Call your State Senators/Wildlife Commission/RCW 77.04.040

[pianoman9701]

The fight for our hunting privileges needs to be a grassroots effort to hold Governor Inslee to his legal responsibilities under RCW 77.04.040. We all know he's stacked the Wildlife Commission with anti-hunters for a majority 5 seats of the 9-member commission. The second sentence of the RCW states:

"In making these appointments, the governor shall seek to maintain a balance reflecting all aspects of fish and wildlife , including representation recommended by organized groups representing sportfishers, commercial fishers, hunters, private landowners, and environmentalists."

Hold your Senators responsible to maintain this balance, since the Governor has shown he has no intention to follow the law. Here's the link to locate and contact your representatives: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/

Here's the message I've sent to Sen. Rivers. I'll follow-up with a phone call on Monday.

"Dear Senator Rivers,

please vote to hold Governor Inslee to his legal mandate under RCW 77.04.040 which outlines his responsibilities regarding his appointments to the Wildlife Commission of the WDFW.  In part, it states: "In making these appointments, the governor shall seek to maintain a balance reflecting all aspects of fish and wildlife, including representation recommended by organized groups representing sportfishers, commercial fishers, hunters, private landowners, and environmentalists."

He has not met this requirement and has appointed 5 anti-hunters to the 9-seat commission. This is crazy for the body which regulates hunting in our state. Hunters provide 1/3 of the cost of running the WDFW through license fees and an 11% excise tax on guns, ammo, and hunting equipment. By eliminating hunting opportunities, like the spring bear hunt and beaver trapping, he'll alienate hunters and as the revenue from hunters declines, be forced to transfer that revenue responsibility to all WA taxpayers. Please hold him responsible to follow WA laws. I look forward to your response. Thank you"

[Ric0]

Thanks Pianoman for getting the ball rolling. I messaged senator John Braun.

[getreal711]

I messaged all 3 of my reps up north. See if it does any good.

[pianoman9701]

Thanks guys. Remember, it's the Senate which confirms or denies appointments to the Commission. But all pressure is appreciated.

[Smokeploe]

Since the governor is upholding to law as required shouldn’t the state attorney be bring charges against the governor?  Be since he is not shouldn’t he be charged with malfeasance, and be asked to step down because he is not upholding the constitution of the state?  These charges will get rid of both these idiots!

Smokeploe

[pianoman9701]

That would be the AG, Bob "Sideshow" Ferguson. He kisses Inslee's butt all day long and doesn't uphold many, many WA laws.

[elksnout]

Thanks Pman. I just sent off my letter to Sen. King.

This post should be kept at the top somehow? Everyone needs to send a letter. It took me about ten minutes. So instead of bitching about spring bear being taken away…. Send a letter!!!!   Just do it.

elksnout.

[Scruffy]

Thank You for the nudge Pman.  Letter sent to my Senator, Senator Wagoner and my Representatives Rep. Robert Sutherland, Rep. Carolyn Eslick.  Anything to go against Inslee, I'm all in.....

[Joyce]

This pressure I think is one of the best options we have to effect change. However, there's one thing in particular that's kept me confused. Kevin van de Wege is the chair of the Natural Resources committee that is effectively in control of the DFW commission appointments.

As far as I can tell, he really only cares about 2 things: preserving his own position, and looking out for firefighters.

He maintains enough shifts with the Sequim Fire Department to still be considered a professional firefighter. I just don't really get where his position on hunting and wildlife management comes from. It certainly can't be from the majority of the firefighters he purports to represent. The vast majority of the firefighters I know are pro-hunting.

I've contacted him multiple times and still haven't recieved any response. My only suggestion based on this information is that we, in addition to contacting Senator van de Wege, enlist the help of the firefighters we know to either push him to be supportive of the only constituency he appears to care about or to get someone more reasonable elected in his place.

In summary, Van De Wege needs to be told by firefighters that his behavior is unacceptable, or he needs to be booted out of office by those same firefighters. Let's all work on this.

[Onewhohikes]

Thanks Pman. I just sent off my letter to Sen. King.

This post should be kept at the top somehow? Everyone needs to send a letter. It took me about ten minutes. So instead of bitching about spring bear being taken away…. Send a letter!!!!   Just do it.

elksnout.

I agreed with this in that if you don't make the effort to make your voice heard then when your rights ate taken away you no one to blame but yourself.

[kellama2001]

I just saw this post, thanks for the info John  Will get a letter out today

[Born2late]

I’m telling all the home owners that are asking me for help to trap beavers to write letters. Stating that they aren’t hunters or trappers yet need them to manage the beavers so they don’t destroy their property. I would encourage all the trappers to do the same, when I tell them I might not be able to help them if they change this it motivates them I think to write.

[Onewhohikes]

It doesn't hurt to send a letter. I just believe that any time the anti hunting commissioners speak about something it triggers a ton of emails from anti hunters, trappers to send emails in. I am willing to bet that a majority are non WA state residents encouraged by anti groups.

[RB]

DONE! Yeah this could directly affect our road and the families that live here.

[RB]

I’m telling all the home owners that are asking me for help to trap beavers to write letters. Stating that they aren’t hunters or trappers yet need them to manage the beavers so they don’t destroy their property. I would encourage all the trappers to do the same, when I tell them I might not be able to help them if they change this it motivates them I think to write.

 

Our homeowners association was alerted and some have replied, thanks for getting the word out.