Wolf plan 'deceitful,' cattlemen say

[denali]

http://www.capitalpress.com/content/djw-wolfplan-081211


By DAN WHEAT

Capital Press

Washington's proposed wolf management plan is "deceptive and deceitful" and sets the stage for conflict with livestock producers and hunters, the head of the Washington Cattlemen's Association says.

Jack Field, association executive vice president, said he told the state Fish and Wildlife Commission that and asked commissioners to revise the plan.

As a member of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife's Wolf Working Group drafting the plan for the past three years, Field said he tried to work with the department but is frustrated by a final product that lacks common sense.

Department staff could not immediately be reached for comment. They presented the plan to commissioners on Aug. 4. Public comment was allowed. Field was among 25 people, each allowed three minutes to speak.

Livestock producers and hunters need to make their opposition heard at remaining public hearings and before the commission is scheduled to act on Dec. 2 and 3, Field said the next day.

Public hearings are tentatively scheduled for Aug. 29 in Ellensburg and Oct. 6 and Nov. 3 in Olympia.

The plan protects gray wolves until their population reaches 15 breeding pair for three years. Then state delisting and limited hunting may be considered.

Early on, the department said cattle and sheep grazing land would not be counted as wolf habitat because they are not compatible, but in drafting the plan cattle acreage was counted as habitat, Field said.

Commissioner Conrad Mahnken, a retired fisheries biologist, noted that incongruity, Field said. Commissioners also asked how the department was counting 26,700 square miles of wolf habitat, virtually the same as Idaho and Montana, which have far less human population, Field said.

Commissioners questioned if 15 breeding pairs are enough to establish a viable wolf population, Field said. The plan contains no wolf cap, he said. It only says the department may consider limited hunting -- it doesn't require it -- when 15 breeding pair has been sustained for three years, he said. It would take another year to get hunting approved, he said.

A breeding pair includes 14 wolves so 15 pairs equals 210 wolves, he said. At a 24 percent growth rate the department considers acceptable there could be 500 wolves consuming 5,275 elk or 71 percent of the annual allowable elk hunter harvest by the time wolf hunting is allowed, Field said.

"The department says wolves will only kill sick and weak elk, but I don't buy that and I hope sportsmen don't either," Field said. "If wolves take more elk than the department's population objectives, then hunter harvest will have to go down."

The department had said lethal take, shooting wolves, would be a management tool, but now says it can't be used in the western two-thirds of the state where the gray wolf remains listed as a federally endangered species, Field said. So there's no way to remove wolves there that chronically depredate livestock, he said.

"That's a slap in the face to stakeholders (who worked on the plan) because it says there will be no management and cross your fingers," Field said.

The department talks about relocated problem wolves but that requires federal review, he said.

Cattlemen and hunters on the working group wrote a minority report and oppose the plan, Field said.

[huntrights]

Sinice this is a state and federal issue, perhaps we can get our representatives to weigh in on this with a writing campaign from the 250,000 hunters in this state along with those that raise any kind of livestock.

[sebek556]

the problem is also 250,000 hunters half of which either are unaware of this issue or are afraid to speak up. Also is 250,000 hunters verus 500,000 morons and the rest that could go either way..

[bearmanric]

in 4 year's we will no longer be able to hunt. it's all about the wolves now. Rick

[JimmyHoffa]

For the one question about potential habitat, they try to explain what they did.  It starts on page 48 of this--->http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00001/draft_wolf_plan_052311.pdf
The bios have claimed that Washington has as much (or even more) land suitable for wolves than Idaho and Montana.  In the model that the cattlemen use (from the feds not the state), the only spots in the state suitable for wolves are the Blues and the Olympics.  I think this may be a case of bios being blinded by science so much that they lost touch with reality.

[huntrights]

sebek556,

If the 250,000 don't speak up, then the 500,000 will most certainly have their way.  We should always stand up for our rights.  Never give up.

[sebek556]

beleave me i speak up and tell everyone I know to speak up also. 

[CAMPMEAT]

500,000 morons have more money than 250,000 hunters. $= winning.

[frostman]

commission@dfw.wa.gov
 
Here is the link to the commission, fellas.

Bearpaw started a thread with a plea for the HW community to contact the commission opposing this liberal insanity and only a handful of guys confirmed they sent out e-mails.

The only real power any of us have is our votes and voices. The problem is everyone nowadays thinks their voice is not being heard. That is absurd for Americans to think that way. It was proven in November of 2010 that the people can make a difference.

I am in consistent contact now with Sen Murray and Cantwell, my Rep Adam Smith, Speaker John Boehner, Sen Mitch McConell (Senate minority leader - GOP) plus my State Senator and State Rep. It is easy to do. I don't agree with any of them usually, but they hear me.

We all better be paying attention to what is going on or these criminals we have elected to represent us will continue to govern to the will of the insane liberals who ARE making their voices heard!

[huntrights]

I sent a couple emails to the commission in addition to going to the August 4th Commission meeting.  I am also constant contact with all of my representatives.  The representatives read and respond to most of my communications and have helped me directly with some issues.  They do hear your voice if you communicate with them respectfully.  My philosophy is, "Words not spoken or written are words not heard or read."  Our government is a representative government; all of us should be using that fact to ensure our voices are heard.  The message is speak up and/or write about what you believe in!  However, be sure to support what you speak or write about with facts.

[Swannytheswan]

Sent my email I hope it helps

[denali]

"A breeding pair includes 14 wolves so 15 pairs equals 210 wolves, he said."      

Wolf advocates put forth the number as 6 wolves / pack = 90 wolves   


both are wrong and all we have to do is look next door.


2009 IDFG/USFWS population  -  Idaho had 860 wolves in 39 successful breeding pairs = 22 wolves/ BP,  so for Washington we can expect at least 330 wolves.

[crabbyguy24]

All hunter in washington should quit buying licenses, and hunt out of state our fish and wildlife department has to be one of the worst in the nation!!!!!!!!!

[longbow11b1p]

I think our days are numbered, once wolf's take hold it will be 5 years and elk hunting Will be done .the same thing happened in unit 10 Idaho in 2002 and it took less than 4 years to destroy the herds there .