Help Idaho Set Wolf Management Precedence

[bearpaw]

This message was sent out by SaveElk.com, I suggest going if you can go, or if you can't go, at least send a message to Idaho legislators. This could help set precedence for the surrounding states of Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Utah.  

We can all benefit from this bill. Those of you with media ties, or if you have email lists, please help get this word out to the masses to attend this meeting in Boise on March 2nd, or to send email to Idaho legislators as soon as possible. Email addresses are noted below in my nest post.

WOLF EMERGENCY BILL HCR043 NEEDS YOUR TESTIMONY AND SUPPORT
 
We need to gather supporters who can come and testify.
 
Hearing will be Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at the Boise State Capitol Building, Room EW40 {East Wing 40} at 8:30 AM.
 
Please attend and give your testimony to support the Legislature in defining the current population and status of wolves in Idaho, a condition of emergency.
 
If passed, this Bill will equip the Governor with Legislative support to stand with the people of the State of Idaho to preserve our big game, secure our livestock producers and protect our people.
 
Thanks and we hope to see you there.
Sincerely,
Tony Mayer
Rick Mayer

[bearpaw]

Subject: Pass Wolf Legislation

Dear Legislator,
I am from Washington but I enjoy the Idaho outdoors so much that I came to Idaho and purchased a business. I love hunting in Idaho but the hunting is not what it used to be, due in great part to wolves, and I am very concerned. Please pass legislation giving the governor the ability to declare an emergency regarding the wolf over-population in Idaho. The people of Idaho must protect what’s left of the deer and elk herds, their outdoor based economy, and themselves from the burden of the wolf overpopulation and the injustice of the animal rights lawsuits in the federal courts.

Best Regards, Dale

Here is a contact list to send email:

Governor Otter's Chief of Staff          jmalmen@gov.idaho.gov

Senator Shawn A. Keough                skeough@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Joyce M. Broadsword           jbroadsw@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Michael 'Mike' Jorgenson       mnjorgen@senate.idaho.gov
Senator John W. Goedde                  jhammond@senate.idaho.gov
Senator James C. 'Jim' Hammond        jhammond@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Gary J. Schroeder                dschroed@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Joe Stegner                        jstegner@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Leland G. 'Lee' Heinrich         lheinrich@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Monty J. Pearce                  mpearce@senate.idaho.gov
Senator John T. McGee                    jmcgee@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Melinda Smyser                    msmyser@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Curtis D. 'Curt' McKenzie        cmckenzi@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Patti Anne Lodge                  palodge@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Chuck Winder                       cwinder@senate.idaho.gov
Senator John C. Andreason                jandreas@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Leslie 'Les' Bock                    lbock@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Elliot Werk                           ewerk@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Kate Kelly                            kkelly@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Nicole LeFavour                    nlefavou@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Shirley McKague                   smckague@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Russell M. 'Russ' Fulcher         rfulcher@overarch.com
Senator Tim L. Corder, Sr.                 tcorder@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Bert Brackett                       bbracket@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Charles H. 'Chuck' Coiner        ccoiner@senate.idaho.gov
Senator W. Clinton 'Clint' Stennett      stennett@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Dean L. Cameron                  dcameron@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Denton C. Darrington             ddarring@senate.idaho.gov
Senator R. Steven 'Steve' Bair            sbair@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Diane Bilyeu                         dbilyeu@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Edgar J. Malepeai                  emalepea@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Robert L. 'Bob' Geddes           rgeddes@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Dean M. Mortimer                 dmortimer@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Bart M. Davis                       bmdavis@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Brent Hill                             bhill@senate.idaho.gov
Senator Jeff C. Siddoway                  jsiddoway@senate.idaho.gov

Representative Eric R. Anderson                eanderso@house.idaho.gov
Representative George E. Eskridge             geskridg@house.idaho.gov
Representative Mary Lou Shepherd             mshepher@house.idaho.gov
Representative Richard J. 'Dick' Harwood     dharwood@house.idaho.gov
Representative James W. 'Jim' Clark            jclark@house.idaho.gov
Representative Phil Hart                            plhart@house.idaho.gov
Representative Marge Chadderdon              mchadder@house.idaho.gov
Representative George C. Sayler                 gsayler@house.idaho.gov
Representative Robert P. 'Bob' Nonini           bnonini@house.idaho.gov
Representative Frank N. Henderson             fhenders@house.idaho.gov
Representative Thomas F. 'Tom' Trail           ttrail@house.idaho.gov
Representative Shirley G. Ringo                  sringo@house.idaho.gov
Representative Elizabeth S. 'Liz' Chavez       lchavez@house.idaho.gov
Representative John M. Rusche                   jrusche@house.idaho.gov
Representative Ken A. Roberts                    kroberts@house.idaho.gov
Representative Paul E. Shepherd                 pshepher@house.idaho.gov
Representative Lawerence E. Denney           ldenney@house.idaho.gov
Representative Judy Boyle                          jboyle@house.idaho.gov
Representative Pat Takasugi                       ptakasugi@house.idaho.gov
Representative Darrell G. Bolz                      dbolz@house.idaho.gov
Representative Steven P. 'Steve' Thayn        sthayn@house.idaho.gov
Representative Carlos V. Bilbao                    cbilbao@house.idaho.gov
Representative Robert E. 'Bob' Schaefer, Sr.   rschaefe@house.idaho.gov
Representative Gary E. Collins                      gcollins@house.idaho.gov
Representative Brent Crane                          bcrane@house.idaho.gov
Representative Stephen A. 'Steve' Kren, Jr.    skren@house.idaho.gov
Representative Mike Moyle                          mmoyle@house.idaho.gov
Representative Raúl R. Labrador                   rlabrador@house.idaho.gov
Representative Lynn M. Luker                      lluker@house.idaho.gov
Representative Max C. Black                        mblack@house.idaho.gov
Representative Grant Burgoyne                    gburgoyne@house.idaho.gov
Representative Elfreda Higgins                     ehiggins@house.idaho.gov
Representative William M. 'Bill' Killen              bkillen@house.idaho.gov
Representative Susan B. 'Sue' Chew             schew@house.idaho.gov
Representative Branden J. Durst                  bdurst@house.idaho.gov
Representative Phylis K. King                       pking@house.idaho.gov
Representative Anne Pasley-Stuart               aps@house.idaho.gov
Representative Brian C. Cronin                     bcronin@house.idaho.gov
Representative Joe A. Palmer                       jpalmer@house.idaho.gov
Representative Marv Hagedorn                     mhagedorn@house.idaho.gov
Representative Richard Dean 'Rich' Jarvis        rjarvis@house.idaho.gov
Representative Clifford R. 'Cliff' Bayer            cbayer@house.idaho.gov
Representative Richard A. 'Rich' Wills             rwills@house.idaho.gov
Representative Milton Peter 'Pete' Nielsen      pnielsen@house.idaho.gov
Representative James 'Jim' Patrick                jpatrick@house.idaho.gov
Representative Stephen Hartgen                  shartgen@house.idaho.gov
Representative Leon E. Smith, Jr.                 lsmith@house.idaho.gov
Representative Sharon L. Block                    sblock@house.idaho.gov
Representative Wendy S. Jaquet                  wjaquet@house.idaho.gov
Representative Donna L. Pence                    dpence@house.idaho.gov
Representative John A. 'Bert' Stevenson        jstevens@house.idaho.gov
Representative Maxine T. Bell                      mbell@house.idaho.gov
Representative Scott C. Bedke                    sbedke@house.idaho.gov
Representative Fred Wood                          fwood@house.idaho.gov
Representative Dennis M. Lake                     dlake@house.idaho.gov
Representative Jim Marriott                         jmarriott@house.idaho.gov
Representative Ken Andrus                          kandrus@house.idaho.gov
Representative James Daw Ruchti                 jruchti@house.idaho.gov
Representative Donna H. Boe                       dboe@house.idaho.gov
Representative Elaine Smith                         esmith@house.idaho.gov
Representative Marc Gibbs                          mgibbs@house.idaho.gov
Representative Thomas F. 'Tom' Loertscher    tloertsch@house.idaho.gov
Representative Janice R. McGeachin             jmcgeach@house.idaho.gov
Representative Erik Simpson                        esimpson@house.idaho.gov
Representative Jeffrey D. Thompson             jthompson@house.idaho.gov
Representative Russ Mathews                     rmathews@house.idaho.gov
Representative Mack G. Shirley                    mshirley@house.idaho.gov
Representative Dell Raybould                       drayboul@house.idaho.gov
Representative JoAn E. Wood                      jawood@house.idaho.gov
Representative Lenore Hardy Barrett             lbarrett@house.idaho.gov

[bearpaw]

Recieved from Idaho legislator:

I certainly agree with your thoughts on wolves and the drastic effect it is having on our elk and deer population.  I believe that most of us in the legislature is in agreement that we need to continue to control them.  I do know the effect it is having on our hunters and the reduction in tourism that is a result.   

Thank you for your input.   
Senator Heinrich

[bearpaw]

Hi Dale & Tara-

Thanks for your comments.
Although I do not sit on that committee, I am a strong supporter of wolf management and am no friend of wolf supporters.  I hope that someday some common sense will return to Washington, D.C.

Pat Takasugi
State Representative
Legislature of the State of Idaho

[mathews_shooter4life]

very important thread here folks.....thanks bearpaw

[denali]

Thanks Bearpaw good work!

Lew
or trib

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/ID_ELK_WOLF_CONTROL_IDOL-?SITE=IDLEW&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[bearpaw]

Thanks for the link Denali

You are right, this is important, if the other states show signs of the trouble they are in with wolves, it could pressure the WDFW Commission to take a more conservative approach when they adopt the final Washington Wolf Plan.

There are signs of rationalization coming on this whole wolf recovery issue. Idaho F&G is realizing they are going to have to step up wolf management and Montana legislators are taking action.

It is imperative that Washington citizens send letters to legislators, county commissioners, wdfw wildlife commissioners and local media outlets.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

[bearpaw]

Thank you for writing.
We are aware of the problem but only seem to be able to make small. I would eliminate every wolf if I could.
Senator Monty Pearce

[bearpaw]

Dale and Tara

I too have seen so much despair and frustration over wolves in this state.  We never wanted them in the first place, yet they were forced upon us and it has lead to much distrust with the Federal Gov’t.  I wish I had the solution now.  Having said that we still are operating under the premise that the vocal few speak for the silent majority.  Thanks for your input and concerns.  Please don’t give up on us.  Have a super day!!

Representative Richard "Rich" Wills

[bearpaw]

Mr. Denney,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me.  I do sympathize with you and what you are describing is the same as has been reported by Idaho Fish & Game.  However, I think we need to let this new wolf season hunting work.   My husband is a hunter and he has been noticing the declining elk population, especially in the Lolo zone, for more years than we have had the wolves back in our state.  While the thick browse, habitat, has to be considered in the decline I totally agree with you that the wolves have escalated the situation.  Your input is very important to me and I thank you for your input. 

Rep. Liz Chavez

[bearpaw]

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Denney,

I appreciate your taking time to express your thoughts and concerns about the wolf population in Idaho.    We have seen the statistics about the decline in out of state hunters.    Besides wolves,  the economy and  the prices of tags were also significant reasons why they did not come.    Some of our herds have been more affected by wolves because there is also loss of  habitat in their zones which weakens their ability to sustain a healthy  growing herd.
12 zones are meeting cow population goals, 8 are below their goals, and 9 are above their goals.  Two  zones that the Idaho Fish and Game will be focusing on are the Lolo and Sawtooth .  They have high wolf densities and predation is the primary cause of elk mortality.      These areas also did not reach their wolf quotas largely as a result of difficulty of terrain.    It is my objective to encourage additional resources be brought to the table to get a handle on the wolves is such areas.   This will have to be done in a manner which will not result in the nullification of the present wolf status under the Endangered Species Act.

It is difficult to be patient when you see the declines in our Elk herds.   Our small rural towns do suffer when tourist dollars fail to arrive.   It is my hope that sooner rather than later we can put more pressure on wolves to relieve the Elk herds.  The studies will give the Fish and Game the ammunition it needs to use alternative means of taking wolves.   

Sincerely,
Rep.  Donna Pence

[bearpaw]

Thank you for your support, but I was just informed by the Chairman of the Committee that he will not let my bill proceed he is holding it. He and the Senate Chiarman have a joint memorial they are working on to send to WDC Congress and they do not want to run my bill for fear it will cause problems with their joint memorial.

I appreciate the support and I completely undestand we need to protect what is left of the deer and elk herds and it is a deep concern I have. I am deeply disappointend with this decision to hold my bill, but seems this is the way government gets in the way.

Regards
Representative Harwood

[bearpaw]

Dear Dale,
I serve on the Resources and conservation committee and we did receive a report on Wolf populations on Wednesday.  From what I understand there are areas where the wolves are making significant impact on the elk populations, but in other areas not so much.  There were about 200 wolves killed by hunters this year and 26,000 tags sold.  The Fish and Game will continue to refine and monitor the hunting permits and tags.

Representative Phylis K. King

[bullchaser]

Good work bear paw

[MichaelJ]

BearPaw,

So much respect from myself... sincerely thanks for taking the time.  Not enough people do.  Glad to see the positive response from my reps!!!

Michael