Hunter
Access to Private Lands
Dave Ware, Game Division Manager
Access
to private lands has been an important issue for hunters for
a long time. It was confirmed again during the formation of
the 2003-09 Game Management Plan. Hunters want the Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to develop programs
to expand access. They also said that they support providing
incentives including leasing property from private landowners
and that they are willing to pay for it.
This demand
for expanded access programs comes at the same time federal
funding for Washington’s access program was cut by over
50%. Currently the hunter access program is active mainly
on eastern Washington farm lands. Maintaining and expanding
hunter access will require expanded funding.
A comprehensive
review of WDFW hunter access programs is being conducted in
three phases. The first phase was a review of a ten year pilot
Private Lands Wildlife Management Area (PLWMA) program. The
second phase was just completed which was an update of WDFW’s
long standing Feel Free to Hunt, Register to Hunt, and Hunt
by Written Permission programs. Summaries of these reviews
and updates are captured in subsequent articles. The third
and final phase is the development of new programs.
Hunter
Access Task Groups made up of conservation organizations,
landowners, and hunters have guided all three phases. The
Final phase proposed new programs, is nearly ready for public
review. Watch the Departments website, news articles, or public
meeting announcements for your opportunity to comment.
|
