Get ready for Washington State hunting licenses to skyrocket!!!!

[Special T]

I think is the right point to say this. Which organizations do you belong to? Are they working with a coalition of other sportsmen's groups in Washington state? If not tell them to! The Washington for Wildlife Conservation seems to be doing this.

If you don't belong to a hunting org then join one.  Specifically one that focuses on fighting for sportsmen. I've become more impressed with SCI as I've investigated which hunting orgs focus on dealing with local issues, and on protecting sportsmen as a whole.

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[WSU]

The fisheries groups you hear about, CCA, PSA, etc., are working directly with the legislature to push for priority for the folks that pay the bills.  Folks should support those organizations and push for WDFW to prioritize those that pay the bills.  Those groups are part of the reason the legislature hasn’t rubber stamped the prior requests for fee increases.

[Special T]

The fisheries groups you hear about, CCA, PSA, etc., are working directly with the legislature to push for priority for the folks that pay the bills.  Folks should support those organizations and push for WDFW to prioritize those that pay the bills.  Those groups are part of the reason the legislature hasn’t rubber stamped the prior requests for fee increases.

Not directed at any specific person.

There isn't a sportsmen's org anywhere that wouldn't take the help in wrangling issues.

This forum is a good venue to distribute information, and as a focus group to get a feel for what the pulse of sportsmen are.

"WE WONT SOLVE PROBLEMS HERE ALONE!"

I went to a Washington Waterfowlers Association meeting a while back
Good guys doing good work. They discussed the Shillapoo wildlife area that the BPA were trying to flood. I asked if anyone had reached out to Phesants forever, or any other group that uses that land... They said they needed help to do something like that... they needed a volunteer... I point this out because EVERY organization would accept some one to help inform and represent their Archery club, trap club, conservation group or what have you.

If your already doing this, Atta Boy!

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[WSU]

The fisheries groups you hear about, CCA, PSA, etc., are working directly with the legislature to push for priority for the folks that pay the bills.  Folks should support those organizations and push for WDFW to prioritize those that pay the bills.  Those groups are part of the reason the legislature hasn’t rubber stamped the prior requests for fee increases.

Not directed at any specific person.

There isn't a sportsmen's org anywhere that wouldn't take the help in wrangling issues.

This forum is a good venue to distribute information, and as a focus group to get a feel for what the pulse of sportsmen are.

"WE WONT SOLVE PROBLEMS HERE ALONE!"

I went to a Washington Waterfowlers Association meeting a while back
Good guys doing good work. They discussed the Shillapoo wildlife area that the BPA were trying to flood. I asked if anyone had reached out to Phesants forever, or any other group that uses that land... They said they needed help to do something like that... they needed a volunteer... I point this out because EVERY organization would accept some one to help inform and represent their Archery club, trap club, conservation group or what have you.

If your already doing this, Atta Boy!

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[johnnyaustin44]

I would definitely take a yr off and not buy any tags.

Would be simple for me too since I already hunt out of state. Subtracting a deer tag would be easy

Yeah but duck hunting too?? That’d be rough.

[Oh Mah]

Name a hunting and fishing group that is doing enough and i'll join it.Problem is none of them are doing what needs to be done at a state level.some are at a federal level but still not enough.

If a group would simply sue this state to bring back all the anti harassment laws that we used to have i would join again.The anti hunters in this state and others have free reign to harass the hunters and fishermen without fear of charges.These special interest groups need to be hit where it matters in the wallet.All fines related to hunting and fishing need to be put into the conservation of the land,water and fish and game of this state so they can learn that when they harass the hunters and fishermen they will be funding the activities they hate so much.

[vandeman17]

I would definitely take a yr off and not buy any tags.

Would be simple for me too since I already hunt out of state. Subtracting a deer tag would be easy

Yeah but duck hunting too?? That’d be rough.

100% but for the cause I could do it. Use the money I save on gas, shells and all that for the year and put a down payment on a duck boat 

[Bigshooter]

https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/budget/development/

The department's proposals to avoid deep budget cuts and make targeted investments will total about $60 million.  In the current proposals, about two-thirds of the requests are identified as appropriate to be funded from the state general fund, while license fees would comprise the remaining third.

The department is exploring two concepts for recreational license fee increases:  either a 12-15 percent across-the-board increase on all license products, or a single annual $10 fee charged to each customer (with $3 fee charged for temporary licenses).  The final amount depends on the strategic investments and the amount provisioned by the state general fund.

The department's efforts now will be to refine the budget requests and align the fund sources and amounts based on feedback heard this summer.

 

I don't see the cost of licenses "skyrocketing." They are saying 12 to 15%. To me that would amount to roughly $30. I'll either cough up the extra money, or eliminate a couple things to help offset the extra cost. While I don't like having to pay more, I'm also not willing to give up hunting over a $30 increase.

 

[bearpaw]

I don't think fees have increased in a few years, it doesn't bother me if they have to do a modest 10-15% increase, but I can see if they raise fees too much the result could be less. I think WDFW needs to seriously focus on making the legislature and feds pony up for all non-sporting mandates! 

[vandeman17]

I don't think fees have increased in a few years, it doesn't bother me if they have to do a modest 10-15% increase, but I can see if they raise fees too much the result could be less. I think WDFW needs to seriously focus on making the legislature and feds pony up for all non-sporting mandates! 

Its not the increase itself that is frustrating, it is the reason that it is happening from what I believe is piss poor money management by WDFW that makes me upset.

[Oh Mah]

I don't think fees have increased in a few years, it doesn't bother me if they have to do a modest 10-15% increase, but I can see if they raise fees too much the result could be less. I think WDFW needs to seriously focus on making the legislature and feds pony up for all non-sporting mandates! 

raising our cost giving us less opp.and paying p/h to kill sick sheep and elk instead of letting the hunters of this state buy the tags for these areas just doesn't seem like a smart thing to do.

The most influential group we have in this state as far as conservation goes would be in my op. is the master hunters,If we could get the master hunters to banned together and push legislation in our favor using the volunteer work that they could boycott to do so.IN OTHER WORDS NO MORE FREE WORK IF THE STATE DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR OUR VOICES.   

[npaull]

Name a hunting and fishing group that is doing enough and i'll join it.Problem is none of them are doing what needs to be done at a state level.some are at a federal level but still not enough

Sportsmen's Alliance I think is pretty good.

[bearpaw]

I don't think fees have increased in a few years, it doesn't bother me if they have to do a modest 10-15% increase, but I can see if they raise fees too much the result could be less. I think WDFW needs to seriously focus on making the legislature and feds pony up for all non-sporting mandates! 

Its not the increase itself that is frustrating, it is the reason that it is happening from what I believe is piss poor money management by WDFW that makes me upset.

I certainly agree that they waste our dollars (especially wolf management), they are squandering our big game herds, and I agree with the people who have said the WDFW hired a consultant that will rubber stamp their agency. But it is true there has not been an increase so I don't mind paying a little more. The public as a whole has a breaking point, if they raise fees too much they will probably take in less than if they imposed a modest increase.

I don't trust WDFW, I think a good percentage of employees (especially managers) may not even support hunting, I think their main focus is on everything more than hunting, but they have not had a fee increase so it's not unreasonable to keep the pricing up with inflation. As stated I think they need to more heavily pursue legislative and federal funding for non-sporting mandates.

[bearpaw]

If I thought the legislature would tell WDFW to do better with hunters I might think that is worth pursuing, but I don't have much faith in the majority of legislators in this state. I'm sorry if i don't sound very optimistic, talk to me about other states, I'm much more optimistic that they value their hunting customers!

[Oh Mah]

Are they pushing for laws to return on harassment of hunters and fishermen?

Paying these groups with no or little return is no different than paying higher prices to hunt and or fish.We need groups that will go after these anti hunting and fishing groups for me and you when anti activities cross the lines.

For instance if damage is done to a place of business and it is done by a group the group or groups involved need to be held liable not just the people that did it in the groups interests.The anti establishment across the board destroying property and not enough is being done to curb it."YOU CAN'T GET BLOOD FROM A TURNIP BUT YOU SURE CAN FROM THE FARMER" This means you go after the groups that are pushing for it to pay for the damages.