Northwest Fishing Reports

State has no game wardens in Cowlitz County
LONGVIEW, Cowlitz County — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife says it's struggling to keep up with reports of poaching and fishing violations in Cowlitz County because it has no game wardens stationed there.

By The Associated Press


LONGVIEW, Cowlitz County — The state Department of Fish and Wildlife says it's struggling to keep up with reports of poaching and fishing violations in Cowlitz County because it has no game wardens stationed there.

The Daily News reports that four game wardens are allocated to Cowlitz County, but that two of the officers are on medical leave, one transferred to Whatcom County and the fourth retired in 2008. The two who left have not been replaced.

But with more budget deficits looming for the state, the wardens in Cowlitz County may not be replaced any time soon. Fish and Wildlife is facing a shortfall between $10 million and $20 million in the next budget cycle.

"We're really not covering anything," said WDFW Sgt. Ted Holden, who is stationed in Lewis County and oversees Cowlitz County officers.

Holden said officers stationed in Lewis County are responding to service calls but have no time to do routine patrols that can deter poaching or violators.

"One drive-through, stopping to talk to a couple of camps, has a huge impact," he added.

With the shortfall of officers, wardens have to drive in from adjacent counties to respond to calls in Cowlitz. Holden just filled a vacant position in Lewis County, raising the number officers to three. The lone warden in Wahkiakum County can also head to Cowlitz.

"They have 10 calls on their plate," said Mike Cenci, deputy chief of enforcement for WDFW. "They pick the ones that have the best chance for success at making an arrest."

With such low staffing, wardens sometimes can't respond to calls on which two officers are required for safety.

The lack of wildlife officers in Cowlitz County highlights the decline of wardens in Washington, even as more people head to the state's forests and reserves. In 1993, when the departments of wildlife and fisheries merged, their combined forces totaled 117 enforcement officers.

Now, 96 WDFW officers patrol the state, though the state's population has increased by 20 percent in that period. The department also has five detectives that focus on major cases that take months to investigate, Cenci said.

Holden said it's better for officers to leave close to where they work so they can respond to calls more quickly, even those that come in the middle of the night.



"We want those officers to be members of the community," which is better for getting tips about violators, Holden said.

In the 2011-2013 budget cycle, the department is expecting a $10 million to $20 million shortfall, plus another $10 million reduction in the state Wildlife Account, which mostly comes from license revenue, in the same time frame.

With that grim outlook, Cenci is just hoping to hang on to the officers he has.

Hey Tom,
I understand the way the States' budget is cuttining into alot of the programs that we the fishermen and hunters depend on. Maybe in time the economic situation we are presently in will turn upwards and the benefits that we all enjoyed will be funded in a more fiscally responsible way next time. But for the time being we all will have to adjust to the predicament that the state put itself in at this time. Which leads my to my point. All hunters and fisherpersons can get involved in a group that me and a bunch of other folks are involved in..."Eyes In The Woods"...I have been personally invloved in this group for almost 3 years now. It is a non confrontational way of reporting violations of hunting,fishing,shell fishing,trespassing and littering laws. It is a class that is given by the State Patrol and you become a certified reporter that can and does help with reporting these wrong doings. We work hand in hand with the WDFW and the State Patrol. There is a Eyes in The Woods program for the hunters which includes the woods and fields and StreamWatch which directly relates to all fishing rules violations. I believe it costs $35.00 to join. Its a really great program which makes those who hunt or fish feel part of a solution to stop rule violators and poachers. Again check out their website and go to a free class and get certified...Everyone can help...Heres the website..

http://www.eyesinthewoods.org/

Thanks for that info Tom take it easy man. Happy Holidays to you...

muskyhunter wrote:The Woods program for the hunters which includes the woods and fields and StreamWatch which directly relates to all fishing rules violations. I believe it costs $35.00 to join. Its a really great program which makes those who hunt or fish feel part of a solution to stop rule violators and poachers.

Muskyhunter, I appreciate that you are involved in a program to help out wildlife enforcement so please don't feel this as being a personal attack. However, I'm not sure where to begin with this, let me give it a try. So, to be taken seriously when reporting a hunting or fishing violation, to which an official response is highly unlikely, one needs to take a class and pay $35 for the privilege! Don't get me wrong, I understand that many folks need to be told what information to provide to the police when making a report. I just can't fathom that a class would be necessary and someone would have the gall to charge for it. I feel a better solution would be to educate the folks who take the calls from people who are reporting a violation. The times I've called to report a hunting or fishing violation have only ended up in frustration on my end. Conversely, when I've reported drug sales in progress, drunk drivers, gang activity, etc. the police have usually showed up before I end the call. Its like arrests and convictions for wildlife violations don't count to the quota.

It's sad really, but what's even worse is that up here they had to lay off the sheriffs and police, which protect people from bad and dangerous people. Law enforcement only gets funding when it brings in money or votes, and right now our state has put itself in a position where it spent more money than it had, and like all of us it needs to tighten its belt. The best way to get it to make the cuts that we want and not stop safety concerns, is too make these state agenccy decision affect our votes, and make it profitable to provide police and firedepartment's with the money that they need. If everyone on the website sent an email and snail mail letter to WDFW and Christine Gregoire and our congressmen if they don't do something about the problem, and then follow up on that threat if they don't, the legislature would start taking responsibility for its bad decisions. With a limited amount of funds available, it seems to me that we should be spending less money on trains and tunnels, more on creating an infrastructure that can support itself while protecting law abiding citizens from outlaws and thieves. I've already written several letters, but one person isn't enough.

Here's a couple useful links:

Find your US Legislator App and contact infromation
Washington State legislature Find Your representative App
Contact Christine Gregoire


Seriously, that's the only way we'll make our voices heard. That's what democracy is all about.

natetreat wrote:It's sad really, but what's even worse is that up here they had to lay off the sheriffs and police, which protect people from bad and dangerous people. Law enforcement only gets funding when it brings in money or votes, and right now our state has put itself in a position where it spent more money than it had, and like all of us it needs to tighten its belt. The best way to get it to make the cuts that we want and not stop safety concerns, is too make these state agenccy decision affect our votes, and make it profitable to provide police and firedepartment's with the money that they need. If everyone on the website sent an email and snail mail letter to WDFW and Christine Gregoire and our congressmen if they don't do something about the problem, and then follow up on that threat if they don't, the legislature would start taking responsibility for its bad decisions. With a limited amount of funds available, it seems to me that we should be spending less money on trains and tunnels, more on creating an infrastructure that can support itself while protecting law abiding citizens from outlaws and thieves. I've already written several letters, but one person isn't enough.

Here's a couple useful links:

Find your US Legislator App and contact infromation
Washington State legislature Find Your representative App
Contact Christine Gregoire


Seriously, that's the only way we'll make our voices heard. That's what democracy is all about.

Or just vote out the idiots that represent our government. The current people we've elected into office aren't cutting it. Hence our budget deficit that is screwing over our WDFW officers and leading to huge budget deficits across the board.

A democracy SHOULD be about having people represent our state properly and be able to run the government.........

Like I said, if they don't behave, vote 'em out. But it doesn't help anyone if they don't know why we voted 'em out. But you gotta tell them, and convice all your friends to tell 'em. I live in snohomish county, which has a registered voting pool of like 100,000 people. Only 20,000 people voted in the last election. Unless we can have a dialogue with our legislators and make the point of communicating what they need to do, then nothing will change, because the ideologues in office now only respond to the constituents that actually talk to them: Business, healthcare and Olympia. But business doesn't have any power over the government besides money. We can fire 'em. But that means you gotta get everybody that feels the way we do to vote, write letters telling 'em why they're fired. It's all you can do. It's all we need to do.

Blackmouth wrote:Or just vote out the idiots that represent our government. The current people we've elected into office aren't cutting it. Hence our budget deficit that is screwing over our WDFW officers and leading to huge budget deficits across the board.

I'd rather vote out the idiots who aren't representing the people, it is the people who voted them in and the people they are supposed to serve, not the government. You are correct about one thing, the government has become a self serving monopoly, and has forgotten, or forsaken, the very source of its power.

Even though it's no secret that law enforcement cuts are happening throughout WA State, I'm not sure it was the smartest thing going to the media with it. Now, any P.O.S that poaches and reads the AP or other news media outlet knows where to go.

Dave wrote:Even though it's no secret that law enforcement cuts are happening throughout WA State, I'm not sure it was the smartest thing going to the media with it. Now, any P.O.S that poaches and reads the AP or other news media outlet knows where to go.

...it would be funny if all the gamies were hanging out in Cowlitz County ready to pounce when all the idiots migrate down there.

Sadly...it won't happen that way.

G-Man wrote:

muskyhunter wrote:The Woods program for the hunters which includes the woods and fields and StreamWatch which directly relates to all fishing rules violations. I believe it costs $35.00 to join. Its a really great program which makes those who hunt or fish feel part of a solution to stop rule violators and poachers.

Muskyhunter, I appreciate that you are involved in a program to help out wildlife enforcement so please don't feel this as being a personal attack. However, I'm not sure where to begin with this, let me give it a try. So, to be taken seriously when reporting a hunting or fishing violation, to which an official response is highly unlikely, one needs to take a class and pay $35 for the privilege! Don't get me wrong, I understand that many folks need to be told what information to provide to the police when making a report. I just can't fathom that a class would be necessary and someone would have the gall to charge for it. I feel a better solution would be to educate the folks who take the calls from people who are reporting a violation. The times I've called to report a hunting or fishing violation have only ended up in frustration on my end. Conversely, when I've reported drug sales in progress, drunk drivers, gang activity, etc. the police have usually showed up before I end the call. Its like arrests and convictions for wildlife violations don't count to the quota.

Hi G-Man,
No worries man. Didnt take your comments as an attack..I should have been more clear I guess. The C.O.R.T. class is free. You get a certifacte when you complete the course..Again that is free. It gives clout to those outdoorsmen/women that are out there in the field and on the water. So when you call a law enforcement agency you tell the folks you've taken the course and it seems to me as though the enforcement takes your reports more urgently.Because the course shows the individuals how to write a report or violation..
The $35.00 fee for Eyes In The Woods is separate. They are a non-profit organization that like any other organization that has a fee to join. All the money they raise goes towards signage and projects that they are working on..Check out their website is all I can recommend...
I should have been more clear..sorry about that..Todd

I was at the cow today. And guess what? 2 gamies in a truck overlooking the fishing. I had talked to them for a min. Then they left and went down river towards the launch. Im not sure if they handed out any tickets but I can tell ya I didnt get one.

The thing I find HILARIOUS about the budget crisis is that Washington state has one of the most difficult set of fishing regulations to interpret in the country and yet they have no enforcement to handle their outrageous rule book! [lol]

I guess they just plan to scare us into obeying the law?

Way to go guys! =d>

Double post, sorry.

[quote="Matt"]The thing I find HILARIOUS about the budget crisis is that Washington state has one of the most difficult set of fishing regulations to interpret in the country and yet they have no enforcement to handle their outrageous rule book! [lol]

I guess they just plan to scare us into obeying the law?

Way to go guys! =d&gt]

I completely agree.