ORIGINAL: bdan68
I agree, it would be better if they would only manage wildlife and not listen to what the people want. But again, that's a hard thing to do. Being a state agency they are under a lot of pressure to keep as many people happy as possible. They listen to us hunters because we provide their funding, through license fees. I would think that the more money we provide, the more influence we as hunters will have on the decisions they make, rather than the anti-hunters, and that's a good thing. For you to complain about the cost of licenses and tags is just asinine! Heck I can hunt deer, elk, cougar, bear, and grouse in this state for the same money it takes to fill the gas tank on my truck. That's pretty cheap entertainment if you ask me, when you consider those 5 species provide over 7 months of hunting seasons. Seriously if paying the $72 is a hardship on somebody, they probably shouldn't be hunting anyway, because there are a lot more expenses in hunting other than the licenses you have to buy. Now to answer your question...I've been hunting in Washington since I was 11, so that would be about 28 years.
There is more money funding to the dept Of fish and wildlife that just from hunters, or fishermen.Excise tax is just for that purpose and a lot of big business" anti Hunters" pay for that; they also receive a certain amount of funds from the "federal" fish and wildlife dept also. Licenses is a big part of what finances the department but not in it's intirety. Personally I dont see where anyone has told anyone else what to do with THERE money. AllI have seen is opinions and concerns which is what these forums are all about. And I am in agreement with the others who say it's just another way of geting more money from us hunters. It's an issue of miss management especially when you have 88 dead elk in the field from the miss management aspects of there policies. those should have been food on some hunters table not a waste. of course you see where this will all lead to dont ya ?
Wolves can help manage it you watch and see folks it will come it's just a matter of time.