Fish and Wildlife Commission to meet June 3-4

[pianoman9701]

I find it interesting that in a meeting to do largely with predation, there's no mention of wolves.

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

May 27, 2011
Contact: Susan Galloway, (360) 902-2267



"OLYMPIA - The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is scheduled to hear briefings on several topics, ranging from cougar management to the state Endangered Species Act, at a meeting June 3-4 in Olympia. 

The commission, which sets policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will convene at 8:30 a.m. both days in Room 172 on the first floor of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E. A complete meeting agenda is available on the commission's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html .

During the two-day meeting, the commission is scheduled to hear a briefing on cougar management, including research projects, population objectives, hunting seasons and outreach and education.

The commission also will be briefed on population trends of other predators - such as black bear and coyote - and predator-prey management.

Also during the meeting, the commission is scheduled to hear briefings on several other topics, including:

An overview of the state Endangered Species Act.
An update on revisions to the draft state Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.
Efforts to protect and rebuild weak salmon and steelhead stocks. 
Management of coastal forage fish.
An overview of the state hatchery system.
In other business, the commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the list of game reserves. The proposed amendments would clarify and update the boundary description for Swinomish Spit Game Reserve and eliminate the Ellensburg Game Farm Reserve and South Tacoma Game Farm Reserve.

The commission also is scheduled to take action on several proposed land transactions."
 

It would be of benefit to all to have as many of us as possible show up. I plan to attend regarding the shortened cougar seasons, baiting, and see what's said about the wolves.

[fair-chase]

Thanks for the heads up Pianoman. Conveniently scheduled during the annual catfish trip. Coincidence? I think not.    

I would like to be there in person for this meeting but if I am unable to attend I will be sending a letter regarding the weapon allocations and season dates for cougar hunting.

[bobcat]

I think I will attend the Saturday meeting. Sounds like some interesting topics up for discussion that I'd like to be there for. Especially the cougar management (#11) and "Predator Population Trends and Predator-Prey Management" (#12).

8:30 AM	8. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT  The Commission is a direct link between citizens  of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Comments on Department programs and topics of  concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting. NOTE: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged  to comment on issues that are not on the agenda for decision action. 9. COASTAL FORAGE FISH OVERVIEW – BRIEFING:  Department staff  will brief the Commission on the management approach for coastal forage fish under the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries  Management Plan. The Commission received a briefing on Puget Sound forage fish  at the April 8-9, 2011, Commission meeting in Olympia. - Summary - PDF format (17 KB) Staff Report:  Michele Culver, Region 6 Director; and  Lorna  Wargo, Coastal Marine Fisheries Biologist, Fish Program 10. GAME  FARM RESERVES AND WATERFOWL CLOSURES – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING:  Department staff  will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to game farm reserves and waterfowl closure rules to update the list of game reserves and clarify boundary descriptions.  The Commission  will consider final adoption at its August 5-6, 2011, meeting in Olympia. AMENDMENTS  WAC 232-16-700 Swinomish Spit Game  Reserve REPEALERS  WAC 232-16-130 Ellensburg Game Farm  Reserve, and  WAC 232-16-360 South Tacoma Game Farm  Reserve - Summary - PDF format (511 KB) Staff Report:  Don Kraege, Waterfowl Section Manager,  Wildlife Program   >PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) 11. COUGAR  CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT – BRIEFING:  At the request of  the Commission, Department staff will brief the Commission on cougar management  issues associated with the Department’s Game Management Plan, including the  status of public outreach efforts. - Summary - PDF format (16 KB) Staff Report:   Donny Martorello, Ph.D., Carnivore, Furbearer  and Special Species Section Manager,  Wildlife Program; and   Rich Beausoleil,  Bear-Cougar Specialist, Wildlife Program
	BREAK
	12. PREDATOR  POPULATION TRENDS AND PREDATOR-PREY MANAGEMENT, PART 1 of 2 – BRIEFING :  At the request of  the Commission, Department staff will brief the Commission on predator-prey issues associated with the Department’s Game Management Plan, including population trends and public outreach efforts.  This briefing will include a timeline for  completion of an agency white paper that will be summarized at a future  Commission meeting. - Summary - PDF format (14 KB) Staff Report:  Nate Pamplin, Assistant Director, Wildlife  Program; and  Donny  Martorello, Ph.D., Carnivore, Furbearer and Special Species Section Manager, Wildlife Program
12:55 PM	LUNCH BREAK
1:30 PM	13. DRAFT WOLF MANAGEMENT & CONSERVATION PLAN PROCESS UPDATE - BRIEFING:                                              NOTE: item added 5/24/2011  Department  staff will brief the Commission on the status of edits to the draft Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.  Staff  Report:   Nate Pamplin, Assistant Director, Wildlife Program 14. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT  The Commission is a direct link between citizens  of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Comments on Department programs and topics of  concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting. 15. SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS:  The  Commission will review the current list of Commission requests to the  Department and may consider new requests. - Summary - PDF format (68 KB) 16. MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF:  The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.
3:00 P.M.	ADJOURN

[pianoman9701]

I'll plan to be there on Saturday, too.

[billythekidrock]

A while back I spoke to a group of predator hunters about support for extending the bobcat season by a couple weeks so that it ends at the end of march.
 
I recieved a phone call the other night that F&W officials think this is something that can be done. I would ask that anyone attending the meeting speak to extending bobcat season by a couple weeks and if you feel compelled......send some emails.

[pianoman9701]

A while back I spoke to a group of predator hunters about support for extending the bobcat season by a couple weeks so that it ends at the end of march.
 
I recieved a phone call the other night that F&W officials think this is something that can be done. I would ask that anyone attending the meeting speak to extending bobcat season by a couple weeks and if you feel compelled......send some emails.

I wouldn't mind doing that. Please send me a message with all of the details; what's the present season, who from DFW might have said it was do-able, reason for extending, etc. Thanks.

[danderson]

When is the Ellensburg meeting, I would like to attend.

[bobcat]

I don't see any meetings on the schedule in Ellensburg.

Here is a link to the schedule:  http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html

[bigtex]

The commission use to meet at different locations every meeting (with a couple in Olympia) so they could basically have people from allover the state have their input. But starting in 2009/10 they made all the meetings with the exception of one in Olympia. This was done as a way to cut travel and lodging costs for the commission members and other WDFW staff that attend these meetings.

[danderson]

I heard on the local radio station that the director of the WDFW was going to have an open meeting at CWU, I assumed that it was an open meeting to the public.

[bobcat]

Oh, that very well could be- I was only looking at the commissioner's meetings.

[bobcat]

I did a Google search and it looks like Phil Anderson was in Ellensburg for a meeting on May 9th:

[danderson]

Oh, wish I could have gone, been busy working and lost track of time, we locals have a big concerns about the master hunter program here in the upper county, and the way WDFW is addressing Elk damage claims, its a slippery slope that they are headed down.

[flysar]

I'm stuck in California until the 10th. Would have been a great opportunity to give my about opening up the Cougar season to using any weapon during the entire season and extending it to Mar 31st.

I'm contacting them on Tuesday and see if they will accept a letter.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Well if it is the same one I went to then all you will be hearing about is how broke they are and how they want to raise all recreational licences ....