Night Time Hunting

[Kain]

My email:

To whom it may concern,

I really don't understand why any changes are needed to night time hunting.  The WDFW continually finds some mock reason to take away hunting opportunity from us.  I use free predator control to get access to private property, now they want to implement ANOTHER permit?  I really need to hear what reasons the Deputy Chief of Enforcement has that out of the blue he wants "make a few changes to the nighttime hunting rule".  WHY?  Maybe it would be more helpful if the department focused on enforcing CURRENT laws instead of creating more regulations and stripping the citizens of MORE hunting opportunity.   Night-vision and spotlights for deer and elk?  Are you kidding me?  Tell these land owners if they want their "problem" animals taken care of they should consider letting hunters on their land and the department could change the season and harvest limits.

Not that it will make any difference but I dont see that ANY changes need to be made to nighttime hunting other than to make the regs easier to understand. 

Naithan Kain

The response:

On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 9:35 AM, Preuss, Lori (DFW) <Lori.Preuss@dfw.wa.gov> wrote:
Hi, Naithan.  Thank you for your comments.  At this point, we do not really have any specific changes in mind.  We are simply investigating options.  Your feedback is helpful.

My response:

Thanks for the reply but I still dont understand WHY the WDFW is even "investigating options".  Is the department just bored or do they have a quota on messing with hunters to fill?  What happened to a three year hunting plan?  My family and I really dont have time to go to these meetings every few months to try and stop you guys from making MORE changes.  I can barely keep up with reading all emails and updates to fishing and hunting.  I just got an email about the new changes to the hunting regs and was blown away at some of the MAJOR changes that were in them.  What is going on up there?  Why does it feel like its hunters vs. the WDFW?  There is no reason for nighttime hunting changes.  Please just leave us predator hunters alone.

Naithan Kain

[Kain]

Preuss, Lori (DFW) to me, Commission, Wildthing, Enforcement
show details 11:08 AM (1 hour ago)
Hi, Naithan.  We are investigating making changes to nighttime hunting for two reasons:
1)       Recently a U.S. Forest Ranger was shot and killed at night in central Georgia by a hunter who mistook him for a coyote; and

2)      We have a fair amount of deer and elk poaching at night every year by folks who claim to be hunting for coyote.
Response:
Again, however, we have made no clear decision to implement any changes.  And if we do decide to proceed with a rule-change proposal, the public will have the opportunity to comment in writing and in person before the WA Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Thank you for your interest and your feedback.  I’ll let you know if we file a rule-change proposal.

My reply:

So they want to punish lawful responsible hunters because of poachers and irresponsible hunters?  Great! 

I have nothing but respect for our law enforcement, in fact I think we need many more of them.  Poaching and trespassing are ruining hunting in this state but you cant pass a law every time something bad happens.  The Ranger being killed in Georgia is tragic but with number of nighttime hunters all across the country for years and years the danger is very low.  Being in law enforcement is a dangerous job and I am not trying to suggest that it was the officers fault but maybe changing the policy to carrying lights and a loud speaker would be more helpful.  Providing a number in the regs for us hunters to call and let enforcement know where we will be hunting could also be helpful.  I would like to see more officers in my hunting area as I currently go years without seeing any and I am in the woods nearly every weekend.  I am sure we can figure out some way to protect our officers and game without restricting anymore hunting opportunities.   I will keep thinking on it and get my family and friends to come up with ideas also.

Thank you for your time,
Naithan Kain

[runamuk]

Ummm an accident in Georgia has little bearing on WA if you ask me.... I call BS

well then if poaching is a legitimate concern petition to get more enforcement officers out during the seasons.....stop screwing with the citizens and start taking responsible action to enforce all the laws we already have that address the majority of issues they could ever raise.  This state is so loaded to the gills with bureaucracy that it makes me want to vomit.... we have to stop solving Washington's problems by creating more problems.....we need to kick out 99% of the people running this state nd replace them all with normal people who know what its like to problem solve without the benefit of using other peoples money and taking other peoples opportunities 

[Viszla]

3.      Issue permits for depredation hunters or landowners to take deer and elk that are causing damage to commercial crops.  These hunters would be allowed to use night-vision scopes or spotlights.

So hunting at night for deer and/or elk would be legal if you have a permit??  All of these proposals are a bunch of crap but I would sure love to get one of the night hunting permits.

[duckmen1]

I agree. Any additional rules they come up with in this subject is simply a waste of time and money. I suppose if anything, they could limit night time hunting for predators to shotguns with shot, 22 rimfires, and 22 centerfire cartridges.

ya thought i'd use a .338 for coons but it dont look like thats going to happen

[86thecat]

More paper work= job security it proves how much they do!

More paperwork equals more cost to the hunter. If they are going to issue night hunting and predator permits, there will be fees.
Every bit of new paperwork means hiring more staff, with all the associated expense, to process it.