Recently had a conversation with a WDFW field biologist on this. Most, if not all of you probably know all this, so I'm really just articulating what I'm personally hearing:
1: Field Bios had no idea this was a thing until it came down from the "Flagpole". In this Bio's words, "Good, this will prove bobcats are doing just fine and are everywhere."
3. The Bio didn't understand why a canine was necessary as it was common practice, knowledge to pull a small incisor to get the same data. Granted, this may be harder, improbable on bobcats, but the question, especially since this comes from the flagpole, is why the canine?
4: As a Field Bio, and being reactive to top-down directive instead of a vetting process by those interacting with hunters/trappers when tagging, this person hadn't fully processed/appreciated, much less had an opportunity to have a conversation with other Field Biologists on exactly how much of a ClusterF&%K this was going to be for them. Some things realized by this Bio in our conversation:
a. "Clean" and "dry" and even "presented" will have wildly different interpretations by different biologists. There won't be one standard. Even if the biologists are trying their best and being helpful, this will invariably create friction.
b. Biologists have a thought that every hunter/trapper can perfectly skin his/her own catch. I explained I had 2 hunters show up with 8 frozen, newly sealed bobcats. These guys would have no idea how to skin/care for hides in order to retain value. Now they have to find someone to skin and either freeze or dry then turn back over to them, with correct skull to correct hide so they can then turn jaws in and hides sealed. Many turn their full catch over either as a sale, or to have an experienced skinner handle their fur. Plus, as mentioned before, these guys would show up with their skulls, a biologist would turn them away saying the skull wasn't prepped correctly, and now these guys are really pissed, being forced to possess what is tantamount to an illegal hide since it's not sealed and now possibly past sealing date because the skull didn't meet some imaginary subjective criteria.
5. The bio saw the reality of this, and saw the implications and second and third order effects that were going to be felt by the hunter/trapper. Now, Biologists being biologists, will they rock the boat, push back and at least make the flagpole come up with some sort of policy based in some reality to execute this if/when it comes to pass? Let me check with my Magic 8 Ball.....
On my end, I'm going to do my best to assist those hunters/trappers with their hides/skulls so that if nothing else, when it comes time to present said to the biologist at least that part is smooth.
