Problem Developing

[turkeydancer]

Look up Lyle Galloway in your phone book ... I'll try to pm you with the info also.

I used to get at least one call each month from the national site ... until the new RD thought he should be the official contact for every chapter (instead of the chapter prez). Know how many calls I have received in the last two-and-a-half years years?   Good guess - zip !  The "former grocery store clerk" had nothing to do with building the chapter into one of the strongest in the state, but figures he should be the run to manage it ...      Figures you work for him ...        

hhhhmmmm, he doesn't pay my wages ... so I'm a volunteer, not his employee ...He's never here except to collect the money after the banquet once a year ... didn't care about any thank yous, but if he doesn't like the way things are done, feel free to do it yourself ... I'm not into the worship mode ...   Nope, Not Worth The  Frustration (NWTF). 

[Wacenturion]

Interesting, the same guy is listed as the contact person for EVERY NWTF chapter in washington state!!!

That's the way they work it...........we used to use the Chapter Presidents as individual contacts years ago, but I guess that was looked on as a lack of control by NWTF....don't want volunteers telling potential new members or public anything, now do we......lol.

[Wacenturion]

Oops......TD, should have read your post first as I said the same thing before going to the next page.  Oh well, you know it will be viewed as rebellion if a certain someone (buddy of yours from the grocery store) reads it...lol.

[testar77]

LOL Sounds like they should just drop the N from their Initials and just stick with WTF???  I appreciate all the help, and I talked to a friend of mine this afternoon who would be considered to be a highly influential person in the area, and is also a Turkey addict, and he would LOVE to see a Turkey population get established here, and would be willing to help as much as possible.

TD- that would be great to get that info from you since there is more than one Lyle Galloway in the phone book.  I take it that you also live here in Whatcom County?

[testar77]

Wacenturion:  I tried to reply to your pm but it says your inbox is full.  I will try again later.

[Wacenturion]

Ok....I dumped a bunch....mailbox open now.  Thanks for the heads up by the way.  Didn't realize I had that much over time...lol.

[Phantom Gobbler]

Guys,

Please keep in mind the Skykomish, Snoqualmie and Snohomish Valleys as another possible site for Easterns if we can break the political logjams.  I do agree that Whatcom County should be a high priority for transplants.

[bearpaw]

Welcome to an awesome sport.

Regarding turkey chokes.....I have seen dozens of guys try to hunt the first year with a full choke.....most are sorry in a couple days and they show up the next year with the proper equipment....do yourself and the turkeys a huge favor and spend the money to get an extra full choke.....if you don't....there's about 80% chance you will wish you had....before you are back home.

Good luck and have fun.......

[turkeydancer]

Testar - From the Gig Harbor area ... Lyle's a friend (ie - not the grocery store clerk) ... writing myself a sticky note so I will remember tonight to send you the info tonight.

[strutnrut1984]

trap and transfer programs have done an amazing job in other states, i grew up in pennsylvania and as a boy in the early 70s it was rare to see turkeys other than in the north central mountains. by the mid 80s every county in the state had huntable populations. now there isnt a block of woods or forest that there isnt a turkey in. living here in whacom county since 2004. ive encounterd a few small flocks of birds. the habitat here is perfect for easterns they thrive in thick woods back east. and theres plenty of edges for them. and like others have said they are not a nuisance. mostly they are in flocks of 10 to 20 or so birds. ive hunted easterns over 30 yrs in many different states. they would be a good thing here also.

[Wacenturion]

strutnrut........thanks for your comments.  It's nice to see someone who has had a good deal of experience in another state (Pa.) with Easterns verify what I've been relating about their suitability to western Washington and their lack of nuisance problems on this thread and others. 

Washington did have an large scale introduction program beginning in the mid 80's, and shortly after a few years an aggressive trap and transfer program in state in conjunction with continued introductions of birds from several states.  Unfortunately the lions share numbers wise was with Rios and Merriams.  Easterns were harder to get.

Then the NWTF got itself involved as a middle man in the negotiations between states.  That really slowed it down as the NWTF inserted a price tag per bird by subspecies.  Washington as an example would pay Iowa $500 per Eastern (as they were harder to trap than Rios or Merriams which were much less), which did not include freight costs etc.  This was done by a superfund transfer between the Wa. chapter system of the NWTF to the Iowa chapter system.....with all the money being held in state accounts by the NWTF in Edgefield.  They (the NWTF) also saw fit to charge an administrative fee of I believe 1% for coordinating the transfer.  Starting to see why I don't support the NWTF at the national level?  There was no need for the admin. fee let alone the charge per bird.....it was all done with handshakes and in some cases wildlife trades.  Most were free...you know...we are glad to help out.  You see with the NWTF it's all about the almighty buck...even if it makes it much harder for states to afford to get birds.  My blood pressure rises everytime of think of their manipulative screw jobs.

On top of that some powers to be who took over the program(since 2000) within the WDFW are opposed to turkeys and their introduction or spread...fact.  When the turkey program was doing its thing in the 80's and 90's these same types did whatever they could to slow the process down....bulls*** politics.   Since 2000 they just disguise it by using a statewide plan, which initially stalled things until it was completed, then when it was done it basically denied future releases for one stupid reason or another.....not scientific fact....just sky is falling, I don't like them mentality.  Of course "they" don't hunt.

So between the NWTF at the national level and the WDFW here at home it a big cluster "you know what".   But again....thanks for telling it from your perspective as a Pa. transplant.....it is appreciated. 

Oh....and if people believe the NWTF at the national level is concerned about your turkey resource here....just watch them or look back and try to find when they aggressively took on the WDFW for the good of their volunteers and Washington sportsmen.  Doesn't happen....have to get along now...don't want to rock the boat....again....just give us your money...and stop complaining....again FACT!!!!