We are pursuing a lawsuit against the Governor

[jackelope]

From their Facebook page:

Last week, a Thurston County judge dismissed a suit by an ironically named hunting group, “Washingtonians for Wildlife Conservation,” against Governor Jay Inslee and five Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissioners. The lawsuit sought to have those commissioners removed, complaining that they failed to prioritize the interests of the approximately 2% of Washingtonians who hunt over concerns about conservation—and the interests and values of the other 98% of the state population. Judge Indu Thomas dismissed the suit with prejudice, meaning the group cannot refile.
 
Hunting groups nationwide continue to vent their rage over the Commission’s ending of Washington’s recreational spring bear hunt last year, which forced the tiny percentage of hunters who participated in that hunt to wait one to two more months until the “fall” black bear hunting season opening in August. Black bears were the only species other than cougars or turkeys that the state allowed to be hunted in the spring, when wild animals are recovering from winter and raising their young. Studies show spring hunts inevitably orphan newborn bear cubs and leave them to die of starvation. Washington was one of only nine states that still allowed spring bear hunting, and 80% of Washington voters and 69% of Washington hunting households opposed the hunt. Nevertheless, state and national hunting groups have been trying to use this vote to whip up a “culture war” frenzy.
 
Join Washington Wildlife First to let the Commissioners know that these fringe hunting groups do not represent Washington, and that you support efforts to prioritize conservation over consumption. www.wawildlifefirst.org

[Blacktail Sniper]

Thanks.

[Bob33]

From their Facebook page:

Last week, a Thurston County judge dismissed a suit by an ironically named hunting group, “Washingtonians for Wildlife Conservation,” against Governor Jay Inslee and five Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissioners. The lawsuit sought to have those commissioners removed, complaining that they failed to prioritize the interests of the approximately 2% of Washingtonians who hunt over concerns about conservation—and the interests and values of the other 98% of the state population. Judge Indu Thomas dismissed the suit with prejudice, meaning the group cannot refile.
 
Hunting groups nationwide continue to vent their rage over the Commission’s ending of Washington’s recreational spring bear hunt last year, which forced the tiny percentage of hunters who participated in that hunt to wait one to two more months until the “fall” black bear hunting season opening in August. Black bears were the only species other than cougars or turkeys that the state allowed to be hunted in the spring, when wild animals are recovering from winter and raising their young. Studies show spring hunts inevitably orphan newborn bear cubs and leave them to die of starvation. Washington was one of only nine states that still allowed spring bear hunting, and 80% of Washington voters and 69% of Washington hunting households opposed the hunt. Nevertheless, state and national hunting groups have been trying to use this vote to whip up a “culture war” frenzy.
 
Join Washington Wildlife First to let the Commissioners know that these fringe hunting groups do not represent Washington, and that you support efforts to prioritize conservation over consumption. www.wawildlifefirst.org

They don't leave much doubt about their positions and objectives.

https://wawildlifefirst.org/wdfw_reform/

WDFW ignores science.
WDFW promotes unethical hunting.
WDFW’s first response is to kill animals.
WDFW has betrayed the public trust.
WDFW is out of step with Washington values.

[HillHound]

I think I just puked in my mouth a little bit reading that. Was that our only chance then?
Sure do hope all the large predator on human Attacks that are going to spike in the next decade happen to all of these people that are supporting this kind of garbage. Maybe when they see up close and personal how cute and cuddly these are and how we just need to preserve them so they can eat our children and our pets they will pull their head out of the sand.

[Firstgenhunter]

I think I just puked in my mouth a little bit reading that. Was that our only chance then?
Sure do hope all the large predator on human Attacks that are going to spike in the next decade happen to all of these people that are supporting this kind of garbage. Maybe when they see up close and personal how cute and cuddly these are and how we just need to preserve them so they can eat our children and our pets they will pull their head out of the sand.

No, the sportsmen’s alliance  lawsuits are coming. They raised over $60k at Skookum and are doing more events. Those guys are handing it much beyyer and can sue them for dozens of issues. Those guys have won cases across the country and have done lots of research and hard work. Have faith in them!!

[Blacktail Sniper]

Maybe it is time to look at a different angle, and go after trying to stop the damage hunts by timber companies then for the same reasons hunters are restricted in the spring. 

I know that there are State & Federal agencies that would step in, but the wording of that little Facebook blurp is clearly meant to imply that those same bears won't be killed and those same cubs orphaned before the fall season, which is not true.  Timber damage hunts are meant to kill bears, simple as that.

Also bring into light that those government agencies use leg hold snares in addition to dogs and get the whole story in front of people instead of very sanitized and emotion laced versions such as this. 

A video of a bear in a state or fed snare struggling to get out would go a long ways just like those you-tube videos used to shut down hounds & trapping with leg holds did.  Somebody, some where knows where this is happening, just have to be willing to get out and try and catch one on video in a snare before it is removed.

It was clear when the bait & hound initiative was wriiten by the anti's, they specifically excluded the timber industry because they did want to fight that level of resistance, much easier to go after the weaker and lower on the food chain source portion that sportsman carry in the political influence arena. 

Just a thought, may not have any impact in the end, but if you go after the big money timber industry, there is some political clout & lobby potential and at the least it shows the whole story and not the highly edited version being spoon fed to the public now.

[Twispriver]

I'd like WWC to share their side of the story. Apparently this is week old news.

[FWilliams]

I'd like WWC to share their side of the story. Apparently this is week old news.

This

[Alan K]

Maybe it is time to look at a different angle, and go after trying to stop the damage hunts by timber companies then for the same reasons hunters are restricted in the spring. 

I know that there are State & Federal agencies that would step in, but the wording of that little Facebook blurp is clearly meant to imply that those same bears won't be killed and those same cubs orphaned before the fall season, which is not true.  Timber damage hunts are meant to kill bears, simple as that.

Also bring into light that those government agencies use leg hold snares in addition to dogs and get the whole story in front of people instead of very sanitized and emotion laced versions such as this. 

A video of a bear in a state or fed snare struggling to get out would go a long ways just like those you-tube videos used to shut down hounds & trapping with leg holds did.  Somebody, some where knows where this is happening, just have to be willing to get out and try and catch one on video in a snare before it is removed.

It was clear when the bait & hound initiative was wriiten by the anti's, they specifically excluded the timber industry because they did want to fight that level of resistance, much easier to go after the weaker and lower on the food chain source portion that sportsman carry in the political influence arena. 

Just a thought, may not have any impact in the end, but if you go after the big money timber industry, there is some political clout & lobby potential and at the least it shows the whole story and not the highly edited version being spoon fed to the public now.

Surely hopping on board with the anti's and doing away with any form of predator population control, regardless of the purpose/justification would be good for the sportsman... 

That's one of the dumbest things I've seen uttered on here in a while...

[Blacktail Sniper]

Or it shows that they are not being honest and gets a large, well-funded and politically strong entity into the fight?

Not that they would lose, but it seems it would clearly show that what the commissioners use to justify their decisions are neither true nor fact based.  Dead sows and orphaned cubs are the same whether killed by a hunter in June or a timber company in July, dead & orphaned is still dead & orphaned.

It shows that the Commission is not being honest and using select and highly emotion based statements that the reason for no spring bear is dead mommies leaving starving babies when the timber companies are doing the same thing.

It may force them off that stance if evidence is shown that it still happens, is approved and they (the Commission) choose to just hide it from the general public and lie by about the real reasons they are doing what they are doing...

But hey, think small and continue to loose, right?

[snake]

most timber companies are not for sportsman these days. trying to ban any sort of hunting is not a good play.

[jackelope]

“Signed” 10 days ago by Inslee himself. Sounds like Lorna needs to get her stuff straight.

Go get ‘em, @saylean

[Blacktail Sniper]

Not suggesting that it would be stopped or even trying to as I don't think the timber companies would lose out because of the influence they have.

What I am saying is it would show that the Commission is not being honest with the public when it says we stopped spring bear and this was because we wanted to protect sows & cubs, yet they are or should be aware of the fact that those same bears are still being killed.

That would be a way to prove the Commission is anti hunting, working against hunters and not being truthful when they state the reason for their actions.

Taking a shot hear and guessing the general public is not aware of what goes on and just assumes since the Commission is appointed by the Gov, they will be honest, are well educated in the position to the level of expert and therefore are trusted to do what is right. 

So, you present real, verifiable evidence that the actions they take have no change in this case on sows being killed in the spring/summer and being done with WDFW authorization, you show that the Commission is misleading and not doing what they should be doing and instead promoting a personal agenda with lies and deception to the general public.

That is all I was trying to say, put some real evidence and proof out there, no way the timber companies lose the ability to kill bears to protect trees, but puts the Commission on the defense to explain why they want to stop sportsmen from selectively taking bears as most spring bear permit hunter took boars if I remember the previous stats correctly. And timber company hunts target all bears in a damage area and that includes those sows that the Commission accuses spring hunters of killing and therefore should be restricted. 

That is as clear as I can explain what I was saying, if it still is not understood, sorry. 

Kill your bears this year because it will likely be the last time it looks like until something forces change.

[Skyvalhunter]

Their logic of ending spring bear because of orphaned cubs doesn't hold water. Wasn't their only 1 sow killed with cubs during the whole spring bear hunt? I know of 2 sows with cubs killed on the highway the past 2 years. So let's ban vehicles on highways.

[actionshooter]

I think I just puked in my mouth a little bit reading that. Was that our only chance then?
Sure do hope all the large predator on human Attacks that are going to spike in the next decade happen to all of these people that are supporting this kind of garbage. Maybe when they see up close and personal how cute and cuddly these are and how we just need to preserve them so they can eat our children and our pets they will pull their head out of the sand.

No, the sportsmen’s alliance  lawsuits are coming. They raised over $60k at Skookum and are doing more events. Those guys are handing it much beyyer and can sue them for dozens of issues. Those guys have won cases across the country and have done lots of research and hard work. Have faith in them!!

Correct, this isn't the time to back down... Sportsmans Alliance is fully onboard and this is what they do... I know of 3 events in the planning stages right now in Western Washington... more info to follow.