Post by: jackelope on June 21, 2011, 02:08:48 PM
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/ (http://wdfw.wa.gov/)
June 21, 2011
Contact: WDFW Wildlife Program: (360) 902-902-2515
Public can comment on plans for
hunter-access grant initiative
OLYMPIA - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will accept public comments through July 21 on a $1.5 million federal grant designed to encourage more private landowners in Washington to open their lands to hunting and other forms of outdoor recreation.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) was one of 17 agencies nationwide to qualify for a three-year grant under the new Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program administered by the USDA under the 2008 federal Farm Bill.
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, USDA's Farm Service Agency recently determined that the department's plans for the grant money would not have a significant effect on the environment.
The federal findings are posted at http://bit.ly/mpufNQ (http://bit.ly/mpufNQ) . Public comments on those findings may also be submitted on that site.
Dave Ware, WDFW game manager, said the state agency has already raised $400,000 to expand hunter access to private lands through additional fees paid by hunters who apply for new permit-only hunts.
"Hunters consistently rank access to suitable hunting areas as one of their top concerns," Ware said. "With the additional federal funding, we'll be able to build on current state efforts to expand hunting opportunities for years to come."
In addition, WDFW plans to establish at least five new wildlife-viewing areas near urban areas of the state.
Key initiatives planned by WDFW include:
Access Near Urban Centers ($437,240): Increase acreage enrolled in the Snow Goose Hunting Program and the number of waterfowl hunting blinds available through such programs as "Feel Free to Hunt," "Register to Hunt" and "Hunt by Written Permission" from 10 blinds to 25 blinds; establish public big game hunting access on at least 5,000 acres of private forest lands; and establish at least five new watchable wildlife opportunities on private farmlands.
Snake River Conservation Reserve Program ($387,300): Establish public hunting access on at least 12,500 additional acres of private farm land and establish public access for hunting on an additional 15 farms also enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
Corn Stubble Retention ($63,000): Double the amount of acres enrolled in the program to attract game birds to farmlands.
Southwest Washington Private Forest Land Access ($499,680): Establish public hunting access on at least 50,000 additional acres of private forest lands.
Improved Use of Technology ($155,000): Develop a new GoHunt interactive mapping program and an automated system for reserving hunting days on private lands enrolled in WDFW's programs.
Ware said WDFW has bolstered its Private Lands Access program to reverse the steady decline of land open to hunting due to population growth, suburban sprawl and crowding on public lands. Just over one million acres of private land is currently open to hunting under agreement with WDFW, compared to three million in the late 1990s, he said.
"Our staff is out working with farmers, ranchers and owners of private timberlands on multi-year agreements right now," he said. "We want to have as many of these agreements in place as possible by the time fall hunting seasons get under way."
Post by: Bigshooter on June 21, 2011, 02:28:45 PM
Why are you going to use money from a “hunter access-grant initiative” to “establish at least five new watchable wildlife opportunities on private farmlands”? What does wildlife watching have to do with hunter access? Sounds like the government is using a grant for something they should not be using it for. Please do not waste money on opening these “watchable wildlife opportunities on private land” with money that is supposed to be used for opening up private land for hunting.
Thank you,
XXXX XXXXX
Post by: The100Road on June 21, 2011, 02:31:36 PM
Post by: Sumpnneedskillin on June 21, 2011, 02:39:37 PM
This was my comment:
Why are you going to use money from a “hunter access-grant initiative” to “establish at least five new watchable wildlife opportunities on private farmlands”? What does wildlife watching have to do with hunter access? Sounds like the government is using a grant for something they should not be using it for. Please do not waste money on opening these “watchable wildlife opportunities on private land” with money that is supposed to be used for opening up private land for hunting.
Thank you,
XXXX XXXXX
You're not going to like the response.
The first sentence has this in it "open their lands to hunting and other forms of outdoor recreation."
Post by: pianoman9701 on June 21, 2011, 02:41:01 PM
This was my comment:
Why are you going to use money from a “hunter access-grant initiative” to “establish at least five new watchable wildlife opportunities on private farmlands”? What does wildlife watching have to do with hunter access? Sounds like the government is using a grant for something they should not be using it for. Please do not waste money on opening these “watchable wildlife opportunities on private land” with money that is supposed to be used for opening up private land for hunting.
Thank you,
XXXX XXXXX
It's probably a moot point, as it looks like we're being turned down for the grant.
Post by: loper on June 21, 2011, 02:43:22 PM
"The VPA-HIP provides an opportunity for State and tribal governments to apply for
grants to encourage owners and operators of privately-held farm, ranch, and forest land to
voluntarily make that land available for access by the public for wildlife-dependent
recreation, including hunting, fishing, and other compatible recreation and to improve
fish and wildlife habitat on their land under programs administered by State or tribal
governments."
Post by: fireweed on June 22, 2011, 08:17:31 AM
Post by: Wacenturion on June 23, 2011, 05:27:53 PM
Just over one million acres of private land is currently open to hunting under agreement with WDFW, compared to three million in the late 1990s, he said.
Unbelievable to say the least. He and his fellow morons in Wildlife Management were the cause of the decline starting in 1999. They took over through reorganization, a program that did everything right for sportsmen. They disassembled it by reducing staff and priorities. Now they try to sell us on the great spend all you money on mickey mouse applications so we can add some "urban" sites...waterfowl sites , which by the way should be paid for through duck stamp funds, and whatever else stupid access they can buy, when most of the 3 million we used to have was over a cup a coffee, handshakes, doing habitat work on said ground or free signing.
Pay for access and the ones that gave it to us for little or nothing as mentioned above drop out of the program since you can't pay everyone. It's like taking one step forward and four steps back. Calling it stupid would be a compliment. Freaking idiots...... :bash:
Post by: Special T on June 23, 2011, 11:09:03 PM