WDFW seeks public comments on proposed hunting contest rule changes

[Blacktail Sniper]

Didn't see this posted yet:

https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/wdfw-seeks-public-comments-proposed-hunting-contest-rule-changes?fbclid=IwAR3eiCXszcBbaf5ry7DpeaVBn3leIg5NX5lV664mdXpbXLrAnC0_biGOMn8

WDFW seeks public comments on proposed hunting contest rule changes
Date
Jun 17, 2020
Contact
Sam Montgomery, 360-688-0721

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking public comments on proposed recommendations for hunting contest and hunting restriction rules.

From June 17 through July 14, WDFW will accept written public comments on the proposed rule changes. The proposals and comment forms will be posted on the department’s website.

The two proposals are related to hunting contests. The first excludes species that do not have bag limits from hunting contests. The second makes it illegal to participate in a hunting contest that the department has not permitted.

“We’ve heard from the public that they are concerned about holding certain contests, which award prizes to the person that kills the most animals,” said Anis Aoude, WDFW game division manager. “If the Commission approves the rule proposals, then these types of contests will no longer be permitted.”

These proposed changes only affect hunting contests and do not change general hunting regulations for species that have no bag limit, including but not limited to bobcats, coyotes, crows, foxes, or raccoons. Fishing contests and field trials are not affected by this proposed rule change.

“Six other states currently have some form of ban on wildlife killing contests,” Aoude added. “We remain committed to providing hunting opportunities that are consistent with the hunting community’s stewardship values.”

The public can submit written comments via email or mail to:

Wildlife Program
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
PO Box 43200
Olympia, WA 98504

The Commission, which sets policy for WDFW, will also accept public comments on the proposed recommendations at its July 30 – Aug. 1 webinar. Final action by the Commission is scheduled at their Aug. 21 webinar.

WDFW is the primary state agency tasked with preserving, protecting, and perpetuating fish, wildlife, and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing and hunting opportunities.

Persons with disabilities who need to receive this information in an alternative format or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see https://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation.

[ctwiggs1]

I did the survey and sent an email.  100% opposed to both rule changes.

[Special T]

This appears to follow the trend to limit predator harvest.

[nwmein199]

I did the survey and sent an email.  100% opposed to both rule changes.

 

[Alan K]

Presumably the reasoning behind not having a bag limit is the fact that WDFW cannot get enough hunters afield participating at a level sufficient with keeping populations at a desirable level.

Hunting contests HELP accomplish the goal. Why would WDFW even consider this?  Are sustainable populations at risk by having hunting contests? If so, why would WDFW have unlimited bag limits on them to begin with?

Let wildlife managers manage wildlife. Game departments bowing down to concrete jungle city folk emotion is what has been leading to the demise of our fish and wildlife for some time now. It's time for WDFW and other managers to grow a little backbone and tell these anti's that management is to be done with science not emotion.

[ctwiggs1]

Hunting contests HELP accomplish the goal. Why would WDFW even consider this? 

Because they have to listen to the public.

[idahohuntr]

I'm not sure hunting contests portray hunters in the best light - so I have mixed feelings on this one.  I think its probably better for WDFW to eliminate them than for somebody to catch wind of them at the Seattle Times and publish a one-sided story that results in legislation taking away a lot more than organized contests 

[Buckhunter24]

The word contest puts it out of context imo, and makes the goal unclear to people that just read the headlines and form an opinion on emotion. It should be called a bounty and have a mission statement that clearly defines the purpose of reducing predators.

[Special T]

Prettry sure there were less than 10 coyote derbies last year. Lets not forget that if a prize is given that youx must have a permitt. @bearpaw  hasnt the photo harvest contest been delayed on here because they love them so much?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Special T]

 

[konradcountry]

I knew they wouldn't be able to write this without some massive loophole
https://wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/hunting/hunt-contest

You need a hunt contest permit if:

An organized competition is held in which participants are given an allotted amount of time to harvest a specific wildlife species.

Oh ok then take away the time limit. Just give out prizes though on the first day.

These were never serious competitions. This is really just some issue the Humane Society decided to latch onto to turn public favor against hunting.

[Special T]

I knew they wouldn't be able to write this without some massive loophole
https://wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/hunting/hunt-contest

You need a hunt contest permit if:

An organized competition is held in which participants are given an allotted amount of time to harvest a specific wildlife species.

Oh ok then take away the time limit. Just give out prizes though on the first day.

These were never serious competitions. This is really just some issue the Humane Society decided to latch onto to turn public favor against hunting.

Was this a change that was adopted?  Or was this the way it has always been? it seems different.

[buckfvr]

Presumably the reasoning behind not having a bag limit is the fact that WDFW cannot get enough hunters afield participating at a level sufficient with keeping populations at a desirable level.

Hunting contests HELP accomplish the goal. Why would WDFW even consider this?  Are sustainable populations at risk by having hunting contests? If so, why would WDFW have unlimited bag limits on them to begin with?

Let wildlife managers manage wildlife. Game departments bowing down to concrete jungle city folk emotion is what has been leading to the demise of our fish and wildlife for some time now. It's time for WDFW and other managers to grow a little backbone and tell these anti's that management is to be done with science not emotion.

wdfw cares not about coyote numbers and or getting people to hunt them.  They have no goals regarding their population.  If you make too much noise about sustainable populations, then you might get limits and tags out of the deal.  Wa. is so far removed from scientific management that it is just background noise.  They must do what the constituency of the governor demands, and this is most likely coming from those very people.  Less than 2 percent of wa. residents are hunters and not even they all condone coyote contests.  Our voice is but a whisper to wdfw, has been for a lot of years.  Dont look for that to change unless by some miracle we get a red gov.

[konradcountry]

Was this a change that was adopted?  Or was this the way it has always been? it seems different.

The hunt contest permit was one of the proposals.

This is pretty lame:
Only organizations filed as a nonprofit corporation with the state of Washington may apply for a hunting contest permit.

But like I said they left a pretty large loophole. Just have no time limit and give out prizes on a single day or when all submissions have been received.

I doubt that many hunters will even care in our state. I thought it was more of a Nevada and Arizona thing. I have no interest in coyote hunting with a crowd. I hunt to get away from crowds.

[Pegasus]

Just another poorly worded attempt to stop predator hunting by the anti-hunting groups. Same reason we have wolves introduced into this state that you can not shoot. Look, if the coyote population plummets dramatically then they can restrict hunting if need be but that would be too easy to do. They do this with all of the game that we hunt. Elk population plummets, they restrict the hunting by season lengths, permits, weapons, apr's, etc. If they allow the anti-hunters to take control there will be far more predators and less game available in the future. Don't let these clowns allow that to happen. These contests are not going to wipe out the state's population of coyotes and other predators.