Washington moves to completely eliminate hunting. Action needed!

[Humptulips]

I listened to and I have to say we have some of the most ill prepared Commissioners. They don't seem to have done even enough homework to understand the process. Special mention needs to go to Lorna Smith. I have never seen such a poor chairperson. Uninformed, ill-prepared and unable to control the meeting.
This meeting, as all Wildlife Committee meetings, did not allow for public comment.
However, to the question "Where can comments be made?" One can always send comments to the Commission, specific Members of the Commission, The Director or any member of the Department. In this case Eric Gardner and Anis Aoude.

[hunter399]

None of those sound good at all .
I have to wear orange for bear and cougar ,are you kidding me.

[Humptulips]

I'll just add what this meeting should have been about. The Department produced a list of proposals. In table #1 they have listed the proposals that have been made that the Department thinks have merit. In table #2 is the list of proposals that the Department suggests should not move forward for a variety of reason.
The Wildlife Committee should have delegated to the Director what proposals they wanted to move forward on and have the Department write a rule. They could have moved proposals around from #1 and #2 and come up with a list they would delegate to the Director for rule making. The others should have been recommended to the Commission for no further consideration.
I don't think they did that, and I wonder if the Director even knows what they are supposed to do.

[hunter399]

I guess it says they are waiting for the commission to set seasons,or something about this carnivore policy plan.
Looks like the department is recommending keeping the season the same.
Which I would like to hear more about this carnivore policy.

[BUTTER]

They have some hunts they are trying to implement that already has a season allowed for the area case in pt a late 382 hunt where it's already open for late muzzy? Never heard of allowing both at the same time.

Other questionable stuff has eliminating cow archery hunts. This will create more crowding in other areas and all areas elk numbers are down.

30 lb bows?? What in the world.

Cross bows for muzzy hunting what in the world??

[Firstgenhunter]

It wasn't that long ago that I honestly thought anti's were so far down on the list of problems that plagued fishing/hunting in WA it didn't even deserve acknowledging them.

Since the first year of COVID, it has become obvious they are now the number one problem, which is hard to believe given the state of many of our fish and wildlife here in WA...

I am convinced killing this disingenuous "conservation" policy and replacing the ideologues on the commission is the hill we as sportsmen need to be willing to die on.  If we lose this, that's a wrap...

Can't die on this hill. I can't say much but something bigger is coming, and it will come soon and its going to take everyone to stand together.

[HUNTIN4SIX]

It wasn't that long ago that I honestly thought anti's were so far down on the list of problems that plagued fishing/hunting in WA it didn't even deserve acknowledging them.

Since the first year of COVID, it has become obvious they are now the number one problem, which is hard to believe given the state of many of our fish and wildlife here in WA...

I am convinced killing this disingenuous "conservation" policy and replacing the ideologues on the commission is the hill we as sportsmen need to be willing to die on.  If we lose this, that's a wrap...

Can't die on this hill. I can't say much but something bigger is coming, and it will come soon and its going to take everyone to stand together.

“Can’t say much” ?  Says a lot without saying anything. 
Why hold back?  What are you referring to?  A Chinese invasion or demoncrats attempting to take our guns when hunting is lost?

[hunter399]

Such as some of the bear rules.
Prosecuting someone who shoots a sow with a cub.
Or wearing orange for bear season.

Those might of been ok,before they took spring bear away.
Some states require orange,but they also offer over the counter spring bear tags. So unless they are gonna go OTC spring bear .
Why the heck do we need that.

[Firstgenhunter]

It wasn't that long ago that I honestly thought anti's were so far down on the list of problems that plagued fishing/hunting in WA it didn't even deserve acknowledging them.

Since the first year of COVID, it has become obvious they are now the number one problem, which is hard to believe given the state of many of our fish and wildlife here in WA...

I am convinced killing this disingenuous "conservation" policy and replacing the ideologues on the commission is the hill we as sportsmen need to be willing to die on.  If we lose this, that's a wrap...

Can't die on this hill. I can't say much but something bigger is coming, and it will come soon and its going to take everyone to stand together.

“Can’t say much” ?  Says a lot without saying anything. 
Why hold back?  What are you referring to?  A Chinese invasion or demoncrats attempting to take our guns when hunting is lost?

I can’t say much because I myself do not know what it is. People have told me that we need to stay vigilant. I suspect it has to do with predators but we will know more soon.

[hunter399]

So.....
What's next.
What we can't hunt grouse during rabbit season.
Give me a break. What a joke.
Is my orange still good if I drop it in a mud puddle.
No cougar or bobcat hunting during deer season,really wow.
Trying to cut 2 months off of cougar season.

Hey .....buy this big game package and all these tags.
Keep this tag in your pocket,so you can't shoot and watch it walk away.
Do I really need a tag ,to watch it walk away.

If some of these changes go through,what tags I buy will most likely be changing.

[hunter399]

The next question is.
Do we get a comment period on this new carnivore policy?
Do we even get to see it,before it's adopted.

[mcrawfordaf]

The "Carnivore Management Policy" draft language:

"2. Carnivore Management:
This policy would direct the department on game carnivore species management. The carnivores
currently considered game include black bear, cougar, bobcat and red fox. Fox and bobcat are also
considered furbearers and can be trapped as well. This policy could include what biological and social
information would be required to set hunting/trapping seasons and bag limits for carnivores. The policy
would also need to give the department direction related to carnivore management as it relates to
ungulate management (predator prey relationships).
Possible Language:
Carnivores are an ecologically important part of the ecosystem. The Department recognizes that societal
values are diverse on this topic, and the public generally views their abundance positively from an
ecological perspective. Managing carnivores in the smallest western state in the west with the second
highest human population is challenging. Those challenges include maintaining and connecting suitable
habitats, maintaining sufficient levels of prey populations, addressing human and pet safety concerns,
meeting legal requirements associated with addressing livestock depredation, timber and property
damage, and potential carnivore effects on at-risk prey species or populations.
WDFW must effectively manage wildlife to meet population objectives that reflect citizen tolerance and
support. The management goals for black bear, cougar, bobcat, and coyote should ensure managing
statewide carnivore populations for healthy, long-term viable populations consistent with achieving
ungulate population objectives. "


The process on implementing these changes:
Process
• Use a three-year season setting process to address complex issues and provide consistent
general seasons from year to year. Annual permit and season changes will be considered to
address emergent resource issues; natural disasters; and to meet requirements of federal
guideline changes; etc.
• Establishing hunting seasons shall be consistent with the Commission Policy C-3607 regarding
cooperatively managing wildlife resources with the tribes. 
• The public shall be offered substantial and timely opportunity to make comments on and
recommendations for the three-year hunting rules decision-making process.  These
opportunities must comply with the state’s Regulatory Reform Act. 
• Public involvement for annual permit season setting shall include at a minimum, a standard
written comment period and one public meeting where comments will be considered. 
• Continuity in hunting seasons over time is highly valued by the public; therefore, Department
recommendations for significant changes to seasons should be adequately explained to the
public and should address a resource management need.

[hunter399]

Scientificly bears are omnivores,not carnivore.
They shouldn't be adding species that don't apply.
Take bears off ,add coyote.

They just want bears included in the anti-hunting carnivore policy.
My opinion.

I guess ,where is the herbivore, omnivores, policy.
If we don't have those policies,then what is the need for a carnivore policy.

[BUTTER]

This can't be stopped until the next vote for Governor PERIOD!!

[GASoline71]

This can't be stopped until the next vote for Governor PERIOD!!

So you just giving up? Gonna wait until the there is a Republican governor?  Gonna be a long wait.

No way I'm gonna look my grandkids in the eye right now, and tell them I'm not fighting for them.

Gary