New cougar season.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Wow...now if we can wake up a few more 

We all need to be like Uncle Ted ...tell them we will cut off some heads if things do not change 

[Kain]

Not to be ignorant but this post alone shows how much most people care 

Sad but true.  I see a lot of cryin and wishing going on at hunt-wa and then there is not more than a handful that could be bothered to even send an email.

Sad but true. I guess i'm one of the few who did send them an e-mail..here's the reply i got.

Dear Mr. Jason

 Thank you for taking the time to email your comments to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. Each commissioner will receive a copy.

 
Opinions and comments such as yours provide the Commission with valuable insight into fish and wildlife issues of concern to communities throughout our state. The Commission relies on public testimony, email, and correspondence to help determine what is working well and what requires more concentrated efforts.

 
Thank you for your interest in the conservation and management of the state’s precious fish and wildlife resources.

 
Sincerely,

Tami Lininger, Executive Assistant

Thanks for helping Jason.  I guess I was just in a mood when I wrote that.  I just get frustrated with fellow hunters sometimes.  We can have an argument that last for weeks about lighted nocks or wolves but cant seem to gain much support to stop the mismanagement of an apex predator that takes nearly 100,000 deer and elk every year in this state.   

The sad part is that if we could stop the manipulation of cougar management now we may be able to prevent the same thing happening with wolves. 

They will fight to stop an invasion of ants while all along their house is being eaten by termites. 

[fair-chase]

We need to come together If we want that change like Kain says.  I have a lot of resources to put together a reasonable plan to establish a hound season I owe it to my family to pursue it.  They took part in the early days of hounds in wa.  They were proactive towards keeping hounds in wa.  I need to be proactive towards getting them back.  If you could pm me kain with your opinion on a starting point maybe we could work together along with others.  Thanks.

Bob

Would love to hear your plan. 

Please forgive my ignorance on this issue. It is my understanding that we need to get a petition signed by no less than 120,577 signatures to move on a referendum and get RCW 77.15.245 (hound hunting and baiting ban) on the chopping block. Is this correct or is there another way to go about this? Sorry, learning as I go on this stuff.

[Special T]

It has been argued here before that if the WDFW really wanted to it could restart the pilot program or institute hound hunting for "problem" cats. I think the old adage, you take lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink applies on this topic. the Leadership needs to change THEN we have a chance at getting hound hunting back. 

[Kain]

We need to come together If we want that change like Kain says.  I have a lot of resources to put together a reasonable plan to establish a hound season I owe it to my family to pursue it.  They took part in the early days of hounds in wa.  They were proactive towards keeping hounds in wa.  I need to be proactive towards getting them back.  If you could pm me kain with your opinion on a starting point maybe we could work together along with others.  Thanks.

Bob

Would love to hear your plan. 

Please forgive my ignorance on this issue. It is my understanding that we need to get a petition signed by no less than 120,577 signatures to move on a referendum and get RCW 77.15.245 (hound hunting and baiting ban) on the chopping block. Is this correct or is there another way to go about this? Sorry, learning as I go on this stuff.

I believe there are ways that the legislature could overturn this law after a certain amount of time or with a super majority vote.  They have tried to do it with lots of other laws like raising taxes. 

[Kain]

Sounds like the law can be overturn by a simple majority after two years.

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Laws_governing_the_initiative_process_in_Washington#cite_note-5

Legislative tampering
See also: Legislative tampering
In Washington, no initiated statute may be amended or repealed for two years without a 2/3 supermajority vote of both chambers. Any initiated law, so amended, is not subject to veto referendum. After two years, the law may be repealed or amended by a simple majority vote.[6]
 See law: Washington Constitution, Article II, Section 1

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I'm gonna see what i can find out.  I'm gonna speak to people that already know about this stuff to get some insight.  Wdfw can expect to hear from me in the very near future.  If the leadership is the issue than there's always a higher up.  If we can find a way to get the ball rolling its a start right I don't expect the first person I talk to to listen but eventually with enough support and time and data of theres compiled against there predator management.  We can make a change.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

Sounds like the law can be overturn by a simple majority after two years.

Legislative tampering
See also: Legislative tampering
In Washington, no initiated statute may be amended or repealed for two years without a 2/3 supermajority vote of both chambers. Any initiated law, so amended, is not subject to veto referendum. After two years, the law may be repealed or amended by a simple majority vote.[6]
 See law: Washington Constitution, Article II, Section 1

 

[JCKILLSHOT]

I'm in just tell me what you want me to do...

[Feanix]

Need to keep this visible. Im in as well. let me know what i need to do to help with support. I have a few contacts to spread the word.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I wonder if an attorney could help ....ya know ...check into the laws and help us out .....?

[Kain]

Need to keep this visible. Im in as well. let me know what i need to do to help with support. I have a few contacts to spread the word.

I'm in just tell me what you want me to do...

Awesome guys.  Unfortunately the commission made its decision already and we may be stuck with it for three years. 

We need to continue to try to get it changed though.  I would really like to get as many people as we can to write letters to the commission asking why they chose the short Sept-March season despite overwhelming evidence that our previous season of Aug-March never reached guideline numbers.  Very strong estimates that a year round season would still not reach those numbers.

I wonder if an attorney could help ....ya know ...check into the laws and help us out .....?

I dont know if a lawyer can help or not but some supportive legislators may be able to demand why the WDFW and commission are choosing to disregard their legislative mandate.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.04.012

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.

[Feanix]

I thought I saw somewhere that the comission would be willing to revisit the cougar issue next year if there is enough support? Cant remember the exact statement or where I saw it. Let me do some digging.

Looks like that comment was from the comission statement and aimed at the mojo/lumenock issue. It does say in the meeting documents, however, that they will be proactively looking at harvest guideline numbers and that the hound/baiting issue is legislative and they have no control over.

1) We should "help" them with their evaluation of harvest guidelines.
2) We should look more towards legislators to help us with the hounds/baiting issue and do more research on what we need ro do to get a bill/repeal in the legislature.

[Feanix]

Also, there were some interesting things in the 2012 performance standards document posted on the comission page. Second half was uninteresting, but there were some points in the first two sections that could be argued aren't being met.

[Kain]

Updated the harvest data with last years numbers.  Years of extreme under harvesting even by their questionable guideline numbers.  This is the kind of management we can expect for wolves also.  I hope people start taking action.

Year   Total Harvest   Boot Hunter Harvest                                       Source
2011         124                      108                     http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2011/reports/cougar.php
2010         165                      145                      http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2010/reports/cougar.php
2009         142                      123                      http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2009/reports/cougar.php
2008         188                      139                      http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2008/reports/cougar.php
2007         201                      106                      http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2007/cougar.php
2006         200                      146                      http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2006/cougar.php
2005         202                      129                      http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2005/cougar.php
2004         208                      136                      http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/harvest/2004/cougar.pdf