Call to action! Be proactive or lose your hunting opportunities due to wolves!

[Special T]

I think we all need to have a wake up about the wolf reintroduction... As usuall the state is not giving hunters there fair shake. after reading several posts from wolfbait and bearpaw i decided to do something before we are overrun... The wolves are here and there is only one thing we can do, stand up and be heard! Hear is a copy of a letter i sent to the WDFW.
I am up set with the way the WDFW has been handling the "Reintroduction" of wolves into this state.. I think the department has been disingenuous with the hunters of this state. The dept has held wolf meetings during hunting season... The dept has changed from using color photos of wolves to black and whites... Making it harder for hunters to keep WDFW accountable as to the numbers of wolves the state has knowledge of . WDFW agents moved around the perimeter of the audience at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds meeting, taking flash pictures of the audience and speakers when they were allowed to speak.  I believe the Dept has kept known numbers low on purpose taking a longer time to delist wolves. The WDFW has worked closely with anti hunting interests like Defenders of Wildlife & Wolf Haven International. Are actions like these meant to show the hunting community that the WDFW has our best interests at heart?

The dept has its priorities mixed up! Funds, cash, your paychecks come from hunting dollars! I can tell you right now, if Washington, does not get the minority plan for wolf reintouction, or a plan that uses hunting for management I will stop giving the WDFW money to make hunting worse. I would like to tell you that I'll quit hunting if you adopt this nonsense, but I can't. What I can promise you is that I will only buy my deer and elk tags. No more special draws, permits for bear, cougar etc. I will help organize a boycott to make hunters voices heard, and educate fellow hunters how the Dept has been selling hunters short with their own money. I will hit you in the pocket book with a 10 pound sledge hammer! Think long and hard if you want to make your customers angry! I have been unhappy with the way the fishing program has been run so several years ago I gave up fishing....
You may not have to listen to this one letter, but as your funds from licenses dries up you will have to face the reality. I hope the WDFW does the right thing for the hunters of this fine state.

I sent this to all the WDFW email addresses and my State reps. I highly encourage you to take the time and do so as well. I have done some of the leg work for you. This link takes you to the state email system  where it automatically provides the representative for your area. Fill it out and your  State Sen and Reps will hear you
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
director@dfw.wa.gov habitatprogram@dfw.wa.gov licensing@dfw.wa.gov publicaffairs@dfw.wa.gov wildthing@dfw.wa.gov teamspokane@dfw.wa.gov teamephrata@dfw.wa.gov TeamYakima@dfw.wa.gov teammillcreek@dfw.wa.gov  teamvancouver@dfw.wa.gov teammontesano@dfw.wa.gov   The Teams are for the regional departments I only sent it to my region.   Do Something make yourself heard

[Special T]

Recieved this letter from my state Rep Val Stevens

Thank you for bringing your concerns regarding wolf reintroduction to my attention.  According to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, they have never reintroduced, and has no plans to ever reintroduce, wolves from other states or provinces into Washington, nor has any other state or federal authority. There is no reason to move wolves from other states and release them in Washington because they are returning naturally from dispersing populations in nearby states and provinces. In recent years, wolf populations have re-established in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming through ongoing wolf-recovery programs. As wolves in these states increase in numbers and expand their range, they will be dispersing into Washington and establishing breeding populations here. Washington's first fully confirmed wolf pack in many years was discovered in Okanogan County in July 2008, and the second was found in Pend Oreille County in July 2009. In response to the eventual return of wolves and the state management responsibility following federal delisting, (as well as state law (WAC 232-12-297) requirements), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) began developing a conservation and management plan for the species in 2006. Eighteen citizens with a broad range of perspectives were appointed by the WDFW director to a Wolf Working Group to advise staff in developing the plan.  The working group and WDFW staff met eight times during 2007 and 2008 (see Meetings) and public scoping meetings were held throughout the state in August 2007. A draft plan underwent scientific peer review in 2008. A revised draft was discussed Sept. 1-2, 2009 by the Wolf Working Group. Comments from that discussion are currently being added into the plan, and a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being developed to meet State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements. A 90-day public-review period will be conducted in fall 2009 and will include public meetings throughout the state, followed by a final working group meeting to complete the plan. The final plan will be presented to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission for consideration in 2010. The website for the DF&W has a link to Frequently Asked Questions http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildlife/management/gray_wolf/faq.html which is informative It appears from your email that you have attended one of these public meetings. We encourage you and others who agree with you to submit written comments either online http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2b0vnE3WLkHBoFZolPT9rsA_3d_3dor mailed to:  WDFW SEPA Desk, 600 Capitol Way N. Olympia, WA 98501-1091Email: SEPAdesk2@dfw.wa.gov. As a member of the Natural Resources, Ocean and Recreation Committee, should this issue come before the committee during the 2010 session, I will consider your message and comments. Senator Val Stevens39th Legislative session

[Special T]

This is the letter R recieved from my state reps

Reps. Pearson and Kristiansen received your email, and asked me to reply on their behalf. They asked me to let you know that they agree with many of your comments, and are also extremely frustrated with the way the WDFW is being managed, not only with respect to wolves but in other areas as well. They have both been working on WDFW issues since their terms in office began, unfortunately those efforts to make reform are generally blocked by the majority. They have taken the concerns you mention about the meetings and photographs to the WDFW, without of course mentioning your name. They asked me to urge you to pass these concerns along to our Governor as well. She appoints the Commissioners who are responsible for the department, and they feel it is important that she be accountable for the actions of the people she places in positions of authority for the management of the department. I would be pleased to discuss this issue in detail with you if you desire, but did not want to bother you by calling on your cell phone. If you do wish to discuss it further I can be reached at:360-793-0565 Sincerely,Cameron BaileyL.A. to Rep. Kirk Pearson

It seems that at least my state reps have thereact together evern if they can't get it done...

[bbarnes]

I was given some information today, that the national parks our chiming in about wolfs in washington.They will be coming out with there official statement, this week supporting this move. :bid:B Barnes keeping public lands public

[mad-bomber]

if more people saw what i saw in the st.joe area upriver from AVERY ID. they would be sick! we took the sleds up there the first of march too look for sheds and spot the el that are along the south bank of the river where snow is less. 1 elk is what we saw and 16 wolf killed elk, a few mule deer and a couple whitetail. we rode on wolf tracks for 20 miles! it looked like a war zone. elk and deer parts everywhere.

man, it sure would suck if a litter of puppies with parvo was dropped off up there!

[wolfbait]

I was given some information today, that the national parks our chiming in about wolfs in washington.They will be coming out with there official statement, this week supporting this move. :bid:B Barnes keeping public lands public

 

One question that many people are wondering now, if wolves become a problem do to people conflicts in the woods, will the woods then be shut down to public use where conflicts occur? example, wolf maulings or wolves killing people.

[WAcoyotehunter]

Well- there are lots of wolves in Idaho and there have been no wolf maulings or attacks there.  With a hunting season now in place, taking care of a wolf that is showing interest (or not showing fear) should be pretty simple. 

[Special T]

So far I have not received any responce from the WDFW.  My State Senator and Reps have acknowledged my complaint and say they MAY do something about it... I hope more people are willing to make their voice heard to their Reps at the state even if the opinion is not as frustrated as mine.

[bearpaw]

Special T, I am glad to see you have been in contact with your legislators.  

I have also been in contact with my two state representatives and senator. None of them want wolves managed according to the recommended plan.

If we can get more people to write their Legislators and the Wildlife Commission, we may be able to make a difference. If enough people speak up, there is a better chance that the number of wolves will be set at a smaller number than in the recommended plan.

PS: I doubt the WDFW will respond to you, they have never replied to any of my letters concerning wolves, it's just as if they don't care what anyone thinks. I think they are only going through the motions with these public meetings and comment periods so they can say they considered public comment which is required by law. I also believe the Defenders of Wildlife have a pretty firm control of this whole issue in the Department, thus the reason for their links on the WDFW wolf pages.

The only hope we have for getting a reasonable wolf plan is to write the Wildlife Commission who sets policy for the WDFW and to write our Legislators.

[bearpaw]

One question that many people are wondering now, if wolves become a problem do to people conflicts in the woods, will the woods then be shut down to public use where conflicts occur? example, wolf maulings or wolves killing people.

wolfbait, that is a legit concern, but I don't think they will close down areas. They already did that sort of tactic when they closed coyote hunting in the Paysayten years ago, and when they closed coyote hunting with hounds. I think that is as far as they will go with closing things, otherwise I think it would be part of the wolf plan. I don't thint they have done anything like that in MT or ID.

Remember the one liner that got Idaho's current Governor Otter elected, "I want the first wolf permit in Idaho." Lots of people have said that is one of the main reasons they voted for Otter.

However, I do expect elk, moose, and deer seasons to be greatly reduced to allow for feeding the wolves.

[kitwaoutdoors]

Fellow hunters and recreationists.  The current Wolf Management plan is biased and has numerous errors and is unacceptable.  I and several members have testified before the working group. We have contacted our elected officials and my request to meet the WDFW Director has gone unanswered. We will continue to voice our opinion that this plan needs to go back to the table. The established delisting numbers do not make biological or common sense. There is still a chance. I will be submitting our formal letter to the Director and all members of the Commission next week.
This plan will be THE most important wildlife issue to face our generation. We as hunters and conservationists must ALL contact our elected officials and call the directors office and leave voice mail messages and email him constantly. We can not afford to let this occur as it is currently written.
It may come to my recommendation to everyone who volunteers any time at all to the WDFW to quit volunteering your time to the dept. They will listen IF we quit giving our time. They CAN NOT afford to loose our volunteer hours. We could cripple many of their programs that are volunteer dependent. We must stand together.

Lee R Davis
President, Kittitas County Field & Stream
"Working Today For Tommorrow's Wildlife"
SINCE 1919