Mentor Program Yes, No

[dbllunger]

I have suggested a youth mentor program for quality deer/elk herd management in Wa for the last two years at WDFW meetings and continue to get no results.  The normal response is similar to the following.  WDFW does not manage our herds for quality animals because " the majority of hunters are happy to just get an animal during big game seasons, but we do have some hunts for the possibility of more mature animals.  We have to sell licenses and tags to be able to operate the agency because we receive a very small percentage of our budget from the states general fund.  We are driven by the majority due to fiscal need.  If we alienate the majority we would not be able to manage anything...." and on and on and on.  So here is what I have suggested.  Interested mentors would apply and have to go through a extensive background check from criminal history, lie detector, community checks, credit checks you name it.  After being selected they would have to pass tests on game recognition to cover all aspects of quality game management.  The mentor would have to volunteer their time to assist a youth hunter in harvesting (PC needed) a inferior management animal.  Seems like everyone including the general hunter who shoots anything legal would benefit after a year or two.  So what do you think?   

[billythekidrock]

First off, the state will never change their management style for the reasons stated above. It is about quantity, not quality.

They tried a mentor program (maybe through AHE) awhile back. My buddy and I both got letters about it. I was not interested but he was. But all the hoops (bg checks and tests) were the reason he decided not to do it.

[dbllunger]

Any idea on time frame or region where this was attempted/considered as this is more then I have heard about this ever. 

[billythekidrock]

If I remember right it was about 2 yrs ago. The thought was to help young/new hunters...it was probably the precurser to this one year deferment of hunter ed? We are in Thurston Co. but I don't think it was a regional thing. My buddy may remember more. I will try to talk with him in the next few days.

[M_ray]

Why would the mentor's have to go through back ground checks and extensive training? Other states like Idaho have a mentor program and the youth just has to be within speaking distance of an adult. This program is in place to to encourage youth hunting and the non-res tag is 17 bucks until they are 18! it just cost me 419 non-res. The whole thing about Washington is they are allways looking for $, it cost the kid we took to Idaho 140 bucks to hunt his home state and 17 to hunt Idaho ... Something is wrong with this picture! Washington is dis courageing youth hunting not helping it.

[dbllunger]

Background checks so the Mentor would hopefully have high ethical/legal standards to impart to new hunters.  Not an absolute answer but would help.  Training on what is a management deer compared to a young animal or older animal.  This would only be to enhance herd quality based on our current regulations not a blanket program to more animals could be killed.  Antler configuraiton is not always the best indicator.  Not aware of an Idaho mentor program, but they do offer out of state youth hunts as you described. Yes Idaho is far ahead of Wa. and many other states on their game management. 

[ICEMAN]

Yep, Background check to weed out convicted felons, violent offenders, DV offenders and sexual offenders. I would not want these folks around youth...

[M_ray]

I would agree with background checks for mentors if you are asking strangers to mentor the youth, I have to be checked to coach soccer in Washington for instance but the program doesn't have to be designed so difficult. Idaho's is designed so the parents, Uncles,Grandfathers or Friends and Family members can mentor their youth at a reasonable price, who wants strangers mentoring their children anyway. And where are you going to find enough volunteers to participate? the whole idea is to have the youth fall in love hunting, make it affordable for the parents so we can change the downward trend. These kids will be paying full price when their time comes. The way it is now the WDFW isn't encouraging families enough to pass on this tradition at the highest resident prices of all the western states, until they do the trend will continue to slide!

[jackelope]

Why would the mentor's have to go through back ground checks and extensive training?

no offense, bud, but have you seen the news lately?
i wouldn't want my kid out in the woods with some strange dude i don't know, and i won't need my kid to have a hunting mentor, but if i did, i'd damn sure want to know they were not some child rapist.

[M_ray]

jackelope, none taken so I'll say the same to you.
did you read what I said closely? that's exactally what I am saying "

who wants strangers mentoring their children anyway.

" I want to mentor my own children like we just did in Idaho for my buddies nephew. when I posed the question

Why would the mentor's have to go through back ground checks and extensive training?

I was making a comparison to Idaho and that fact that this doesn't have to be that difficult it doesn't have to be this big complicated program with volunteers and lots of stipulations like everything else we do in Washington. In Idaho if your an adult that has purchased a licence within the past year or has a Hunter ed certificate you may mentor your youth! my position on this is exactly that I don't want some stranger I do not know mentoring my children. So why would we need this big extravagant program? If you want to  somewhat combine the two on a smaller level for those parents who may not be able or willing to that would be great. But dont make the dads like you and me who are willing to take our own children out go through this big deal just to get the price break the kids deserve now, that's not the way Idaho is doing it. I am totally with you on volunteers say for those parents who are disabled and do not know anyone yes volunteers need to be checked and if you read my post closely you'll see I am not against that heck I am certified and required allready by the State of Washington to be checked to coach youth soccer. Only make the mentors who would be available to mentor strangers go through the exstensive program.