Post by: bearpaw on July 09, 2009, 10:36:01 AM
The group is documenting cases where there has been an abuse of power by the WDFW. Several concerned citizens told stories of what had happened to them in what they considered to be an abuse of power by the WDFW or instances in which their rights had been violated.
I want to make it very clear that this group is not on a witch hunt. The group members are all upstanding citizens who are pro law enforcement and pro-WDFW. I listened to several stories of praise about WDFW personnel. But the concern the group has is that there may be some cases involving violations of citizens rights, unequal discretion by WDFW personnel, abuse of power, or internal coverups occuring within the WDFW. The group and the legislators want to find out to what extent these abuses may be occuring across the state.
The legislators want documented instances where there has been abuse, but they made it clear they only want verifiable instances where the WDFW has violated your rights or abused their power. They do not want complaints because you were busted for doing something illegal and you are still mad about getting caught.
If you feel you have been the victim of abuse or have information about abuse, unequal discretion, or violations of citizens rights involving the WDFW, please feel free to contact me. If it is sensitive info that you would prefer to discuss directly with the group leader or with a legislator I will put you directly in touch with them and you do not need to explain a thing to me. Feel free to call me at 509-684-6294 so we can talk off the record and I will put you in touch with the appropriate people.
Post by: boneaddict on July 09, 2009, 10:45:02 AM
Post by: boneaddict on July 09, 2009, 10:47:52 AM
Post by: jackelope on July 09, 2009, 10:49:28 AM
thanks for taking the time to be the middle man on this, Dale.
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on July 09, 2009, 11:08:32 AM
I did have a bit of a standoff when I was 14 with a NH State Trooper playing game warden. It was about 2 weeks before trout season, and I had just landed the biggest brook trout of my life, about 16" and 2lb. He walked down from the highway and told me fishing season was closed, and to release the fish. I told him that stretch of river was open year round, with a reduced 2-fish limit outside of the regular trout season. He stated I was wrong, and to release the fish (I was in waders, mid-river in late February or early March). I said I was right, and would wait there if he wanted to check. He must not have been sure, since he went back up to his car, and after a while drove away.
Post by: Kain on July 09, 2009, 11:18:11 AM
Post by: bearpaw on July 09, 2009, 11:19:39 AM
One common concern seems to be if the Dept is moving in the right direction with enforcement now making traffic stops, checking woodcutters, etc.
I was actually worried about making the post, there are some wdfw personnel that I consider friends that I do not want to disrespect. And I was worried about making someone mad who might try to target us. But like I told the wife, the group is only looking for information and we are not doing anything wrong. We should not be afraid to act in the civic cause.
Post by: bearpaw on July 09, 2009, 11:31:07 AM
Post by: jackelope on July 09, 2009, 11:41:46 AM
pm sent.
Post by: gasman on July 09, 2009, 11:46:30 AM
Youa re a great rep for us sportsmen's
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on July 09, 2009, 02:43:34 PM
One common concern seems to be if the Dept is moving in the right direction with enforcement now making traffic stops, checking woodcutters, etc.
I could NOT agree more. Once the Enforcement Program chief came on from State Patrol, it got pretty hard to tell. Our Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officers need to be focused on protection of fish and wildlife resources.
Post by: bearpaw on July 09, 2009, 03:26:00 PM
Seems to me this is all the more reason to keep our agents focused on wildlife. But that's just my opinion. :twocents:
The purpose of this thread was to find out about any abuse that could be occuring so I better stay focused on this thread...... :chuckle:
If anyone has anything to report, let me know and I will pass it to the people who want to know. We all know there are a lot of good people in the WDFW, but it can't hurt to check for any corruption.
Post by: Kain on July 09, 2009, 03:44:00 PM
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on July 09, 2009, 04:09:37 PM
Welcome Dale.
Post by: bearpaw on July 09, 2009, 04:12:50 PM
dman....I'm probably in the dark more than anyone here on who's who....send me a pm so i know who you are.
Post by: KillBilly on July 10, 2009, 04:40:09 PM
It may give them something to think about when they look into root causes or potential causes.
Post by: bearpaw on July 10, 2009, 05:01:06 PM
Post by: dreamunelk on July 22, 2009, 12:06:58 PM
Good rule of thumb is when they say their rights have been violated there is an entire different side of the story.
Post by: boneaddict on July 22, 2009, 12:13:58 PM
Post by: bearpaw on July 22, 2009, 12:39:38 PM
I am happy to say that I only know of three or four instances that will be reported to the legislators. Only one instance has been brought to my attention from this forum's members. There may be other complaints reported by other menbers of the group that I don't know about yet.
I will say that I believe everyone reporting an incident thus far seems to have a legitimate complaint and seems to be an upstanding person. Not one person has complained to me just because they did something wrong and got busted. I think that in itself speaks highly of the hunting community and of the majority of our wildlife officers.
In respecting people's rights to privacy that is all I will say concerning specific complaints.
Since getting involved in this affair I have heard far more complaints from the general public about game wardens acting as state police and forest rangers rather than concentrating on being game wardens for fish and wildlife.
Post by: CoryTDF on July 22, 2009, 01:08:51 PM
Post by: Kain on July 22, 2009, 01:16:21 PM
Since getting involved in this affair I have heard far more complaints from the general public about game wardens acting as state police and forest rangers rather than concentrating on being game wardens for fish and wildlife.
I would be all for them acting like state police or forest rangers if all money from tickets went back to WDFW. :chuckle: You spend the resources you get the money. You would have the different agencies fighting to get law breakers.
Post by: bearpaw on July 22, 2009, 07:51:52 PM
And it would make a little more sense if those fines are going to F&W, but i do not know if that is the case, does anyone know?
Post by: Bob33 on July 22, 2009, 07:59:37 PM
I have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for all the enforcement officers I've been fortunate to meet, and I've been hunting in Washington for about 46 years.
Post by: SHANE(WA) on July 23, 2009, 06:47:03 AM
Post by: 300rum on July 23, 2009, 11:22:11 AM
There was a gal that checked me dove hunting a few times in the Yakima area. She was never in uniform which bugged me and would walk in front of the dove field instead of coming from the side or behind, which ruined our hunt. I did appreciate though, that she just asked if we had the plug in and asked that we try to put more than 2 shells in the magazine. I don't ask to look at their gun and I particularly don't want to give them mine, especially when they are not in uniform.
Post by: bearpaw on July 23, 2009, 02:07:45 PM
Quote
POS Weatherman ferry county warden. Tim Hood retired is another, illegal searches and got caught pos
Not sure what this means shane? :dunno:
Post by: yelp on July 23, 2009, 11:02:05 PM
POS Weatherman ferry county warden. Tim Hood retired is another, illegal searches and got caught pos
I know both and have been checked by both twice. Professional and courteous each time.
Post by: SHANE(WA) on July 23, 2009, 11:26:16 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on July 24, 2009, 12:34:39 AM
Post by: SHANE(WA) on July 24, 2009, 04:38:25 AM
Weatherman, well the story is a family had a pet deer years ago mother was hit in front of their house, fawn stayed around, the family just took care of it.Well somebody called and turned them in, weatherman shows up.Deer is in a coop, the father says it sleeps in here at night, it goes in here everynight, we dont make it.So he goes in there and tries to get it to go out, deer wont leave, pulls out his pistol and shoots it dead in front od a little girl, i know where this house is to this day, kelly hill. This is one shady individual, harassing many hunters in his day, I have heard it all from my dad about this guy.
Post by: yelp on July 24, 2009, 07:19:30 AM
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.094
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.085
Hunters/Fishers will always be subject to these laws no matter how innocent we are. That being said there is no excuse for abuses outside of the rights officers have. IMO being professional, courteous and honest can get you more, but I am not an officer just a hunter. :twocents:
Post by: SHANE(WA) on July 24, 2009, 07:42:08 AM
Post by: bearpaw on July 24, 2009, 07:07:47 PM
I know Don pretty darn well and think that perhaps you have the wrong picture of him. I have heard about his colorful youth, but he turned a new leaf many many years ago, and it's that history that makes him so good at busting violators. I will admit that the first time we met in the field many years ago, he thought I was a poacher and I thought he was a jerk, but after that initial contact we talked it out, and over time became friends. I have heard many people say how well he handles himself and how well he presents himself and that he is better than most other agents they have met. I wouldn't be much of a person if I didn't speak up in his strong support. I think he is an excellent agent. Perhaps you have gotten sideways with him over something in the past. I would suggest that you try talking to him if you think he treats you unfairly in the future. From past experience I can tell you that if you treat him decent he will treat you decent as well.
Re: Tim Hood
I have also spent quite a bit of time with Tim and respect him as well. He has always treated myself and other hunters with me, with respect. I will admit, I don't think he trusted anyone as being completely straight, but that mentallity is what is taught to enforcement so they don't miss violations, so I never held it against him. Perhaps you think he was looking at the girls, or perhaps he did look their way to see what they were doing, (it's not uncommon for poachers to sneak fish to their vehicle and then fish for more fish) I don't know, but I have never heard anything like that about him before and would have to think that you are mistaken.
It's common for all the agents to sit back with spotters and binos and watch people for violations, that's how they find them. I can't say that I agree with everything every agent has done. Don busted one of my friends for something a few years back and made a bigger deal out of it than I thought was right. I even questioned him about it. But the bottom line is that Don sited my friend within the law and he pursued it in what he thought was the proper way.
I'm really sorry you've had a bad expereince and hope the future is better for you. :twocents:
Post by: bearpaw on July 24, 2009, 07:12:15 PM
After all, I was asked to collect info, not to make decisions on specific complaints.
Regards, Dale
Post by: PA BEN on August 09, 2009, 08:22:57 AM
Post by: yelp on August 09, 2009, 02:31:20 PM
Post by: PA BEN on August 09, 2009, 05:06:01 PM
Post by: Gobble on August 09, 2009, 06:10:07 PM
Post by: bearpaw on August 11, 2009, 01:27:35 AM
Post by: Broken nock on August 11, 2009, 02:10:53 AM
A coworker of mine who lives in Idaho was hunting the Idaho side of liberty lake behind the ORV park. Driving down the road and sees a sign saying Washington State Line 2 miles ahead. He pulls over not even a hundred yards past the sign. Him and his boy get out load their rifles and start walking up the road back towards the sign. A Washington warden comes ripping up the road in his P.U. and stops them. Mysteriously they were in Washington not Idaho Even though the sign said two miles to the state line. Writes them up for hunting without a licence, carring a loaded weapon during deer season, and a couple of other things. Mike made as many calls as he could to try to get it taken care of to no avail. Goes to court same thing as Glenn charges dropped.
If they keep this crap up because no one at the top can control their officers, someone will. And that will make the rest of us honest hunters pay for it. I mean if you really think about it are these Game Enforcement Officers really tree-huggin hippie sierra club greenpeace p.e.t.a. supporters taking out their aggressions on the honest hunters hurting these fuzzy little animals.