Volunteer Guides with the WDFW?

[Todd_ID]

My buddy drew a Toutle Muzzleloader Bull tag.  He got something in the mail from WDFW asking if he'd like to have a guide help him out during the hunt.  He called the state to see what it was about, and they told him that it would be a volunteer that would go with him during his hunt. 

Has anyone heard of this before?  It sounds eerily like Big Brother watching every move even though he would have no intention of breaking any laws.

[bone head]

i'd tell em to get lost

[NWBREW]

If they want to help tell them to bring the salt and pepper.

[ICEMAN]

Never hear of it.... Does the volunteer have alot of neat camping gear, food in the cooler, a packboard and a strong back? Can he cook and tidy up around camp? He may be welcome at my camp....

[billythekidrock]

Are you sure it isn't a Master Hunter permit that requires a Hunt Master?

[bobcat]

That's really weird. Who would volunteer to be a free guide, for somebody they don't know? Will everyone who drew a permit be offered free guide services? Strange.

[Ray]

If they want to help tell them to bring the salt and pepper.

[Todd_ID]

I thought it was weird, too.  I know it wasn't a Master Hunter permit, because he hasn't done that course; it's just the Quality Bull permit.  I'm guessing the "volunteer" guide may be someone trying to earn the community service time for the Master Hunter program, though.  I'd also guess that the state would brief him in advance on where to take a clueless guy and where to steer him away from.  My buddy that drew the permit and one other friend know the unit as well as most, so they politely declined the offer.

[letmhunt]

eyes in the woods sounds like to me. aka poacher patrol.

[carpsniperg2]

never heard of it before

[letmhunt]

never heard of it before

its volunteers in the woods undercover as fisherman and hunters looking for illegal activity.

[Deer slayer]

Never heard of it. I am also thinking it's a MH who is trying to get his community time in.

[HntnFsh]

Somebody ought to just ask them.may be a good thing for the tag holder.I wouldnt just write it off as a bs deal.

[Hunter Dug]

I drew the toutle archery tag and recieved no such offer, kinda curious of there motives though.

[400out]

UM does your budy have a shady back ground?  JK 

[haus]

just ask them.....

[seth30]

That's really weird. Who would volunteer to be a free guide, for somebody they don't know? Will everyone who drew a permit be offered free guide services? Strange.

Is it a prerequisite to become a licensed guide??

[Todd_ID]

UM does your budy have a shady back ground?  JK 

Nope, nothing like that. 

He did call and ask, but all they said was it was a volunteer to go with him in the hunt.  I'm thinking it'd be an archery hunter that is part of the Eyes in the Woods program who's a logger in the area, thus knowing the area well, and has nothing going on Oct. 2-8 hunting-wise that called the state to volunteer to guide a muzzleloader tag holder in order to earn the MH community service.  There's probably only one volunteer available, and once somebody says yes, then his time is filled.  Maybe he could drive around between camps and share knowledge with several tag holders and talk about their hunting day and then relay that info back to the state?

[ICEMAN]

Or maybe a convicted poacher doing his "community service" portion of his sentence....   

[seth30]

Man I hope we find out, I actually was thinking of that as I watched Ice Road Truckers, almost ruined the show. 

[THINK_N_ELK]

 
 I'm thinking it'd be an archery hunter that is part of the Eyes in the Woods program who's a logger in the area, thus knowing the area well, and has nothing going on Oct. 2-8 hunting-wise that called the state to volunteer to guide a muzzleloader tag holder in order to earn the MH community service. 


I was just at the Eyes in the Woods annual meeting, and heard nothing about members volunteering to be guides.  I this is some either WDFW , the SW Land Coalition , or Weyco's doing.

To my knowledge all EITW is working on is getting access opened up

[Todd_ID]

Found this on the WDFW site:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/volunteer/sainthelens/index.html

Volunteer Opportunities

Sign up for the St. Helens Land Access Program

Sign-up closed for the season. Check back summer 2010

Thanks to all the volunteers for your hard work in implementing a successful 3rd year of providing additional hunting access on the St. Helens Tree Farm.

We will be starting the program again for the fall of 2010 so please revisit the site this summer (2010) to sign up and volunteer with us - we look forward to working with you."

[Hunter Dug]

I received a letter from the WDFW asking I would volunteer for this program. 

[piled-up]

I received a letter from the WDFW asking I would volunteer for this program. 
[/quote got that letter myself for margeret area (tree farm access)

[billythekidrock]

UM does your budy have a shady back ground?  JK 

Nope, nothing like that. 

He did call and ask, but all they said was it was a volunteer to go with him in the hunt.  I'm thinking it'd be an archery hunter that is part of the Eyes in the Woods program who's a logger in the area, thus knowing the area well, and has nothing going on Oct. 2-8 hunting-wise that called the state to volunteer to guide a muzzleloader tag holder in order to earn the MH community service.  There's probably only one volunteer available, and once somebody says yes, then his time is filled.  Maybe he could drive around between camps and share knowledge with several tag holders and talk about their hunting day and then relay that info back to the state?

I think the bold portion is more like it. I have known of a couple (and heard of a few more) guys that just like to get involved, have a large camp full of people and help others.

[Alchase]

From today's WDFW news release:

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

July 27, 2010

Contact: Sandra Jonker, (360) 906-6722

WDFW seeks volunteers to help facilitate access
for special-permit elk hunts near Mount St. Helens

OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking volunteers to participate in a cooperative arrangement that has given hunters access to approximately 250,000 acres of private timberlands near Mount St. Helens in the last three years.

For the fourth year, the Weyerhaeuser Company is prepared to give hunters holding special elk permits additional motorized access to miles of private logging roads on the St. Helens Tree Farm, provided that enough volunteers can be found to assure a safe and orderly hunt.

Key tasks for volunteers include orienting hunters, staffing access points, and maintaining safety buffers between hunters and active Weyerhaeuser operations, said Sandra Jonker, regional wildlife manager for WDFW. The program attracted 54 volunteers in 2007, 61 in 2008, and 49 volunteers last year, she said.

"The success of this program depends on our ability to recruit a dedicated team of volunteers to help us provide this additional access," Jonker said. "As in past years, the amount of timberland that can be opened to hunting will be directly proportionate to the number of volunteers that sign up."

To participate in the St. Helens Land Access Program, volunteers can sign up at:

WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/volunteer/sainthelens/
WDFW Region 5 Office, 2108 S.E. Grand Boulevard, Vancouver, Wash., (360-696-6211).
Bob’s Sporting Goods, 1111 Hudson Street, Longview.
Participants will be required to attend one of three orientation sessions, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the following times and locations:

Aug. 25 - Natural Resources Building in Olympia, Room 172, 1111 Washington St. S.E.
Sept. 23 - WDFW Regional Office in Vancouver, 2108 Grand Blvd.
Oct. 27 - Cowlitz Public Utility District Office, 961 12th Ave., Longview
Volunteer organizations, led by the Southwest Washington Land Access Coalition, have secured funding to reimburse volunteers for mileage accrued as participants in the program.

Other partners in the program include Eyes In the Woods, Cowlitz Game & Anglers, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Washington State Archer Association, Yacolt Burn Sportsmen Club, Vancouver Wildlife League and the Washington State Bowhunters.

The partnership between WDFW, Weyerhaeuser and the volunteer organizations is designed to expand hunter access to areas of the St. Helens Tree Farm that lie within Game Management Units 520 (Winston), 524 (Margaret), 550 (Coweeman) and 556 (Toutle).

Jonker said the access program - combined with the issuance of additional special hunting permits - has helped to increase harvest levels over the past three years throughout the Mount St. Helens elk herd. That is a key goal under the department’s management plan for the herd, the largest of ten elk herds in the state.

"The department’s management plan calls for reducing the herd size over five years to bring the number of animals into balance with available habitat," Jonker said. "We want to thank Weyerhaeuser and all the volunteers participating in the St. Helens Land Access Program for their help in this joint effort."

The Mount St. Helens Elk Herd plan, adopted in 2006, is available on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/elk/sthelens.htm .

[Alchase]

the Weyerhaeuser Company is prepared to give hunters holding special elk permits additional motorized access to miles of private logging roads on the St. Helens Tree Farm, provided that enough volunteers can be found to assure a safe and orderly hunt.

Sounds like a possible "out" clause to me 

[haus]

We were there in 2008. Way more people hunting in that unit than the amount of permits that were provided. I don't recall seeing anyone organizing or facilitating anything. We put in several calls to the WDFW and State Patrol to request that they send someone up to check permits.

[THINK_N_ELK]

I kind of have my doubts that the gates will be open for early Archery, due to Fire Danger.  However for those that may be fortunate enough to get one in the early season use the Weyco Security phone number.  If there is someone in the area they will come open the gate so you can drive in and retrieve your animal.

WE did that last year and it worked great.  Other then I had to drive from the Bear Creek bridge around to the 4100 gate to meet up with Weyco Security.  He was on his way over to the other side of the Coweeman, so he gave me the lock and said "lock the gate on your way out.  And if anyone sneaks in then they will have to call to get out.  And they will no longer be welcome on Weyco land."

[HntnFsh]

the Weyerhaeuser Company is prepared to give hunters holding special elk permits additional motorized access to miles of private logging roads on the St. Helens Tree Farm, provided that enough volunteers can be found to assure a safe and orderly hunt.

Sounds like a possible "out" clause to me 

This is put on by eyes in the woods and the land access coalition.Cant remember the full name of the access coalition.Its the real deal.

These people put in a lot of time working to get access for people like you! They pick up garbage,man gates,watch logging operations and assorted other things.Take advantage of it if you can.Or even lend a helping hand.Ive seen them at work.Even been involved in it.

If it werent for these guys you wouldnt have the access like has been available the last few years.

[stumprat]

Volunteer guides to secure access.....HMMMM
I don't like the idea of babysitter hunts. If that is what we have to look forward to 

[HntnFsh]

Volunteer guides to secure access.....HMMMM
I don't like the idea of babysitter hunts. If that is what we have to look forward to 

Dont think that is what we have to look forward too.Havent seen anything anywhere,leading up to that.

[stumprat]

Isn't this leading up to that?

[HntnFsh]

Not from what Ive seen.How do you come up with it?

[Dan-o]

I wouldn't write it off.

I've learned lots of cool stuff and places from people I didn't previously know.