WDFW $$$ figures on bird watchers

[SuperX]

"bringing money into the economy" doesn't pay a dime into to WDFW.  It goes to hotels and gas station owners.  I would like to see a list of 'unfunded mandates" that drain the budget.  I bet they are things like legal fees to save wild salmon, orcas, beaver trapping and the like, studies of wolf restoration, opening of streams to fish migrations, tearing down dams, and repaying for predation by wolves and elk on private land. 

If this state was more focused on quality fish and game, they may crack the top 10 destinations for non-resident hunters and fishers. 

[Humptulips]

If WDFW did not exist, I doubt the wildlife viewing numbers would be much different. I fear this Commission and the Department uses these numbers to rationalize their spending of more money on non-game and at the same time emphasize viewing over consumptive use. I don't mind a bit of my license money going for something like snowy plovers but most should be going towards game management.

[JBG]

I don’t know about the rest of you but I’ve never encountered anyone out and about looking at birds or any other wildlife, unless it was other hunters. The figures they come up with are trash while trying to marginalize what comes from us as hunters. As I see it the wildlife watchers and the numbers for their contribution seems like nothing more than propaganda.

I guess you dont hunt anywhere near skagit bay.  I love raining out snow goose flocks with all the subaru's parked along the road watching the carnage through their telephoto lenses. 

[MR5x5]

 

What a bunch of victims.  Read the report.  The numbers are what they are. Wildlife watching encompasses just about anything you do outdoor where you enjoy nature.

"In 2022, wildlife watchers spent $5.8 billion in
support of their activities. $5.1 billion was spent on
equipment, including binoculars, camera equipment
and lenses, scopes or viewing devices, field guides,
bird feed, and structures that like bird houses or bird
baths that attract wildlife. Expenditures also included
camping gear, hiking equipment, and other field gear,
and kayaks, canoes, boats, scuba diving equipment,
paddleboards, and other special equipment used to
view wildlife. "

The purpose of the report is to demonstrate the economic value of all things wildlife recreation in WA.  Where is the problem with that?

The constant whining grows tiresome.

[Alan K]

When the commission uses it as evidence that the hunting community is so insignificant that we can be trimmed.

That very quote you list shows how disingenuous it was, assuming equipment expenditures on binoculars, spotting scopes, and cameras are all used for 'viewing' not hunting... Give me a break!

I'd probably shrug my shoulders in the past but as openly anti-hunting as this commission has shown themselves to be, reaching for any thread of 'evidence' to point to, it's important to point out flaws.

[UrbanTrapper]

https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/administration/budget/operating

How much of that "General Fund - Federal" is Pittman Roberts money collected from hunters and shooters buying firearms, ammunition etc.?

[hughjorgan]

When the commission uses it as evidence that the hunting community is so insignificant that we can be trimmed.

That very quote you list shows how disingenuous it was, assuming equipment expenditures on binoculars, spotting scopes, and cameras are all used for 'viewing' not hunting... Give me a break!

I'd probably shrug my shoulders in the past but as openly anti-hunting as this commission has shown themselves to be, reaching for any thread of 'evidence' to point to, it's important to point out flaws.

 

What a bunch of victims.  Read the report.  The numbers are what they are. Wildlife watching encompasses just about anything you do outdoor where you enjoy nature.

"In 2022, wildlife watchers spent $5.8 billion in
support of their activities. $5.1 billion was spent on
equipment, including binoculars, camera equipment
and lenses, scopes or viewing devices, field guides,
bird feed, and structures that like bird houses or bird
baths that attract wildlife. Expenditures also included
camping gear, hiking equipment, and other field gear,
and kayaks, canoes, boats, scuba diving equipment,
paddleboards, and other special equipment used to
view wildlife. "

The purpose of the report is to demonstrate the economic value of all things wildlife recreation in WA.  Where is the problem with that?

The constant whining grows tiresome.

Have you even in the slightest paid attention to the fight we are in with the anti hunters. Washington Wildlife FIrst and and Wildlife for All would love your attitude toward this report as they try to marginalize hunters for our contribution towards hunting and conservation.

Have you sat and listened to our commissioners? There are a good number NOT on our side and they are using these surveys as evidence that our opinions shouldn’t hold as much weight if any.

[bigtex]

https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/administration/budget/operating

How much of that "General Fund - Federal" is Pittman Roberts money collected from hunters and shooters buying firearms, ammunition etc.?

About 22 million, or 15% of the total federal dollars.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[fishngamereaper]

What a bunch of victims.  Read the report.  The numbers are what they are. Wildlife watching encompasses just about anything you do outdoor where you enjoy nature.

"In 2022, wildlife watchers spent $5.8 billion in
support of their activities. $5.1 billion was spent on
equipment, including binoculars, camera equipment
and lenses, scopes or viewing devices, field guides,
bird feed, and structures that like bird houses or bird
baths that attract wildlife. Expenditures also included
camping gear, hiking equipment, and other field gear,
and kayaks, canoes, boats, scuba diving equipment,
paddleboards, and other special equipment used to
view wildlife. "

The purpose of the report is to demonstrate the economic value of all things wildlife recreation in WA.  Where is the problem with that?

The constant whining grows tiresome.

It's not whining it's a logical response to an illogical data point.

Encompassing my purchases into a "viewing" expenditure is minimizing my impact on the economy.... especially since 90 percent of my gear is used 100 percent for killing fish and game...my offshore boat is NOT for viewing. They are able to manipulate the data in their favor since I'm not blind and do view things while fishing.

So by earmarking fishing and hunting expenditures into a viewing category they are able to justify reducing opportunity, reducing our voice, and continuing their goal of "canceling" our lifestyle..
It's been happening for years....this current commission does not like us...and they aren't shy about saying it..

[fishngamereaper]

I would love to see the survey that generated the numbers. Or how they came up with them...
And a breakdown of who's who. Who's just a "viewer" v. those who fish/hunt/view...

I think that would help.. we'd either be justified in an overreaction or have to emphatically apologize to the hardcore 5 billion dollar industry of viewers..

[JimmyHoffa]

Fishngamereaper, Olympic national park has/had sensors under highway 101 around lake crescent to count vehicles.  My understanding is that each vehicle that passed was counted as a visitor to the park.  Even log trucks and Amazon vans get counted.  Just something in a similar vein, one stat when questioned isn't as overwhelming as someone wants people to believe.

[HillHound]

What a bunch of victims.  Read the report.  The numbers are what they are. Wildlife watching encompasses just about anything you do outdoor where you enjoy nature.

"In 2022, wildlife watchers spent $5.8 billion in
support of their activities. $5.1 billion was spent on
equipment, including binoculars, camera equipment
and lenses, scopes or viewing devices, field guides,
bird feed, and structures that like bird houses or bird
baths that attract wildlife. Expenditures also included
camping gear, hiking equipment, and other field gear,
and kayaks, canoes, boats, scuba diving equipment,
paddleboards, and other special equipment used to
view wildlife. "

The purpose of the report is to demonstrate the economic value of all things wildlife recreation in WA.  Where is the problem with that?

The constant whining grows tiresome.

Your damn right we are victims. Victims of this irresponsible commission and the members on it that are anti hunters and only there to take our opportunities away.

[MR5x5]

Actually read the report with an open mind if you can.   At least read the exec summary and the conclusion.

So add bird watchers to the list of people we want to disparage at a time we need allies - "Bird Wacthers" by the way is not a term that appears anywhere in the report (but most certainly appears in this thread).  Oh not bird watchers, just wildlife watchers. Fine, then lets just lump anyone who enjoys the outdoors in with those are not as worthy as us.  Now we've isolated ourselves against the world. That's a Bold strategy Cotton.

Yeah, but they don't give us any respect:

"Many participants took part in more than
one activity; anglers and hunters were far more likely to participate in wildlife watching than those who
do not participate in these activities."

Kind of implies they need to respect huntung and fishing, because if we go a big part of the money goes with us - we are most of the the watchers, hence most of the money.

Yeah, but we don't get our share of the money - not sure what the details of the Reactiviation plan are, but anything looking to boost recruitment must surely be a bad thing.

"The results delivered in this report will
support the implementation of the Washington Hunting and Angling Recruitment, Retention, and
Reactivation (R3) Plan and the 10-Year Recreation Strategy for WDFW-Managed Lands, as well as the
agency’s 25-Year Strategic Plan."

Kind of looks like the report is trying to justifying funding in an already tough political environment.  That too is surely a bad thing.

You want to be a perpetual victim?  Fine be that way, stay that way. It's the woke thing to do. I certainly don't intend to give them that much free rent in my head.

[Humptulips]

The problem is this will be used as justification for spending as in non-consumptive users contribute so much to the economy and so expect a greater say so in spending and the direction of the Department. I would prefer their justification to come from how much they actually contribute to the budget. The AR community constantly spout about what a minority the hunting community is. This will be a bludgeon used against us.
Sportsmen don't pay for all the WDFW as the budget posted shows. That does nothing to show how much is spent on non-game verses game species. I have a feeling Sportsmen more than pull their weight but something like this can be used to marginalize our voice.

[MR5x5]

Point taken.  I appreciate the thoughtful response.  I looked back at more detailed WDFW budget info avail on line and it seems the "Wildlife and Conservation" budget line of $83M is pretty consistent and is up made up of basically license fees.  I've posted the definition that I found below.  So licensing fees acct for 11% seems legit.   But I think to your point, that narrowly defines hunter contribution seeing as our broader contribution to the tax base is effectively mixed in with the general tax base.  FWIW page 4 of the report indicates total fishing/hunting expenditures of $3.2B.  So just spit balling here... if we deduct $100m from $3.2B as License fee contributions and tax the balance at 10% then our community adds another $310M to the tax base which represents 43% of the funding budget bring us to a total of 54% of the operating budget.  Clearly significant.  Seems reasonable to me. You?  I'm hoping whomever argues on our behalf is making similar arguments.

Regarding the report, I just don't think it's intent was to address any one specific issue, I think it was prepared to justify the departments existence and secure funding. Simple annual budgetary prep material...nothing more

I get we all share WDFW PTSD, but our all to typical knee jerk reaction to lash out at everything does not help us.  Just my $0.02.

I've said to much. 

Cheers, all.

"Recreational fishing and hunting
licenses, and interest generate the
projected revenue for this portion
of the Wildlife Account.
Recreational license fee revenue
is used to provide support to
recreational angling and hunting
opportunities. Commercial
application fees support Licensing
Division work related to processing
commercial license applications."