Lost and found for Wildlife Agents

Slow Roll · 10-25-2001, 09:42 AM

Just reading the Oregonian today and came across an interesting article on the front page. Seems that the Federal Authorities are drafting our Federal Wildlife Agents and Public Land Rangers to be Sky Marshalls and Federal Building Gaurds.

Worries me to know that there will be less eyes to watch for the lawbreakers.

Is this a reason why the snaggers are having such a hayday lately and why there has been little response to complaints of snagging activity? Might not be due to apathy but just lack of man power. Although according to the article that has been a problem for the last few years. No money equals no staff, so where the **** have my taxes gone to? Wish I could allocate those myself. But that is not what this is about.

It has been talked about on this board of what can we do to help? This seems like a real good time to let the agencies know that we are here to help in whatever way we can. They are short handed, well, we have a lot of hands that want to help.

I know at the last T.V. Steelheaders meeting that RT brought the subject up. The response was positive and I guess we are all just waiting to hear from the powers that be as to what can be done.

I would like to find a way to kick start it a little more but don't want to become one of those annoying people that no one wants to deal with.

Does anyone have and address (email or snail mail) that we can send our concerns to? Is it possible to set up a meeting with an agency representative (who actually cares and isn't there to just listen and smile) that we can all talk with and present our concerns in mass?

Maybe I am just being redundent with this but I am saying it anyways. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

Just really getting frustrated by events that I cannot control directly. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

Wishin' I was fishin' and not workin'. Seems to be the story of our lives. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

THE REEL HEY_YALL · 10-25-2001, 09:56 AM

Hope this helps ya.

For Oregon:
If you need information regarding the legislative process, email
the Legislative Liaison, or call 503-986-1000. help.leg@state.or.us

4Salt · 10-25-2001, 10:04 AM

In Washington, enforcement of the F&G laws is done mainly by the state wardens. I think that USFWS rangers only have jurisdiction in the national park (Olympic) I don't think this will make the problem up here any worse than it already is. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Phish_on · 10-25-2001, 10:51 AM

So ... you want to form some kind of vigilante warden-posse ? ? I'm not sure I understand.

As to where your **** taxes are going, that's a matter of public record. The information is there.

Getting involved is good ! Your legislator is the one who distributes the $$$$.

Slow Roll · 10-25-2001, 12:31 PM

No vigilante warden-posse. Just trying to figure out if we can help them out with anything. Although if I get to "string up" the bad guys it could be fun. Hang em' high by their own leader and all that.

Nah, just joking.

As for the taxes, I would like to be able to say "Spend it on this, this and that, not that other stuff over there." Wishful thinking I know.

I will be sending my legislater a email and a letter as often as I can. I think one a day would do it nicely.

Like I said it is frustrating to see this stuff happening and know in the back of your mind that it probably won't get stopped anytime soon due to lack of man power.

We talk about what we could do in the anti-sangging thread (cameras, video and such) but it would be nice to know what we CAN do that would of help the ODFW to stop it.

Looking for some direction to head with it. I have written letters before but it always seems/feels pointless when you never get a reply back or worse, if you do it is a form letter thanking you for "sending in your concerns".

Am I bitter, nah, I'm not bitter. Just jaded about the politics that everyone plays.

Ok, enough grousing, just needed to vent some.

birdhunter · 10-25-2001, 12:47 PM

Drafting of the Feds isn't likely to affect snagging. The USFWS is concerned with Federal crimes typically. Poaching of endangers species (ie grizzlies, bald eagles, codors and such), not with policing salmon streams. Besides, they aren't usually out in the field patrolling. Ask any OSP who is the first one to get a case before the Federales ride in. Your state game enforcement is the one that will handle poaching and snagging, not the Feds.

You are correct that this leaves fewer agents to respond to federal wildlife crimes (the Lacy Act), to thwart the illegal wildlife trade and poaching on national parks. However this isn't likely to have any affect on the number of snaggers on the rivers. Sorry, but your Oregon Legislator isn't likely to be able to do much about it. You can try our Congressmen, but in light of recent events I doubt they would be apt reduce homeland security in favor of wildlife. Not my opinion, just the reality of our current situation.

Slow Roll · 10-25-2001, 12:56 PM

BH,
Your probalby right. I don't want to endanger our country by reducing the protection. I also found out that most of the officers are just on loan until other trained individuals are brought in.

Oh well, I'm still gonna bombard my legislator with mail till I get something more than a form letter. [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

garyk · 10-25-2001, 01:35 PM

All funding for state programs (Oregon State Police game officers) is done through the Oregon Legislature.

OSP budget and personnel have been cut and cut again. You may ask why this has happened in what was a time of unprecedented prosperity? Please direct this question to the likes of Bill Sizemore, Don McIntire, Mark Hempstreet, the politicians they fund and the voters who vote for them.

A couple thousand bills are proposed every session. There's no reason why a bill to increase the number of game officers can't be submitted. Your Legislator will likely even be happy to submit a 'courtesy bill' on your behalf.

The bill will have a better chance of passing though if it is submitted by a group or coalition (maybe Oregon Guides & Packers, NW Steelheaders, Oregon Trout, etc) support from other elected officials such as county commissioners helps to.

Don't get mad -- get legislative!

Dogfish · 10-25-2001, 03:39 PM

The WDFW has a program called "eyes in the woods" that details what private citizens can do to help the agents catch more crooks. There is a training course including how to be a good witness. They advocate observation, not confrontation.

10-25-2001, 05:10 PM

Thanks for your writing efforts Paul (SR)! More need to do that. As for the snagging, for now it is a matter of all of us speaking up when guys are snagging out there. Let them know they are breaking a law and setting a bad public image that could shut down the river. ... Dogfish, good post about the "Eyes in the woods" program. When you get the time it would be good if you could post more details about it here and on the piscatorial BB. Thanks.

RT