually was one of three on an interview panel that hired me in my first position of Wildlife Control Agent for the old Dept. of Game. After the interviews were done he actually showed up at our residence in Moses Lake to offer me the job.  I had graduated from the University of Idaho and moved back to Moses Lake where I had a Dept. of Ag job waiting.

Funny story I have to tell about Mike.  A month of so after becoming a Wildlife Control Agent, I caught my first beaver in response to a damage complaint at Steamboat State Park on Banks Lake.  The park was new and park employees were planting trees along the east shoreline.  The beaver was taking them down as fast as they planted them.  Now remember, I had no trapping experience except for a few days myself and a couple other control agents spent with Mike and a few other D.O.G. employees who were regular control agents.

So I head up to Banks Lake and unload my 12 Valco boat to search for said beaver.  I immediately found it's lodge about 80 yards offshore.  I had to attach a 30-40 lb. rock to the end of a drowning line and dropped it in the lake.  At the other end I made a cake of mud and injected it with an ample supply of beaver castoreum from a beaver's anal sac for attractant.  All new to me....lol.  Set a trap next to the attractant and head home.

Next day head back up to check trap.  Had a beaver apparently as the trap was gone.  Wow, could barely pull it up along with the heavy rock I used to anchor the set.  When I got it to the surface I could not believe my eyes.  A huge beaver.  On the way home I stopped in Coulee City and had it weighed on a grain scale.  It was 74 lbs. and some ozs. (can't remember the ozs. exactly....been too long).

Could not wait to tell Mike.  Got home and called him as I was extremely pleased with myself and wanted to thank him for the training.  When I told him how big it was he went silent then when I asked if he was still there, he said something to the effect....."I can't believe it.  Been trapping all my life and never caught a beaver that big.  You do it on your first attempt".  May have been some descriptive words used in jest as well...lol.

That beaver was mounted by Dick Hoyt, the regional Wildlife agent in the Ephrata office and still resides at the Grant Count Museum in Ephrata the last i heard.  Caught a lot more beavers before I moved on from my trapping days and into a new position with WDFW, but nothing that big or even close.  I owe it all to Mike.  Rest in Peace my friend.  You will always be remembered. 

Bobby and family I am so sorry for your loss.

(Dan B)

[one more]

We will all miss Mike at the Ronde and all the things he's done for WSTA.  He was a very nice man.  My condolences to Bobby and his family. 

[Trapper John]

Update
There will be a memorial for Mike on the Westside at Millersylvania State Park this Saturday July 7th, 2018 beginning at 12:00 noon.
Bobbie said:  At Mikes request there will be a pot luck lunch.

I believe that Millersylvania State Park is in the Olympia area.
If your going please bring something, I'll see you here.
JC