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The ongoing saga continues in Washington state where one of the WDFW Commissioners who has been under fire for her alliance to anti-hunting organizations is once again in the news. WDFW Commissioner Rowland published an op-ed in the Methow Valley News, the day before an official meeting earlier in March. While this was an op-ed, it interestingly never identified her as a private citizen, which could cause a reader to take her opinion as that of the State. Another very deceitful move by someone who is currently under investigation by the Governor’s office over allegations of collusion, malfeasance, and corruption. At the end of the article was a plea from her to citizens to contact the Governor in support of her.
Reading her op-ed, she definitely highlighted the work she has done to protect large carnivores in this state. Removing the spring bear hunt (against the scientific evidence of the department biologists), reducing cougar hunting opportunity, voting against downlisting wolves (recommended again by department biologists). She makes a point to say she is not against hunting, while her actions clearly show something different when she is making decisions based on emotion and not the Department’s own science.
The reality is that because of the hard work of various sportsman’s groups like the Sportsmen’s Alliance and Conservation Coalition of Washington, the records that support the allegations of collusion with anti-hunting groups, meeting disruptions etc. are all coming to light. In the op-ed piece she says she is “just exchanging emails” with citizens that represent the majority in the State. What she did not say is the email exchanges were with the state’s leading anti-hunting and self proclaimed animal rights group. Nor did she mention her close personal relationship with those groups. This level of deceit is what has landed her in hot water now. The op-ed is one last grasp to make an emotional plea based on half truths and omitted information to keep her seat on the commission.
As sportsmen, we need to make sure that we are staying involved at the state level and with what these commissioners are doing. It is not just Washington state, similar things are happening across the country. If we fail to pay attention to these issues, then sportsmen will find they have a lot of spare time on their hands as we will slowly lose our opportunities until they are all gone.
We do not need any person on the board that has those thoughts.We need people who are involved in the hunting industry.And want to keep the hunting industry.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the same thing would be found in the Game Commissions of other states! I’ve been heavily involved in the opposition of animal rights groups since 2003 on a local (Lane Co, Oregon), state and national level and infiltration into government is high on the anti-hunting agenda!
As hunters and fisherman , we always seem to be on the defense of what we love to do in this great outdoors.The question is what do we do? Maybe this is just a thought. We could maybe not show so much shooting of these magestic animals for the public to witness. When a animal lover sees a animal shot dead laying on its side, There reaction is oh my god what did you just do? To myself and family this death provides nurtritious food…..