WDFW may cut responses to problem animal calls

[Fishhunt223]

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/livestock/wdfw-considers-cutting-responses-to-wild-animals/article_5cc83a50-7590-11e9-a5b9-bbf81fbe6a8f.html?fbclid=IwAR07DS_EjDlABFBxlUMCGFDy7bKavLpP_hRuWl3y2iGFWoeJ9OYJO1hCaQ4
This may be our opportunity to work with the department to get some of our trapping opportunities back. Maybe WCOs get some increased opportunity to work with other species as well.

[bigtex]

I don't see it as an opportunity to get trapping opportunities back. What I think you will see is a revert to 10 years ago when most of the wildlife problems were handled by WDFW Officers, whereas now they are handled by problem wildlife specialists. It used to be that if an elk herd destroyed an orchard, a bear was in someone's backyard, etc. that was the responsibility of the Enforcement Program. The problem was it took up a lot of officers time and WDFW realized you don't need a gun toting law enforcement officer to handle a wildlife damage report, or tell someone to take their bird feeder down. So the WDFW created the new division and took many of those responsibilities away from enforcement and gave it to the new program (which happens to be ran by a former WDFW Enforcement Captain.) Now, enforcement mainly just deals with the active public safety issues (bear near a school vs. just walking through backyard in the suburb). My guess is we will see enforcement pick up these duties again if WDFW decides to shelve the program.

[JakeLand]

31 million in the tank so pay raise and put it to 37 million ?
31% increase in conflicts with wildlife and with a ever increasing growth of bear , cougar ,coyotes and bobcat !!! Sooo bring back hound hunting for all but coyotes and legalize footholds and snares for coyotes ( only effective means)
It sounds like not only are they lacking funds but common sense 

[bigtex]

31 million in the tank so pay raise and put it to 37 million ?
31% increase in conflicts with wildlife and with a ever increasing growth of bear , cougar ,coyotes and bobcat !!! Sooo bring back hound hunting for all but coyotes and legalize footholds and snares for coyotes ( only effective means)
It sounds like not only are they lacking funds but common sense 

The democratic controlled legislature would have to do the things you mentioned (legalize hound hunting and footholds.) It's out of WDFW's hands.

[bearpaw]

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/livestock/wdfw-considers-cutting-responses-to-wild-animals/article_5cc83a50-7590-11e9-a5b9-bbf81fbe6a8f.html?fbclid=IwAR07DS_EjDlABFBxlUMCGFDy7bKavLpP_hRuWl3y2iGFWoeJ9OYJO1hCaQ4
This may be our opportunity to work with the department to get some of our trapping opportunities back. Maybe WCOs get some increased opportunity to work with other species as well.

I agree, a good chance for WCO's to lobby!

[JakeLand]

31 million in the tank so pay raise and put it to 37 million ?
31% increase in conflicts with wildlife and with a ever increasing growth of bear , cougar ,coyotes and bobcat !!! Sooo bring back hound hunting for all but coyotes and legalize footholds and snares for coyotes ( only effective means)
It sounds like not only are they lacking funds but common sense 

The democratic controlled legislature would have to do the things you mentioned (legalize hound hunting and footholds.) It's out of WDFW's hands.

I know just venting! I have 4 trapping jobs going on now so I guess I should be happy about the nuisance calls

[Humptulips]

The vast majority of wildlife conflict complaints are handled by WCOs. The problem with WCOs getting more work out of this is I cannot see WDFW giving up deer, elk or wolf complaints. Bear and cougar referrals are already a possibility although rare. Probably nothing will change on cougar and bear complaints except which DFW personnel handle the call.
A couple years ago there was a move to open bear complaints to WCOs up a little by having a training program for WCOs to be accredited to handle bears. It was shelved after a couple years of talk.
Even if WCOs get a cougar or bear complaint it still has to go through WDFW and I doubt that will change.
With the lawsuit over hounding tree peeling bears I would bet hound guys may get less work when the suit is over and that may end up meaning more bear snaring. Trouble is right now to get the permit to snare bear you have to know someone and they are hard to come by. USDA may get more work.
My guess is this is a move to lay off some people and shift that work over to Enforcement.
I would also bet there will be a reduction in damage control hunts by master hunters as there will be nobody to set them up.

[Trapper John]

https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/livestock/wdfw-considers-cutting-responses-to-wild-animals/article_5cc83a50-7590-11e9-a5b9-bbf81fbe6a8f.html?fbclid=IwAR07DS_EjDlABFBxlUMCGFDy7bKavLpP_hRuWl3y2iGFWoeJ9OYJO1hCaQ4
This may be our opportunity to work with the department to get some of our trapping opportunities back. Maybe WCOs get some increased opportunity to work with other species as well.

I agree, a good chance for WCO's to lobby!

"Who" is going to represent the WCO's   The WCO won't even organize.  Most WCO's are PCO (Pest Control Operator Businesses)  Do you think the PCO's are going to go fight for wildlife control guys?  They don't want bearm cougars and wolves.  Hell all they want are raccoons, squirrels, beaver.  They want the quick buck.  Hell they don't even want to do skunks and some of them can't kill the animals either.

So; Do you all think that "WE" Fur Trappers should fight for them?  And who is them ??
If your a WCO, get yourself organized and form an association so you have representation for your industry !

The vast majority of wildlife conflict complaints are handled by WCOs. The problem with WCOs getting more work out of this is I cannot see WDFW giving up deer, elk or wolf complaints. Bear and cougar referrals are already a possibility although rare. Probably nothing will change on cougar and bear complaints except which DFW personnel handle the call.
A couple years ago there was a move to open bear complaints to WCOs up a little by having a training program for WCOs to be accredited to handle bears. It was shelved after a couple years of talk.
Even if WCOs get a cougar or bear complaint it still has to go through WDFW and I doubt that will change.
With the lawsuit over hounding tree peeling bears I would bet hound guys may get less work when the suit is over and that may end up meaning more bear snaring. Trouble is right now to get the permit to snare bear you have to know someone and they are hard to come by. USDA may get more work.
My guess is this is a move to lay off some people and shift that work over to Enforcement.
I would also bet there will be a reduction in damage control hunts by master hunters as there will be nobody to set them up.

I agree with Bruce.  Nothing is going to come out of this.  Don't get your hopes up.
I will tell you this.  I've been on the WCO thing from the beginning.  I was one of the first to be ask by the department if I would be interested in doing trapping year round.  I got on when the department was called: "Game Department" just before they became "Wildlife department and now they are called: Fish & Wildlife.  So I have heard all of this "crap" before.  They told me and a couple others when I first got on that they we're going to give us "Bears".  They even told me and Bill Haywood to go out and have a bear tunnel trap made which both of us did.  Oh ya, they gave us a lot of bear jobs ................ NOT one!

Than a couple of year ago I heard the same-thing along with Bruce.  At the time I said it will never happen.  And it hasn't.  All I can say is don't count on anything from these lairs.  Their plowing smoke.  USDA-APHIS-WS will get more job and the Forest Protection guys will get more snare jobs for bears.  I'm with Bruce I believe some lay-offs are coming and more work will be shifted to enforcement.
Just my two cents   
JC

[AL WORRELLS KID]

Well said! 
Doug