Email from WDFW on new auction/raffle/pemit hunts...

[Dmanmastertracker]

I am supportive if they are raffle only.  Otherwise, we are headed down the Utah road of lots of opportunity for the wealthy to buy tags to hunt the public's wildlife, even on the public's land.

Auction tags are the absolute opposite of everything that the North American model of public wildlife ownership and management for the public represent.  Auction tags occur when agencies mistake their mission to be fundraising for their own operating expenses.  Selling very limited opportunity, highly coveted hunting opportunities to the highest bidder, no matter how much money is raised and no matter how that money is spent, is 100% WRONG.  

I have no problem with a wealthy guy trying to buy the auction by buying a bunch of chances, as long as the average joe can buy a chance and have the possibility of getting the permit.

 I disagree, unless the preference point system is going away also, the average joe still has a good shot at the same types of tags. I'm by no means wealthy and would not put in for an auction tag but I have no issue with the DFW doing what it can to be self sufficient, if the State's other politicians keep their hand's off the money. With programs like this, we wouldn't have lost the dozen's of DFW employee's laid off last year .

[Ray]

They already have auctions. They don't need to have more. These opportunities should be for the general populace. Perhaps we could debate what would have saved jobs there for folks but anyone could probably point to inefficiencies inside their department as ways to save jobs. Maybe they should start by double thinking how they plan to manage these wolves which are here now. They think they need money for revenue now... wait until the deer elk populations are decimated in certain regions.  To me at some point I have to call it a sellout. One auction per species seems adequate.

[Dmanmastertracker]

They already have auctions. They don't need to have more. These opportunities should be for the general populace. Perhaps we could debate what would have saved jobs there for folks but anyone could probably point to inefficiencies inside their department as ways to save jobs. Maybe they should start by double thinking how they plan to manage these wolves which are here now. They think they need money for revenue now... wait until the deer elk populations are decimated in certain regions.  To me at some point I have to call it a sellout. One auction per species seems adequate.

 Separate issue, the wolves technically are not being managed by the DFW proper, but rather the volunteer board is responsible for making recommendations to the Commission for approval, which the Commission generally accepts. The laid off employees were neither volunteer, or part of the Commission, but were part of the Dept. proper. I guess you could say they are all really part of the same function, but they really operate separately in making those types of decisions. That said I don't know how much longer a wolf season can be put off.

[Ray]

It's about as seperate as including the loss of jobs into the discussion. All are revenue related impacts.

Let's try and keep it back on the auction and raffle discussion.

[Dmanmastertracker]

It's about as seperate as including the loss of jobs into the discussion. All are revenue related impacts.

Let's try and keep it back on the auction and raffle discussion.

 My point is that those accountable for the wolf decisions have not been impacted by those decisions -yet, in a sense I agree with you that it could financially affect the State at some point if hunting is not allowed soon, due to paid out compensation for wolf damage required by law.

 On the auction's, I did not read the term auction in the email I received only raffle tags, so I'm not sure I fully understand where the beef is, but in principal to raffle a tag for a single animal out of thousand's of animals harvested in the State in general seasons/ bonus point seasons, I just don't see what is evil about it, most State's have some form of raffle tag in the West for numerous species and the money raised is a huge boost to hunting opportunities, it is absolutely no different than making a donation to wildlife habitat/ enhancement.

[Ray]

On the auction's, I read the term auction in the email I received only raffle tags

It is in the PDF File. First post on this topic.

I would find it hard to believe that the Commission would not seek some sort of feedback, approval or other input from the Game Dept before such a proposal. In fact maybe they even coordinated on the process/idea. I know they do not necessarily always stand on the same ground. But that's my inkling on the subject at hand. It's definitely not far from believable.

To me - the game department being held accountable for decisions on wolves is an entire debate which we can have. I think that you have several groups in the game department which are in favor of some sort of real management and others who are in favor of save the wolves and as many wolves as we can get - basically no management other than mismanagement. Then we might even have a 3rd group which is people who benefit from having to watch , monitor and report on such species. The longer they have to work on these projects the less their job is in jeopardy. The long term effects are still to be seen but we can look at Idaho for an example...

Anyway - sellout is a sellout to the rich. Reminds me of required guides on Grizzly, dall and goats in Alaska and B.C. If you're rich you can hunt them. Otherwise go somewhere else. There are large differences in the rollout but overall it is the same result. Lining someone's pockets.