What makes them really scary is that they're not uninformed but actually very informed, very intelligent, and fairly articulate.... and very VERY agenda driven.
Bingo!
I think they're going to reduce opportunity for elk in the Blues to help feed predators.
The bulls in the blues are already getting hammered by tribal hunters. It’s truly amazing the number of really big bulls a few guys are killing from august until Feb-March
Dude, my Mom was just telling me about the Glenwood refuge in south-central WA. It used to be private, but a recent court case ruled that the it is actually within the Yakima Rez. There's a national wildlife refuge in the middle of the valley that holds a ton of elk. The tribe is taking elk, off of the refuge, every week. She was quite distraught. Too much trespassing on neighboring private lands, and the County doesn't even have jurisdiction over the area anymore so you have to call the tribal police from topenish, over an hr away.
So, despite the outpouring from hunters (myself include, and I don’t even hunt in WA) the commission just did whatever they wanted? Or was the side advocating for the permanent closure that much more vocal and large in number?
This is the exact thing that the wolf reintroduction folks stated was part of the goal. They envision a habitat that is “self sustaining” and balanced with no need for hunting.
@neffa3 stays up to date on this more than I do but my view is that it wasn’t a matter of more voices advocating against it necessarily. It was basically our voices being dismissed completely by a commission that has no intention of perpetuating bear hunting.
Unclear at this point. But generally they did what they want. They know that a large # of Washingtonians support their push to eliminate predator hunting. How much further they'll take it isn't immediately clear. But comments don't seem to matter to them. Like I said, they are agenda driven.
When I say uninformed/ignorant I'm speaking to their knowledge of hunting/hunting practices...something I think is critical when setting hunting policy. Outside those lanes - I agree - they are intelligent, political, and informed on how to attack hunting opportunity. But when some of them state hunting animals during breeding season is not common, or when they have no idea the difference between special permits and general season, or no idea the difference between scopes and open sights...its just beyond a level of ignorance anyone on a commission setting/approving hunting specific policies should ever have.
Those statements made by them aren’t out of ignorance or lack of understanding about hunting. That’s just a tactic they use to spew out propaganda that supports the anti message. The whole looking stupid thing is just a disguise for them. They fully understand the role of hunting…just not interested in supporting it anymore.
