Why do hunters not get involed in politics in this state?

[Boss .300 winmag]

I will be running again and starting my campaign in November, getting a couple of months head start on my competition. If you want a hard core hunter, flyfisherman and conservative, then suport me in my next election bid.

For what office?

[ser300wsm]

Ya, you need to tell them what office GLENGTR.... 

[JimmyHoffa]

I think many realize the power of money and how it can be used by a strong group.  To push ideals as an individual requires much more time and requires significant effort to be heard.  So there are groups available for hunters and fisherman to act in their stead, and many sportsmen are involved in these groups.  Basically, power in numbers.  So there are lots of hunters in politics here.  But don't underestimate the highly motivated individuals either.  Sarah Brady.

[rasbo]

I think its like any group,you have a small percentage of those that jump in and a larger percentage that dont get involved at all.Im suprised at how many hunters that say I dont want to get involved or talk politics..

[singleshot12]

I think most hunters are discouraged from getting involved and figure it just doesn't do any good, and that;s really too bad

[Jerbear]

Bobcat my friend, I am not happy with the way you attract Dave.  I have been around a lot longer than you, and I am here to tell you that our game dept. is corrupt.  Let's talk about habitat for example.  How much of OUR land is blocked off to us by the game dept, your organization, the DNR and a host of others.  A few years ago Field and Stream magazine called our dept of F&G the most poltical  game dept in the whole United States.  They are correct.  Electing, or appointing Anderson to be the top man gained us nothing. The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.  
Stupid policy.  Well let me see.  A recent example was ending deer season on a Friday.  That last week end could have been a chance to take the kids out one more time.  That last week end could have meant more money for small towns like Goldendale to make more money, in an tight economy.  
As you may or may not know, the female in charge of the Klickitat Wildlife Area, closes the gates the day after deer season.  So before the appointed day, I called and ask why it could not go a few more days for elk season.  She said she was closing the gates and that was it.  so I called her boss in  Olympia, and after explaining the situation, refereed me to the Wildlife Areas manager in Vancouver.  Ah yes.  another female.  Now I had ask all three about allowing disabled hunters to drive in.  A big no.  The Vancouver person had been alerted and commenced to tell me haw we had to protect the resources. That land is Game land and DNR land.  But by God Bobcat, we bought it and we own it.  These organizations operate in their own way, and our legislators don't have a clue.
By the way, the local gal and the Vancouver person, neither of them hunt.  But they show a lot of interest in the Oregon spotted frog and the western Pond Turtle I think the first official  act of the Dept of F&W every morning is to do their official dance.  that would be the HOKEY POKEY.  I take that back.  Trying to figure out their left arm out and then back would confuse them to such a degree, they would go out on disability.
    

[Heredoggydoggy]

Ya, you need to tell them what office GLENGTR.... 

He did:  State Representative for the 35th District.  The fact that he's here shows that he's concerned about our plight.  BTW, I voted for Rossi, even though I think he represents what I think is wrong with government-- CAREER POLITICIANS!  But better a conservative career politician than a Patty or a Christine!

[bobcat]

Well Jerry, I'm not sure what to say to that. I don't disagree. There are a lot of things the WDFW could do to make things better for us hunters. But, in a lot of ways their hands are tied. A couple of major issues, the tribal hunting/poaching problem, and the predator problem we have no effective way to manage them with having the option of hound hunting being taken away by the voters of the state. I was just trying to point out that it's not 1975 anymore, we have a lot more people in the state, a lot more predators, and less deer and elk.

[Boss .300 winmag]

I will be running again and starting my campaign in November, getting a couple of months head start on my competition. If you want a hard core hunter, flyfisherman and conservative, then suport me in my next election bid.

For what office?

Key word "next election bid"

[bearpaw]

Well Jerry, I'm not sure what to say to that. I don't disagree. There are a lot of things the WDFW could do to make things better for us hunters. But, in a lot of ways their hands are tied. A couple of major issues, the tribal hunting/poaching problem, and the predator problem we have no effective way to manage them with having the option of hound hunting being taken away by the voters of the state. I was just trying to point out that it's not 1975 anymore, we have a lot more people in the state, a lot more predators, and less deer and elk.

It's more like in a lot of ways "Their minds are made up on how they want to do things." For example in the Draft Wolf Plan, they are forcing 15 breeding pairs onto this state. I think every choice they gave included 15 BP's. Essentually they are giving us no choice except how we distribute the 15 bp's. It's the WDFW that is promoting another predator into Washington. I suggest you rethink your statement bobcat and reconsider what Dave Workman more accurately stated.  

They could tell the people of Washington the truth, "The more wolves we have in Washington, the more deer and elk will be eaten. Let's only meet federal guidlines for a minimum of wolves to protect our herds."

But that is not their position is it?

[Wacenturion]

Well Jerry, I'm not sure what to say to that. I don't disagree. There are a lot of things the WDFW could do to make things better for us hunters. But, in a lot of ways their hands are tied. A couple of major issues, the tribal hunting/poaching problem, and the predator problem we have no effective way to manage them with having the option of hound hunting being taken away by the voters of the state. I was just trying to point out that it's not 1975 anymore, we have a lot more people in the state, a lot more predators, and less deer and elk.

WDFW's hands are not tied.  Their management agenda is directed by choice and lack of not knowing how to do things efficiently.  They use science as a deflector for reasonable approaches to solving resource issues.  Money is wasted in most areas by over management and too many cooks in the kitchen...or too many chiefs and not enough indians.

Dave is spot on.........like it or not.  Your view of WDFW, the resource and what we have to accept is tainted.  Stop drinking the department's kool aid.....it's not good for you.  The whole agency needs reform......enough said.

The example above of the Klickitat and WDFW's response from the quoted sources is sad.  It's become an individual's wildlife area....not yours.  That female manager works for you....but unfortunately all those tree hugger types now entrenched in WDFW, think otherwise. 

[Little Dave]

I find it interesting that over the last several years the state has allowed scientific teams to use hounds to hunt cougars in King and Kittitas counties for the purpose of collaring.  This exemption was specifically reserved for the agency as part of the initiative... but back in 1996 even the Seattle Times challenged the reasoning behind the exemption calling the proposal a "Disneyifcation" of cougars, bears and bobcats.  The basis for the ban was that the method was inhumane.  If it is inhumane for a licenced hunter to use hounds, then it would also be inhumane for a biologist to do so... but clearly it is not inhumane at all.  The public was decieved.

If by deception the public had approved an initiative to ban childhood immunization, clearly such a law would need to be overturned.  In doing so, we would expect the health departments to take leadership in that action.  Our Department of Fish and Wildlife has not been vocal enough nor effective in the last fourteen years in the need to condemn the hound hunting ban and its ill effects.  By now it should have taken a strong leadership role in steering the legislature to find a way to fix the problem.  Clearly the legislature has found ways around other voter approved initiatives.

[Bean Counter]

I ran for State Representative in the 35th district. Does that count?

No, not if you didn't win.   

It takes big cahones to run for pubic office. I respect anyone who throws their hat in the ring.

[Elkaholic daWg]

  Bobcat, what does Jerbear mean when he includes "your organization" in regards to lands we are blocked out of?

[Special T]

Bobcat... I would like to think that the WDFW has the best of intentions, but faces many hurdles that are difficult and cumbersome.. There is one basic reason that i believe this is false... The WDFW refuses to ENGAGE hunters and fishermen... I don't think that crappy meetings at bad times and locations are a good way to get the pulse of our comunity... Nor do i think it is a good use of their time or our money...

There is a saying in Sales that the quality of a salesman IS NOT when everything is going well, but rather how they handle themselves when something is going wrong... When one of my customers has a problem i MUST engage them by finding out more about the problem and why my customer is have issues... IF that was what the WDFW was doing they would be reaching out instead of entrenching in their bureaucratic bunker... 

If i was in charge of the WDFW or in some kind of influential capacity here are some of the things i would do REGAURDLESS of weather i could make any headway on hunter/fisherman issues...
1 Engage the hunting& fishing community. In an official or unofficial capacity get knowledgeable employees to Discuss topics on forums such as this one.... Newspapers and or television.. Part of the WDFW role is Education... It can take many forms...
2 Air out the problems and road blocks... Just on this forum we have people that dedicate lots of time into researching topics... Not just opinions but ferreting out documentable facts or studies done by 3rd parties... People often site tribes as major road blocks to management of our resources... Well I know all the tribes aren't the same and there are success with some of them... Could there be something to LEARN if the facts were before us?
3 find out/ask what it would take to make things right? In my business if a customer wants new product AND their money back i politely tell them its not an option or possible... If the customer wants a reimbursement or discount on product then we talk... It called ENGAGING THE CUSTOMER!

I don't see the WDFW doing things that resemble what I'm talking about... If the WDFW said they couldn't do something and why, then answered some questions it would elevate lots of problems....