WDFW Fee Hike: Burke said it best...

[bearpaw]

WDFW FEE HIKE BILLS GET SUPPORT DURING PUBLIC HEARINGS, BUT CONCERNS RAISED TOO
http://nwsportsmanmag.com/wdfw-fee-hike-bills-get-support-during-public-hearings-but-concerns-raised-too/

“If I leave you with one message today, it is this is not about the money,” said Carl Burke. “We’ve always been willing to pay to play. However, we should not continually — consumptive users — be asked to provide more monies for less opportunity. It’s just that simple.”

[Fl0und3rz]

Well said.  Well done.

[bbarnes]

Imagine Chevy asking ford to bail them out when they took billions,in stimulus dollars from the tax payers.They say it's inflation is the way the new region 5 director,put it to me.The problem is all 4 money makers for WDFW are in the toilet,DEER,ELK,SALMON AND STEELHEAD.In my opinion there needs to be some GMU shut down to regrow the CROP,if we don't it will be over in the next 10 years.They have no clue of, how many animals and fish are in this state,so how do you manage numbers and oppertunity.Its all about full time employees having jobs IF YOUR BROKE HOW DO YOU DO ANY STUDYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Stein]

To me, it sounded like a bunch of nothing.  No hard questions were asked and no obvious problems were even addressed.  The Hunters' Heritage rep seemed to ignore everything except his thrill of the new package deals offered by WDFW.  I calculated the fishing one and you save $0.32.  Nice, glad to see we are addressing real issues.

Same story, agree with what WDFW is doing, wish them the best and hope for different outcomes.

[ipkus]

After an extensive internal review the department determined they needed an extra $60 million dollars.

Not a single place where they said "...we've got some fat we should trim here...".  Not one.

Government bureaucracy.  "Just give us more money"

[bbarnes]

We're not hoof rot is now in three  states and CWD is in 24,look up CWD press conference in Pennsylvania.They said it best fish and wildlife agency's,have done nothing to stop it.

[JimmyHoffa]

Imagine Chevy asking ford to bail them out when they took billions,in stimulus dollars from the tax payers.They say it's inflation is the way the new region 5 director,put it to me.The problem is all 4 money makers for WDFW are in the toilet,DEER,ELK,SALMON AND STEELHEAD.In my opinion there needs to be some GMU shut down to regrow the CROP,if we don't it will be over in the next 10 years.They have no clue of, how many animals and fish are in this state,so how do you manage numbers and oppertunity.Its all about full time employees having jobs IF YOUR BROKE HOW DO YOU DO ANY STUDYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know how WDFW is planning for long term.  Do they just want to be a bunch of park rangers living off the general fund and some fed grants?  The perception from nearly all the license buyers and sporting goods retailers I know is sort of the same toilet analogy you mention.  It's like there's so much that needs fixed they can't operate.  Maybe it's cheaper to do nothing and not get sued than it is to try to make improvements?   

[bornhunter]

More money my %÷$#. Take a look at their organizational chart. Talk about top heavy! Any idea how much it cost to support all the deputy chiefs, captains and lieutenants? They are falling all over each other. If you ever get the chance, ask someone in WDFW management what the extra $'s will buy you. All you will get is blank stares. 

[bbarnes]

Power of the pocket book don't buys the tags, with only 54000 elk tags sold last year people are sending the message.In addition with our deer herd in west klickatat havering hoof rot,hunters won't be hunting deer either.WDFW keeps saying these animals are safe to eat,but last year in Trout Lake they said the 28 elk,were unsafe to eat, that's why they were going to kill them OMG.

[HntnFsh]

Imagine Chevy asking ford to bail them out when they took billions,in stimulus dollars from the tax payers.They say it's inflation is the way the new region 5 director,put it to me.The problem is all 4 money makers for WDFW are in the toilet,DEER,ELK,SALMON AND STEELHEAD.In my opinion there needs to be some GMU shut down to regrow the CROP,if we don't it will be over in the next 10 years.They have no clue of, how many animals and fish are in this state,so how do you manage numbers and oppertunity.Its all about full time employees having jobs IF YOUR BROKE HOW DO YOU DO ANY STUDYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know how WDFW is planning for long term.  Do they just want to be a bunch of park rangers living off the general fund and some fed grants?  The perception from nearly all the license buyers and sporting goods retailers I know is sort of the same toilet analogy you mention.  It's like there's so much that needs fixed they can't operate.  Maybe it's cheaper to do nothing and not get sued than it is to try to make improvements?   

But they get sued a lot and usually cave.

[Skyvalhunter]

Seems that the article was more geared to fishing. Would be nice to see some hunters organization speak up and let them know that the Game Population is in need of some serious help.

[bbarnes]

It sure would be it can't just be myself and mark smith,attending all these meetings,in my experience hunters for the most part just want to kill,not conserve for future generations.

[bearpaw]

It sure would be it can't just be myself and mark smith,attending all these meetings,in my experience hunters for the most part just want to kill,not conserve for future generations.

You know different hunters than I do, many of the hunters I know are concerned about the future of hunting for their kids and grandkids!

[fowl smacker]

It sure would be it can't just be myself and mark smith,attending all these meetings,in my experience hunters for the most part just want to kill,not conserve for future generations.

We certainly hang around different groups.

[bigtex]

It sure would be it can't just be myself and mark smith,attending all these meetings,in my experience hunters for the most part just want to kill,not conserve for future generations.

You know different hunters than I do, many of the hunters I know are concerned about the future of hunting for their kids and grandkids!

I know both types. I think the ones you mention Dale tend to be the older ones, while the ones barnes mention tend to be younger. But I know some old guys who just care about the killing and not the conservation.

[bearpaw]

It sure would be it can't just be myself and mark smith,attending all these meetings,in my experience hunters for the most part just want to kill,not conserve for future generations.

You know different hunters than I do, many of the hunters I know are concerned about the future of hunting for their kids and grandkids!

I know both types. I think the ones you mention Dale tend to be the older ones, while the ones barnes mention tend to be younger. But I know some old guys who just care about the killing and not the conservation.

Yes, I know there are both types out there! 

[bbarnes]

My 18 year old didn't hunt with me last year because of the amount of effort we put in and the lack of wildlife.At this point for me it was fight or flight.My choice is to fight to hold our positions and WDFW accountable to the RCW.