WDFW vs. ODFW

[trout chaser]

I've been reading the 2 main fishing boards Ifish & P.P., for over a year now. Ifish seems to have a higher % of Oregon fishers, while the P.P. board has a higher % of Washington fishers. On the Ifish board there is a pattern of support for the ODFW. The organized trip to Salem and the call for volunteers at local hatcheries, are some examples. I don't recall reading to many negative post about the ODFW. On the P.P. board there is no support for the WDFW. Just about every other day there is someone slamming the WDFW. So my questions is; What is the ODFW doing that the WDFW isn't. PR, managment practices, lack of leadership, ect...?

[SandySteel]

Here is my experience with ODFW. I know the local basin biologist and the STEP biologist. They make an effort to get out and work with angling groups. They work to incorporate citizen input into their decision making. They make sure they utilize volunteers. I can't contrast or compare that to WDFW because I have not been involved with Washington fisheries.
I think that there is an element of circle the wagons though for ODFW. For years there has been some considerable animosity between some members of the legislature and the ODFW. Their budget has constantly been in jeopardy and the legislature is always looking to cut the power of ODFW through its pocketbook. So while it is in jeopardy I think people feel they have to support it or they will lose some very important resources.
I think that ODFW is largely sports angler friendly vs being perceived as in the pocket of commercial anglers. Is this in contrast to the WDFW?

[OceanBlue]

I don't know how the WDFW operates, but I have been to a number of ODFW Commission meetings. They have a mission statement which reads: "Our Mission is to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations."

It has been my experience that these individuals believe in this mission. They listen with a concerned ear to the public that shows up to lend their opinion, plead for their help and offer constructive direction. They seem to be genuinely concerned and very dedicated to their mission.

I am very curious as to how WDFW operates and what their governing process is like.

Have you attended a similar meeting in Washington?

ODFW does get bashed here, too. But there are those of us who are close enough to the process to straighten out those who speak from inexperience.

Also, there are a number of ODFW employees who are members or lurkers of Ifish. They lend an "inside" perspective that is very helpful. "Lurkers" are watching and gathering information from this board. They are dedicated enough to bring this information back and, again, applying their mission statement, try their hardest to do the right thing.

I believe that since sport fishers represent the majority of "present and future generations", we get heard when we present a unified and informed position.

They do need to balance this with economic and political pressures, naturally.

Please share what you know about WDFW, Trout Chaser? Thanks!

[garyk]

I'm no expert or anything close on Washington wildlife matters, but one thing you may be seeing folks reacting to is..... a couple years ago the commercial/industrial lobbyists twisted the Washington Commission into firing Bernie Shanks who was a strong advocate for the fish and their needs.

Shanks was a thorn in the side of the exploiters and they managed to can him. Since then, there's been a fairly unbelievable series of actions, detirmental to fish and sportsman.

[trout chaser]

Pilar's Mate the vibe I get from Washington sport fisherman is one of distrust. I do believe most people in the WDFW care tremendously about the resource. But the WDFW does (in my opinion) need to do a better job communicating with the general public. I agree with garyk that the ousting of Bern Shanks really set back the view of the WDFW in the sportfishing communities eye's. I will give credit to Stacie Kelsey of the WDFW. She has gone above and beyond the call of duty. She has probably answered more questions and given more info on whats going on, than all of the regional offices combined.
The main basis for the original post came from comparing Ifish boards to P.Pursuits boards.

[Backlash2]

WDFW continues to make stupid decisions with regard to wild steelhead. They are in the process right now of opening the Chehalis R. to a 1 week native kill fishery, based on the fact that they 'project' that the wild part of the run will surpass what they consider adequate for the river. Granted, maybe I wouldn't have as much of a problem it if there science was realistic as far as the 'maximum' number of fish a certain river can support. Unfortunately, they still use the same formulas to determine what the maximum number of fish/river that has led to every river in Puget Sound being closed every spring because not enough wild fish are returning.

The commercial fishing lobby partially OWNS the WDFW. Hence, the Bern Shanks hanging, etc.

The majority share holder in WDFW stock are the native american tribes. This state is sooooo afraid of actually taking a stand that they continue to sign 'agreements' that basically continue the destruction of all fisheries in this state.

Most big decisions regarding hunting or fishing in this state are decided by a 9 person 'commission' that is supposed to represent all walks of life that have an interest in the wildlife of the state. The problem is, there are people from the timber industry making decisions about fisheries conservation; Ranchers making decisions about grazing rights on state lands; and people who have not been in a boat in 20 years making decisions about ocean fisheries, etc.. And how do all of these supposedly non-biased people get on the commission? THEY ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNER!!!

I could go on and on, but my blood is now boiling to the point that I probably won't be able to sleep now....oh well.

Be glad that for the most part you guys mainly deal with funding issues. At least your system isn't entirely corrupt.

BTW- Don't think that I don't respect most of the people that work at WDFW. I think almost every wildlife agency has tons of good people working for them, that really care and are passionate about what they do for a living. It's just too bad that they don't actually get to make the decisions, because I know this state for one would be much better off.

[DanS]

I do believe most people in the WDFW care tremendously about the resource.<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">That may be true....but the Fish and Wildlife Commission is a joke. Not every member, but some members are SO bad they make me sick. The firing of Bern Shanks was a confirmation that the Commission has no majority interest in wild fish preservation or fiscal responsibility.

WDFW and the Fish and Wildlife Commission have alienated me, that's for sure. While the personnel I've conversed with at WDFW have been helpful and professional, the upper-level decision makers have proven their ineptitude numerous times.

If you guys LIKE the ODFW, you should feel lucky. I sure can't say the same for WDFW and their Commissioners

[Backlash2]

Amen, Dan

I got off on a little tangent there, but the point I was trying to make was basically this;

The people that make the decisions are not the ones that produce the data that the decisions SHOULD be based on, and they often ignor what the science and do exactly the opposite based on how many dollar bills have been stuffed in their G-strings from outside, very biased companies/industries. Or again, tribes...

[Wood N' Fish]

I guess ODFW has caught your attencion?----goos Job!

[Wild Chrome]

It's really too bad for Washington sportfishers and the surrounding communities. When I moved to Oregon in 1996, I heard about how depressed wild steelhead numbers were here and how good things were up I-5 and on the OP. I planned to spend a lot of my time and money fishing in Washington. Since then, the wild fish numbers have been good here and not as good in WA. I've consequently done little fishing in WA. 2 friends and I went 7/11 on the north coast (all natives) yesterday. Fishing life is better here in Oregon in part due to ODFW.

[ScottD]

I get the impression that the WDFW only cares about making money. It also seems that they set policy based upon politcal decisions more so than biology. It seems that the people in charge don't listen to the biologist's recommendations.

I buy fishing and hunting licenses in Oregon every year. I really like the idea of the permit only deer and elk hunting in Eastern Oregon. Washington State I think is the only one where you can still just go buy a tag and go hunting. They don't care how many people hunt a particular unit.

Another thing, a few years back when the BAN initiative was up for vote here, the WDFW did not support it because they didn't want to lose their money from the commercial fishing licenses.

Well, I'm rambling.....sorry. Bottom line - I don't trust the WDFW to do the right things for fish and wildlife and I can't believe that the biologists that work for the dept. are all that happy about some of the policies that get set. (I would like to talk to a biologist sometime)