State F & W Requirments..

[nqcs]

Am I crazy?

I just read the rules for hunters in WA State and the change that cuaght my eye was the "hunt cards must now be filled and and returned, if not, you can't hunt next year". Now this requirement is not just for successful hunters, but for EVERYONE.

I contacted the WDFW to ask for clarification on this subject as this has always been a voluntary requirement. I explained to them that by making this a mandatory requiremnet, that they in reality have turned every hunter in the state into an un-paid researcher for the state, and I wanted to know where they gained their authority to insist that hunters help them, or else.

I started to wonder what was next. Will the F & W's around the state decide they want to know what types of calibers/firearms are being used. What about GPS location of where you took the game? What about all the deer you simply SAW?

I know these sound crazy, but if the States can implement a "mandatory reporting or no hunting rule", (without any legislative process I might add)
what happens next year? Or the year after? I plan on trying to repeal this intrusion/invasion. If not, I will apply for my license until they say they won't give me one.

Any support (especially form any attorneys) would be great.

Or am I making a big deal out of this?

[Myk]

If they are willing to send out reminder cards and then if nothing is returned tell you no hunting, I'd say you're making a big deal out of it.

You really didn't explain what it is that you're talking about so maybe you only want opinions of those who know about hunting in WA. But I know when I hunt on state ground with my free pheasant permit I have to fill out the card no matter what happens or else no more hunting on the state ground. But they do send out reminders if you don't get in on the due date.

We are also randomly selected for surveys. I willingly fill those out because I want to help the hunting situation here. When we get our hunting stamp we also have to fill out what we hunted for the previous year.

[nqcs]

Thanks for the response. Your last statement was "I want to help". The voluntary requirement allows any who wish to help to do so.

Frankly, I don't see how this helps the hunting situation. If I turn in a tag with no harvest, what info does this tell the WDFW except that I'm a lousy hunter?

All I know is, that when I started hunting, there was no requirement like this. Then, there was the voluntary requirement, which is totally acceptable to me. Now, the requirement is mandatory. My point is this.

If the Hunting end of the individual states can make up new rules without so much as even a single vote being cast without ANY input from Joe Hunter, and no oversight by the state legislature, what CAN'T they do?

What are the hunting regs going to look like in 10 years if these guys (who are more beaurucrats and scientist than hunters) can change the rules anytime (and for no good reason) by simply having a meeting? They already want:

SSN
Mandatory Catch cards
Copy of Drivers Lic.

My main point is this:

I don't understand how any government body can compel a private citizen to do it's field work for them. Our WDFW has tons of cash. They used to accomplish thier field collection measurements by sending agents that work for WDFW to popular hunting sights, and talking to hunters. By making me and you do this work, they are:

MAKING us pay to help them conduct field data research

Drafting us into service for the state UNVOLUNTARILY (imagine if the DMV told you that they wanted you to count all blue Chevy's or you couldn't get your DL)

threatening to take away a right that we have as americans of "life liberty & the pursuit of happiness" fame.

I am researching the State Constitution, and the federal Constitution concerning government bodys demanding that private citizens work for them without compensation.

My last point is this. Say one early fall, you get your hunting tag. You then see a section that says

"please indicate how many deer you saw, or thought you saw". "Please fill in the GPS location of when and where you saw the deer"

This info would also help them conduct field research, and by your thinking, this would be acceptable too.

And since there is no oversight, they can implement these changes whenever they want to.

In summary, I will do everything in my power to put the brakes on this sort of thing. I may not get anywhere, but I consider this an intrusion on my rights as a citizen of the US. I already get FORCED to do things that are more or less important, I'm not going to get FORCED into providing info to a bunch of bureacrats that would rather sit on thier asses, then go out and conduct the research themselves.

Anyway, thanks for the response...

n

[tcoop]

I would have to agree with nqcs. There are already too many laws and regulations. We need to have less government, not more. Just inforce the laws curently on the books. Don't keep adding more.

Especially don't give us more work to do.

tcoop