Make Hunting and Fishing Constitutional Rights in Washington State

[huntrights]

Although there are many other battles raging right now, don't let this fall off your radar.

[Special T]

JShunt, What conditions do you think would/could take place where we would have a chance at this? All the states that have seemed to pass this have done so as preemption of a real threat. Our state, as many western states, seems to have been under an assault for quite some time, and the general public does not seem to see the value/necessity of hunting.

[huntrights]

This will not be an easy task.  We will need the help of organizations like the NRA.  There are Washington legislators that will support this effort "when the time is right".  I have been posting information about the other states that have done this so all of us can start to familiarize ourselves with the elements of success.  We also need to understand why this effort failed in some other states.  Equally important is studying the typical misleading propaganda and outright false information the anti-hunting and anti-fishing organizations disseminate when this type of legislation is attempted; we need to be prepared to counter the propaganda and lies with indisputable facts.  As time goes on, the need to do this becomes more important because of the constant unjustified attacks on our heritage by anti-hunting and anti-fishing fanatics.  The only way this can succeed is if we can energize the hunting and fishing community in Washington to come together in a united front to push for it.  Current events and the post-election political landscape certainly haven’t made the prospects for this task any easier.

[Smossy]

Your over analizing things. If it wasn't for WDFW hatchery programs there would be absolutely no salmon in our rivers. Those programs are funded by what do you know. "Us who fish and hunt" and pay for the proper permits to do and be where we need to be. The salmon aren't just there. This isn't alaska. that stopped alonng time ago when people started to decide they wanted to build on and destroy streams/rivers that may not seem like much. Come into play in the long run. That little one inch stream that runs down the hillside? May look like nothing. But in reality that's where 90% of your fresh water going to spot X is really coming from. WDFW does a very good job at keeping strict regulations which insure the population of our fish. Just because you have a bad day fishing "not saying you did friend" doesn't mean the fish population is in danger. Every salmon that makes it to spawning grounds lays about 2000-7000 eggs depending on species. About 10% on average survive. That's 200-700 salmon per fish. And so on and so forth. You can do the math. Happy fishing though! Stay posative.

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[bigtex]

I can see it happening for fishing rights long before hunting rights.

[Smossy]

Sorry my comment was in reply to the gentleman talking about going with banning salmonoid fish for harvest. On my phone. First time user. And don't know how to quote yet :-) hope to be getting a lot of good info and vice versa from everyone.

[Bob33]

the general public does not seem to see the value/necessity of hunting.

That could also be a good thing: out of sight, out of mind. I don't think most of the public cares one way or the other with hunting in general. If hunters were to unite together, rather than bicker among themselves, and present a solid unified case it might worth.

[bigtex]

the general public does not seem to see the value/necessity of hunting.

That could also be a good thing: out of sight, out of mind. I don't think most of the public cares one way or the other with hunting in general. If hunters were to unite together, rather than bicker among themselves, and present a solid unified case it might worth.

How'd that go with the bear baiting and hound hunting initiative? 

[Bob33]

the general public does not seem to see the value/necessity of hunting.

That could also be a good thing: out of sight, out of mind. I don't think most of the public cares one way or the other with hunting in general. If hunters were to unite together, rather than bicker among themselves, and present a solid unified case it might worth.

How'd that go with the bear baiting and hound hunting initiative? 

Are you suggesting it is a worthless effort to try?

[deaner]

dont worry bigtex, well forget all about the bear baiting in a couple years when they take away deer baiting 

[bigtex]

the general public does not seem to see the value/necessity of hunting.

That could also be a good thing: out of sight, out of mind. I don't think most of the public cares one way or the other with hunting in general. If hunters were to unite together, rather than bicker among themselves, and present a solid unified case it might worth.

How'd that go with the bear baiting and hound hunting initiative? 

Are you suggesting it is a worthless effort to try?

Personally, yes I do. Could it happen with fishing? Maybe/probably.

Simply too many PETA, anti-hunting types in WA for it to happen with hunting. Example: the kid that LEGALLY killed the octopus in Elliott Bay. WDFW received three different petitions asking to close the area to the taking of octopus, and the commission is now considering it.

If there was that much uproar over an octopus. It wouldn't be to hard for the anti's to say we are trying to kill every cuddly little bear out there.

And looking at politically: out of the 17 states that have this right only Vermont, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are what you would call "dark blue" states. Virginia is redish/blueish. All other states are "dark red" states. Pretty sure we all know how blue WA is. And second, those 4 states are heavy hunting states, not so with WA.

[Smossy]

I can see it happening for fishing rights long before hunting rights.

.
That I do agree on but our state is soo revolved around the great outdoors. The good old northwest. The evergreen state. Its kinda what were known for. States like Montana. Idaho. Wisconsin. Washington. All great hunting/fishing states. Then we have awsome red meat fish. The salmon. Some people still rely on hunting/fishing/harvesting as a sole source of food. So to all you people who sit at home on your tv preparing tenderloins and mushrooms in the oven but go out on the weekends screaming anti hunter save the animals. We don't just kill for fun then leave the animal there to rott and die. Most of us are as humane as can be. Fast kill insures less suffering. Juss felt like ranting alittle. Never had hunting/fishing community. I'm solo when I do my stuff. Don't have the advantige of a father or friend that hunts. Its just me. Id love to hook up with some guys for some tag along trips if anyones ever down to train a hunting newb. Quick learner though. Gear is stacked and ready for use.

[bigtex]

dont worry bigtex, well forget all about the bear baiting in a couple years when they take away deer baiting 

Well there's a difference there. Bear baiting and hound hunting was made illegal by a citizen initiative. Deer/elk baiting would be made illegal by WDFW.

[bigtex]

I can see it happening for fishing rights long before hunting rights.

.
That I do agree on but our state is soo revolved around the great outdoors. The good old northwest. The evergreen state. Its kinda what were known for. States like Montana. Idaho. Wisconsin. Washington. All great hunting/fishing states.

Washington is NOTHING compared to the states you listed in regards to hunting/fishing. I know a ton of people who quit hunting WA and now go out of state simply for better hunting. Fishing has gone in the tank for the past 20-5 years. Oregon and Alaska are the hotspots for fishing now, WA use to be the steelhead state, are there any in the state anymore?

I think WA is known more for the subaru driving hikers/bikers now then it is hunting/fishing.

[deaner]

50/50?