Call to Arms for Washington residents

[ztirffritz]

The new director of the Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife has asked for input about concerns or needed changes from residents. If you have some time, take a few minutes and suggest that the WDFW update their airgun hunting regulations:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildfuture/

 

[NetBenefits]

Thanks for mentioning this. As a Washington resident, I'd definitely appreciate if some of you guys gave him some feedback.

Just so you guys have some background, it is currently illegal to hunt anything other than "unclassified" wildlife with an airgun. "Unclassified" includes mostly varmint-like animals such as starlings and house sparrows. Game animals however like rabbits, grouse, and racoons are illegal to hunt with an airgun. Needless to say, it's a burdensome law for airgun hunters like us.

 

[ztirffritz]

I've been communicating with a gentleman in the WDFW in Ellensburg. He stated that Washington State develops their regulations through the 'Season Setting' process that results in a 3-year plan. Unfortunately, it has just concluded. The next 'Season Setting' process will begin in 2017 and be implemented in 2020. So, best case scenario is that we might be able to get airgun regs updated by 2020. Ugh. He did suggest an alternate method that might provide a faster way to effect a change. He suggested at least educating the people on the WDFW Game Management Advisory Council. I don't know if that will help at all, but it is at least a way to possibly educate the policy makers and expose them to airguns and correct misconceptions. I emailed the guy in charge of the GMAC and asked for an opportunity to meet for an educational knowledge sharing session.

 

[ztirffritz]

There are also meetings scheduled with the new director around the state:The meetings are scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. at the following dates and locations:

• Sept. 10 – Selah Civic Center, 216 1st St., Selah.
• Sept. 30 – Center Place, 2426 N. Discovery Place, Spokane Valley.
• Oct. 6 – WDFW Mill Creek Office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd, Mill Creek.
• Oct. 8 – Saint Martin’s University, Norman Worthington Conference Center, 5300 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey.
• Oct. 14 – Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver.
• Oct. 20 – Port of Chelan County Confluence Technology Center, 285 Technology Center Way, Wenatchee.

 

[Gundog]

I may be able to attend the meeting in Vancouver, WA if you come up with some facts and numbers share them so we may all have the same information. I am thinking FPE statistics of various airgun calibers to compare to powder burning guns at certain distances. Maybe some comparison to black powder etc.