2pt minimum

[bobcat]

The WDFW has complete control to manage a ton of land on the westside and has completely failed to do it.

Where is this land?   

[bobcat]

Okay, so it's public land, but still the WDFW doesn't have any control over how it's managed. You're talking about land managed by the federal government.  The WDFW doesn't even have much influence on land owned by other state agencies such as the DNR. I thought you were saying the WDFW owned a lot of land on the west side and had failed to manage it currently, but apparently that's not the case.

[wildweeds]

Yeah it would suck,but that is how it is in AZ,I ain't saying it's the solution,I'm merely pointing out that in other states they manage with that type of tactic.I know that AZ is that way because I used to build horse trailers and we sold a few to guys in AZ who came to pick them up,One purchaser showed up with his buddy the game warden who admired the deer/elk heads on the shop office wall,that's where we learned about the AZ system.In South Dakota it's a land owner based system,my buddies uncle owns a big farm there,he is alloted X amount of tags per acres owned,otherwise it's a draw system for residents east of the river,They have MONSTER whitetails and lots of them,his uncle has one on the wall that is close to 200. Thank goodness for washingtons greed to fund the highway repairs in seattles metropolis..... you won't see a resident draw only season ever.

Fire weeds, that would suck big time. You only want to hunt every four years, be my guest.  Why do you yhink AZ has that system?  I can bet that WA has more hunters.  Does it have something to do with everybody and their grandmas putting for AZ?  People all over put in for there, cuz the genetics and mild wimters help grow big critters. WA, isnt a go to hot spot, and I dont think non res"s are lining up yr after yr to hunt/waste their money , vacay time.



This aint AZ, and never will.

Too many hunters? Whats wrong with that?  Another like minded individual out there who prolly VOTES!  One more in the orange army who thinks along our lines in this crazy a$$ state. One more person carrying the torch of self suffincy and self reliance and tradition, or one more who has finally taken it up.  No, I wish more folks took it up. More newly converted hunters means money, votes, clout.

[pianoman9701]

Okay, so it's public land, but still the WDFW doesn't have any control over how it's managed. You're talking about land managed by the federal government.  The WDFW doesn't even have much influence on land owned by other state agencies such as the DNR. I thought you were saying the WDFW owned a lot of land on the west side and had failed to manage it currently, but apparently that's not the case.

I do believe the state still has authority for the most part to manage the game on those lands (if I'm wrong on this please let me know)? My point was the actuall\ land and habitat they may not have the control to manage really hasn't changed a bit in 20 years. But the deer numbers defiantly have change dramatically. When we used to see 15-20 blacktails in a day, we see more predators in a day now. And there are less hunters up here than there have ever been hunting those areas.

You're wrong, CB. One of the other things I spoke with the bio about is habitat management of the NFs and the poor state of the ungulate habitat and populations. The state can make suggestions to the USFS and USFWS, but they do what they want. Most of NF forest management is driven by things like the spotted owl, which severely limits the scope of their actions. Unfortunately, even the closely planted Douglas fir plantations that went in in the 80s, it takes an act of God to do any cutting and being that those are so close to the roads, the public goes nuts every time they see a tree lying down.

[Skyvalhunter]

Not necessarily it does take public input when proposed sales are developed but logging is being done on USFS land.

[bobcat]

Okay, so it's public land, but still the WDFW doesn't have any control over how it's managed. You're talking about land managed by the federal government.  The WDFW doesn't even have much influence on land owned by other state agencies such as the DNR. I thought you were saying the WDFW owned a lot of land on the west side and had failed to manage it currently, but apparently that's not the case.

I do believe the state still has authority for the most part to manage the game on those lands (if I'm wrong on this please let me know)? My point was the actuall\ land and habitat they may not have the control to manage really hasn't changed a bit in 20 years. But the deer numbers defiantly have change dramatically. When we used to see 15-20 blacktails in a day, we see more predators in a day now. And there are less hunters up here than there have ever been hunting those areas.

You're wrong, CB. One of the other things I spoke with the bio about is habitat management of the NFs and the poor state of the ungulate habitat and populations. The state can make suggestions to the USFS and USFWS, but they do what they want. Most of NF forest management is driven by things like the spotted owl, which severely limits the scope of their actions. Unfortunately, even the closely planted Douglas fir plantations that went in in the 80s, it takes an act of God to do any cutting and being that those are so close to the roads, the public goes nuts every time they see a tree lying down.

So according to what you posted, the WDFW has no control over management of National Forest lands. Just as I said.   

[pianoman9701]

Not necessarily it does take public input when proposed sales are developed but logging is being done on USFS land.

It's being done nowhere close to what's needed to improve habitat and forage for the ungulates. The NFs, especially those down here in S. WA/S. Cascades are in horrible shape. Most haven't been logged in 25 years. The ground is choked with dead material and on top of that, if it's not in a wilderness area, they continue to fight forest fires, instead of letting them rejuvenate the forests. The stands which were replanted with Dougs were planted very close together and few of them were thinned at 10 years. There's no space for grasses and really no space to move between them. I've watched these areas change as I've hunted them over the last 20 years. When the big one finally hits, there's going to be little stopping it from burning super hot and super big, and it'll be impossible to control if the conditions of wind and moisture are right.

[pianoman9701]

Correct Bobcat. Control of federal lands remains with the feds.

[huntnnw]

Im totally in favor of Mule deer being permit only....we have states out west with a fraction of our population and 20X the mule deer and habitat that is draw only statewide. It should be here!!

[pianoman9701]

All of the hunting seasons are set by the state, that is correct. The state does get assistance from the USFWS in wildlife management with regards to numbers, problems, endangered species, etc. In addition, the state and feds work together on waterfowl seasons in accordance with the Federal Migratory Waterfowl act. I'm not sure how much the state bios do on federal land, however. Gamies work all of it, as far as I know.