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 ....

[bobcat]

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 ....

No, this meeting is not about that.

Here is the agenda:  http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings/2011/06/agenda_jun0411.html

[dscubame]

Make sure and tell them what a good job they are doing.

[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 ....

No, this meeting is not about that.

Here is the agenda:  http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings/2011/06/agenda_jun0411.html

O.K thats better if you go tell them I said hi ....

[bobcat]

So who's going to the meeting tomorrow?  I am, but I'm thinking about not showing up until around 10 or 10:30. "Cougar Conservation and Management" is what I want to be there for, to start with. I don't know what time that topic will start, but the meeting starts at 8:30 and it's the fourth thing on the agenda.

[bearpaw]

Hope someone can ask for return to longer seasons since there is no hound hunting. 

[pianoman9701]

I have to apologize to you guys. I'm unable to go to Olympia today because of pressing issues at home. I hope you understand. To those who go, thanks for taking your time to go be there for the rest of us.

[danderson]

Cant make it , but would go if theres ever another one in eastern wash, could someone post the date and places again of the meetings.

[billythekidrock]

I am posting my wolf notes from todays meeting in this thread.
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,77285.105.html

[billythekidrock]

Some of my notes from today’s meeting.

Bobcat
I was able to ask the commission to consider aligning the end dates of Small Game Bobcat season and Trapping Bobcat season. Below are my notes that I took with me.

I am asking that the commission consider making changes to the closing date of Small Game Bobcat season to match the closing date of Bobcat Trapping season. This would simplify the regulations by giving both bobcat seasons the same end date of March 31st.

Currently the Small Game Bobcat season ends on March 15th and the Bobcat Trapping season ends on March 31st. By extending the Small Game Bobcat season two weeks to March 31st the seasons will have the same end date. This would simplify the regulations for both hunting and reporting.

Bobcat
Trapping season
Nov 1st – March 31st

Small Game season
Sept 1st – March 15th

Commission Chair Wecker deferred to Anderson who said he would like to look at this and “move forward on an abbreviated/full cycle rather than a special rules session. He stated that the “abbreviated” was based on a “moratorium on rules by the governor”. He also stated that he “will take it to Wildlife”.

Cougar
Cougar “densities are not changing, just the age”. “Hit them are or soft – they are still the same”.
But they want to “distribute harvest in winter range”. Killing cats in the winter range “can cause an area to be overrun with sub-adults” and “harvest distribution is a factor”.

They “can’t say cause and effect with hunting” but they did say “though complaints went down drastically in areas of hound hunting”.

I also learned that cougar complaints are not all treated the same for statistical data reporting. It is “the discretion of the staff if a cougar print is a report or a complaint” and it may not create an action or data point.”

One of the Commission members stated that the complaint reporting “system in Eastern Wa does not work”.  He cited numerous known cougar issues that were reported to F&W but NOT added as a data point or action in any complaint documentation.
Some of those issues he spoke of include.
A kid that was attacked that showed up as “not a confirmed complaint”.
A cow & calf killed with a cougar track found was “not confirmed”.
Cow killed with the cat treed and killed, but “not confirmed”.

He said that this was “distorting the data” and that there was a “flaw in the complaint process” with “serious issues with following up” and that the data was “not real good that last few years”.
He also stated that there was a “calf recruitment problem in the Blues” due to cougars.

Some odds & ends.
Bears are mostly stable though some areas are still experiencing high mortality of younger sows.

“Professional contractors (hunters) could be used to manipulate predator numbers.”

Blacktail doe are getting “vaginal implants” so F&W can go to birth sites and track fawn mortality.

They will “evaluate coyote management in the NE” for whitetail predation.

The Commission wants to send a letter to the Governor seeking “help on the Pacific Salmon Treaty”.

Of the seven public speakers:
1 spoke about bobcat seasons.
1 spoke about steelhead recovery efforts.
5 spoke in favor of a stronger wolf recovery plan.

During a sidebar conversation with the Bear/Cougar specialist I was told that if the bear densities in the CF are similar to the Snoqualmie tree farm, than ½ of the harvestable bears were taken during the CF spring bear seasons.

The Commission will be reviewing the night hunting topic. When Wecker stated “spotlighting and night hunting”, Anderson was quick to state that they are two separate issues. One of “what species can be hunted after hours” and the other was spotlighting. He wants t open this “topic for public input” as part of the rule making process instead of “a separate process”.

This is primarily due to a tribe asking for an exception to spotlighting in order to hunt bears and cougars at night with lights.

[Kain]

Thanks for going and filling us in. 

[bearpaw]

Thanks for going and for the report.....

[Humptulips]

There was another speaker that spoke out against the wolf management plan on Friday, Jack Field from The Washington Cattlemens Association.

Also was a good presentaion on State Endangered Species process. Apparently the WDFW has no authority to enforce any habitat provisions associated with land use. They ran through the hoops that have to be jumped through to delist a species.

[pianoman9701]

Thanks for going and filling us in.