WA management critics can crank up the volume

[Dave Workman]

More reasons for WA hunter anger toward WDFW, commission
   
Opening weekend of the general buck deer season provided more evidence for critics of game management in Washington State that the people in charge are not their friends.

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-seattle/more-reasons-for-wa-hunter-anger-toward-wdfw-commission

[WAcoyotehunter]

So the Methow hunter count is down by 38% and the NE count is down by 49%...I would guess the economy has more to do with it that the antler restrictions.  It doesn't pencil out to spend $ on a tag, gas, camping, and gear for 40lbs of finished meat unless you live close.  We hunted 117 this weekend and saw people out in the woods.  We heard rifle shots there.  My guess is people are hunting closer to home and not making a trip across the state.

[pianoman9701]

Good read, Dave. How do commissioners lose their seats? I think we should start putting pressure where it belongs to affect some change here.

[WAcoyotehunter]

We do not want to see Gary Douvia bumped off the commission.  He's one of the better ones as far as wolf issues go.

[bigtex]

Good read, Dave. How do commissioners lose their seats? I think we should start putting pressure where it belongs to affect some change here.

They serve at will of the governor. She appoints them and she can "fire" them. I can't think of a time when a governor removed any agency comissioner/board member unless it was due to criminal activity. So basically you have to wait until their term expires and hope they don't want to get another term or the governor doesn't reappoint them.

[pianoman9701]

Thanks BigT. I seriously doubt that Queen Gregoire will replace commissioners who oppose hunting, but we may have more luck with the incoming Governor in 2013.

[boneaddict]

No change in antler resrictions in the Methow, so that wouldn't account for that 38%.

Interesting.....38% from what, last year

[jackelope]

The antler dilemma has interested this column because it should logically also apply to mule deer, which have been under a 3-point minimum restriction for more than a decade. In southeast Washington, this column saw a lot of 2-point bucks over the weekend, and darned few legal 3-point or better animals.

I was outside of Pomeroy opening weekend saturday, sunday and monday morning and would honestly say I saw more legal bucks than not legal bucks. The weather sucked and we were socked in with fog more than we were not so we didn't see a lot of deer either way, but the bucks we saw were more legal than not legal. Some more mature bucks would be nice, but there was definitely no shortage of legal bucks. If the weather was better, I suspect we could have easily all tagged out if we just wanted to shoot legal bucks.

We do not want to see Gary Douvia bumped off the commission.  He's one of the better ones as far as wolf issues go.

There's so many potential variables to a decrease in hunter numbers. The economy is in the crapper. With gas at almost $4 a gallon combined with so many people out of work, on a tight budget, etc, it's no surprise to me that hunter numbers were down. I drove from western wa to Pomeroy and spent almost $200 just in gas alone. Antler restrictions surely played a part in the 2 units that were changed, but there's lot of other things contributing as well. It seems only natural to me to blame the WDFW given the recent string of events.

[pianoman9701]

[/quote]
 

There's so many potential variables to a decrease in hunter numbers. The economy is in the crapper. With gas at almost $4 a gallon combined with so many people out of work, on a tight budget, etc, it's no surprise to me that hunter numbers were down. I drove from western wa to Pomeroy and spent almost $200 just in gas alone. Antler restrictions surely played a part in the 2 units that were changed, but there's lot of other things contributing as well. It seems only natural to me to blame the WDFW given the recent string of events.
[/quote]

This is exactly why we shouldn't be putting up any barriers to hunting. There are enough outside circumstances already.

[buckfvr]

Yes, Gregoire appoints them and directs them.....they take her lead or hit the road.  Funny.....Douvia is popular with guys from other areas because his stance on wolves, but here in Stevens county,  most of the guys I talk to  ( especially bow hunters ), are certain he is a self serving personal interest only type of guy.  Hes in there to make sure he and his buddies interests are safe and improving.  Thats just the word on the street.......but alot of people know him.   If you bow hunt, you probably will not forget he was said to be behind taking 101 late archery time frame from bowhunters and giving it over to modern firearms.  Not very popular with bow hunters.............

[bearpaw]

Sorry, but I have to disagree withn you on this one Dave.

I think it's nearly 100% economy. People can't afford to go hunting. I am seeing fewer hunters in every state, Idaho, Utah, and I am expecting it in Montana when it opens. In Idaho on the elk opener there is an area where I usually see 25 to 40 camps, this year I counted 8 camps, that was it. In Utah I saw the fewest hunters I have ever saw when out elk hunting.

I was on the whitetail working group that recommended the 4pt rule and I voted for it to reduce the harvest. So I am happy to hear that the harvest is down, even though I credit the majority of the reduction in harvest to the economy and a depressed deer herd. For example, hunters hunting in 3 other units with no antler restriction still have to pass the check station on their way back to Spokane, guess what, those hunters had no deer either. 

PLEASE EXPLAIN THAT!

The NE deer herd is way down and it needs a break, I think the check station report confirms that. That's the only good thing I see from this depression. 

I am the last person in the world who wants to keep out other hunters, I think that is the wrong idea you have there. The county commissioners want more outsdide people too, but they recognize our herds are down and also voted for the restriction. My concern is to rebuild the herd by reducing harvest. In our meetings we were pretty much told by the WDFW that predator management wasn't much of an option, we discussed other options too, but the only readily available method to reduce pressure was to reduce human harvest.

I think the WDFW would like to get rid of Douvia because he questions their faulty wolf plan. So I think you are right about the WDFW wanting the wolves, but I think you are on the wrong track with your 4pt reasoning. One thing is for sure, Douvia is a hunter, I hope Washington's hunters don't want to lose an avid hunter from the commission. Especially a commissioner who seems willing to make the hard decisions to help a deer herd recover.

There is science both ways on the 4 pt restriction, only time will tell us if it works or don't work in NE WA. 

[stickbuck]

Dale, I'd have to agree with you on the economy argument as a big part of it. A buddy that lives off Valley Westside said it was like a ghost town compared to the last few years. Did you notice the same thing on the opener in town?

[hunter360]

I just got back from Republic and just let me say that in the 16 years that I have been hunting over there, I have never seen the deer count so low  Also, there were more predators this year than I have ever seen there too.

[500 long]

There is no consistency in these management practises. Spike only, three point, four point, true spike, etc all in the name of promoting the herd. Maybe they should make it albino only, that would reduce the harvest.

[CedarPants]

... we were pretty much told by the WDFW that predator management wasn't much of an will never be considered as an option, we discussed other options too, but the only readily available method option we'll ever put into practice to reduce pressure was to reduce human harvest.

Replace WDFW with Conservation Northwest in that sentence 

Just had to poke fun, as I also agree with the 4-point minimum and agree the herd needs reduced pressure up there.  I just don't like seeing the WDFW telling us so matter of factly that predator management isn't and never will be an option, especially with wolves moving in.  More wolves = more reduced hunter harvest.  They are going to be managing us, not the other way around