anyone apply for the WDFW job?

[Frank The Tank]

I can’t speak directly for WDFW but I’ve worked for IDFG and a number of other state and federal fish and wildlife agencies. I got a degree in wildlife ecology after my time in the military, and have worked a number of jobs that required my degree and paid $16-$18 an hour.

I can understand peoples frustration with state fish and wildlife agency’s, but know that some of us are diehard outdoorsman that are fighting the good fight. We only have so much power and reach on the bottom 2/3rds of the totem pole but we’re trying to represent our community as best we can.

There may be even more to it than that... Enforcement folks don't need any kind of biology/wildlife degree, and only those with these will be listened to (maybe). Plus, I wonder how much the hierarchical "military" structure of the Enforcement Police holds sway.  Better toe the line and do what big Sarge says, and to dissent is to threaten any possible career progression.  George Brady and I saw this even in the biologist world when, during a wolf introduction community meeting (which they quickly stopped) the Bio stated that the wolf population would have "No impact whatsoever on the ungulate population." After the meeting, George called the BS card on her.  "You know that's patently false."  "Yes, but I'm just a few years from retiring and don't want to rock the boat." I *censored* you not.  unperturbed, George pointed at her face and said "That's the PERFECT time to rock the boat!" 
You have my respect, Sir. 

I met a crew of wardens (and USFS officer) in the deep woods last year, and gave the WDFW warden more than an earful about the commission.  I heard the "we agree with you, we are hunters as well..." portion, but I doubled down: "The commission is now structured to ignore the community, so the only way to hold the line is to use 'science' to rebut the current commission's stated objectives."  My point to the warden was this: They (you) are the only hope that we have now.  The legislature is one party in both houses, with the governor's mansion.  There are no dissenting voices in the power structure.  As you said, the bottom 2/3 of the totem pole has to play the "scientific evidence" card.  There is simply no other alternative left.

I felt bad, I know that I was too harsh to the warden.  If you read this, please accept my apologies for the harsh words.