Washington has a fight ahead....

[sneaky]

Sound science is being overshadowed by social science these days. Unless Seattle falls into the ocean the political climate in WA isn't going to change.

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[Marble]

California 25 yrs ago......

This is totally true. Every portion of our deer population has struggled since the mid 90s.

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[Elk97]

It is definitely a double edged sword but right now you are buying a license to support an antihunting agenda.


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Completely agree, and it's also an antifishing agenda. There has been for the first time NO blackmouth salmon fishing in the San Juans. Two winters in a row now. No explanation other than the same tired mantra of "we have to save the Orcas". Summer salmon is almost as bad. Last summer we were supposed to be able to fish all of July, Aug and Sept for salmon (differing rules/species) and it was shut down completely on July 7. They gladly take your license and tag fees but that's all they are interested in.

 

[Rob5589]

IMO this is a horrible idea. If no one purchases licenses they'll just say "see, nobody cares about hunting anyway so let's just ban it"

I struggle with this as well, being a CA resident. Sometimes I think, F it, stop buying tags and let them struggle. Honestly though, I don't think they'd care and money would be diverted from other sources or a new tax imposed.

What I believe needs to happen is hunters need to get off their lazy asses and fight, myself included. Wasn't until recently, thanks to Mike Costello and his podcast as well as the Howlforwildlife org, that I now understand how the commission operates. Imagine if at least half of the 10's of thousands of hunters showed up to commission meetings, sent emails, made phone calls, etc could potentially accomplish.

We all need to stop hoping we don't get boned even further and get active. Maybe it'll work, maybe it won't. But it's better than sitting around bitching to friends and forums.

 

[tdhanses]

All i can see is WA becoming similar to BC in wildlife management and a ton of people moving to WY, MT and ID as they leave that crazy state.

Heck probably more hunters in WA then the total population in WY.

 

[Mikido]

Science? Our society can’t agree on the definitions of male/female gender, let alone animal/habitat conservation.

 

[Rokbar]

It goes back to voting, sadly. Our state mostly has liberal Governors over time. The Gov. appoints liberal district commissioners that don't do sportsman any favors. Tree huggers get jobs in the forest service limiting that the forests are managed for the people's interest and not the wildlife that lives there. God forbid they cut a tree or kill a deer! It will only get worse as time goes on. And yes it is true!!!!

 

[dirtytough]

Understanding what WA, CA, and OR could be, and seeing what they actually are is crazy.

3 types of deer. 3 types of elk. Last time I researched black bears Washington had the highest density in the lower 48. Yet spring bear was a draw. In less than half the units. And now it’s canceled.

Washington has big areas with good mountain goat populations that have zero tags. Instead of letting the goats turn into hikers pets use it as a farm to repopulate other traditional goat ranges.

Washington had the world record typical mule deer shed in the early 2000’s I believe. I wonder the last time even the gov tag hunted a big buck?

In one year I saw 10 lions there. 2008ish. Last time I hunted it as a non res in 2013ish I saw 3 lions in 21 days of hunting.

I honestly don’t think it is going to get better. Sucks for the residents for sure.

You residents should think about moving to Idaho.

 

[KNOPHISH]

I think the new anti hunting commissioners still need to be confirmed by the Senate DNR committee. So I’ve been hounding them with Do Not Confirm emails with reasons of them being anti science, maybe they’ll catch on…probably not.