WDFW News Release: Help shape future hunting seasons online or at meetings this

[jackelope]

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

August 15, 2011

Contact: WDFW Wildlife Program, (360) 902-2515

Help shape future hunting seasons
online or at meetings this month 

OLYMPIA - Hunters and other members of the public will have an opportunity to help shape 2012-14 hunting seasons at a series of public "open house" meetings planned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) this month.

The meetings are scheduled to run from 7-9 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

Aug. 22 - Federal Way - Federal Way Community Center, 876 S. 333rd St., Alder & Birch meeting rooms
Aug. 23 - Centralia - Edison Place Event Center, 201 N. Rock St., Edison Room
Aug. 24 - Spokane - The Lincoln Center, 1316 N. Lincoln St., Monroe Ballroom
Aug. 25 - Yakima - Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 1507 N. First St., Selah-Wapato meeting rooms.
The public can also comment on hunting season proposals via an on-line survey, available at http://bit.ly/qZ6EMZ through Sept. 20. 

Dave Ware, WDFW game program manager, said public comments received at the meetings and through the survey will play an important role in shaping hunting seasons and associated hunting regulations for 2012-14.

"We want to hear people’s concerns, especially those that address a significant conservation or management issue," Ware said. "In keeping with the Governor’s Rule Moratorium, the department will focus on emergent issues that relate to goals and strategies identified in the 2009-15 Game Management Plan."

The Game Management Plan, along with scoping criteria for the 2012-14 season-setting process, is posted on WDFW’s website at the address listed above. Issues currently under consideration by the department for upcoming seasons include:

Adjusting cougar seasons.
Setting spring black bear seasons.
Increasing fall turkey hunting participation.
Eliminating the elk tag restriction for special permit applications.
Ware said comments received at the public meetings and from the on-line survey will be used to develop specific recommendations for 2012-14 hunting seasons, which will be available for further review next January.   

Final recommendations will be presented to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission for adoption next spring.   

[Elkaholic daWg]

  How many of us have taken their survey? I did, with the emphasis away from special permits and toward hound hunting where there was a "other" choice

[Special T]

My cougar comments
I think the method of estimation of cougar numbers is lacking. It is my understanding that the WDFW uses harvest # to determine the quantity of cougar in an area. This method is inexpensive but prone to poor correlation of actual population #. I think some kind of pursuit only season with hounds requiring documentation is a good way to gain population estimates at little cost to the state yet gives houndsmen an opportunity to train dogs.

My Bear comments
I think the WDFW needs to do a better job of educating politicians as well as the public  as to the benefits of hound and bait hunting. Treed bears are easier to determine sex, and baited bears (especially spring) are easier to determine if they have cubs. I know that if i am in the woods, hunting under current rules, I will shoot the first legal bear that steps in front of me... Good management and conservation NEEDS baiting and Hound hunting.

I think this survey is important and we should make our case heard... 

[WildlifeAssassin]

I just took it. You better believe the bunny huggers take the survey saying to end all hunting. Make your voice heard where it counts or you have no right to sit on the internet b******* about how hunting is going down the drain! It only takes a couple minutes.

 Here is the link again -> http://bit.ly/qZ6EMZ

PS: I watched the august 5th cougar meeting on TV today and not one person was in favor of increasing hunting opportunity. It was all hikers complaining they had never seen a cougar in the wild so there must not be any left. SPEAK UP!

[NWWABOWHNTR]

I did it, also sending it out to my clubs members. 

[FC]

I took the survey.

[fair-chase]

Done. 

[JimmyHoffa]

Done.

PS: I watched the august 5th cougar meeting on TV today and not one person was in favor of increasing hunting opportunity. It was all hikers complaining they had never seen a cougar in the wild so there must not be any left. SPEAK UP!

There could be ten times as many cougars and the hikers probably still wouldn't see them.  The hikers are usually in groups, move too fast, make too much noise, hike at the wrong time of day, only hike on trails, etc.........

[WildlifeAssassin]

Done.

PS: I watched the august 5th cougar meeting on TV today and not one person was in favor of increasing hunting opportunity. It was all hikers complaining they had never seen a cougar in the wild so there must not be any left. SPEAK UP!

There could be ten times as many cougars and the hikers probably still wouldn't see them.  The hikers are usually in groups, move too fast, make too much noise, hike at the wrong time of day, only hike on trails, etc.........

  There may have been a letter sent to the commission stating such things but don't let that stop you from mentioning it also.

[Kain]

Great time to remind them of their legislative mandate.  I like the fact that they want public opinion but designing seasons based on anti hunting opinion goes against the mandate given to them by state law.

If they are reducing hunter opportunities based on non-biological or safety reasons then they are not complying with the law.

RCW 77.04.012
Mandate of department and commission.

Wildlife, fish, and shellfish are the property of the state. The commission, director, and the department shall preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage the wildlife and food fish, game fish, and shellfish in state waters and offshore waters.

     The department shall conserve the wildlife and food fish, game fish, and shellfish resources in a manner that does not impair the resource. In a manner consistent with this goal, the department shall seek to maintain the economic well-being and stability of the fishing industry in the state. The department shall promote orderly fisheries and shall enhance and improve recreational and commercial fishing in this state.

     The commission may authorize the taking of wildlife, food fish, game fish, and shellfish only at times or places, or in manners or quantities, as in the judgment of the commission does not impair the supply of these resources.

     The commission shall attempt to maximize the public recreational game fishing and hunting opportunities of all citizens, including juvenile, disabled, and senior citizens.

     Recognizing that the management of our state wildlife, food fish, game fish, and shellfish resources depends heavily on the assistance of volunteers, the department shall work cooperatively with volunteer groups and individuals to achieve the goals of this title to the greatest extent possible.

     Nothing in this title shall be construed to infringe on the right of a private property owner to control the owner's private property.


[2000 c 107 § 2; 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 § 5; 1975 1st ex.s. c 183 § 1; 1949 c 112 § 3, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 5780-201, part. Formerly RCW 75.08.012, 43.25.020.]

Notes:
State policy regarding improvement of recreational salmon fishing: See note following RCW 77.65.150.

[Kain]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/IssueScopingGuidelines.pdf

Issue Scoping Guidelines
Under the Governor’s Rule Moratorium, changes to regulations that are 1) not necessary for conservation, or 2) have not been specifically requested by those being regulated (hunters), should not be submitted for consideration.

 SOOOOOO awesome.  Did you guys read that line?  This is what happens when you remind them of their legislative mandate.  Good day for hunters and a bad day for anti hunters.   

[bobcat]

I did the survey last night. Just curious, did anyone besides me get annoyed with the overuse of the phrase "as such"?

[BENCHLEG]

 i also filled it out. bobcat ,  it is there way of saying you will not like how we screw you.

[BOWHUNTER45]

My cougar comments
I think the method of estimation of cougar numbers is lacking. It is my understanding that the WDFW uses harvest # to determine the quantity of cougar in an area. This method is inexpensive but prone to poor correlation of actual population #. I think some kind of pursuit only season with hounds requiring documentation is a good way to gain population estimates at little cost to the state yet gives houndsmen an opportunity to train dogs.

My Bear comments
I think the WDFW needs to do a better job of educating politicians as well as the public  as to the benefits of hound and bait hunting. Treed bears are easier to determine sex, and baited bears (especially spring) are easier to determine if they have cubs. I know that if i am in the woods, hunting under current rules, I will shoot the first legal bear that steps in front of me... Good management and conservation NEEDS baiting and Hound hunting.

I think this survey is important and we should make our case heard... 

Yeah nicely said !!!! 

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Doing the survey is great, but I hope we get a good turnout at all the public meetings also.  If we can pack the meetings like we did at Phil ANderson's "town hall" meeting in Sedro last year, that would be awesome.