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whojr
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Below is an email I received from our drop camp outfitter (Dale at Icicle Outfitters) for this year's high hunt. At the end of this post is an email and letter I am sending to WDFW today. If you support the opening of the Entiat North Fork to address the closure of the Entiat Valley due to the Tinpan wildfire, please either copy my email and send it on, or send your own email to the below addresses. Any assistance would be appreciated because I really want to hunt the Entiat North Fork on 9/15.
EMAIL FROM ICICLE OUTFITTERS:
Dear Hunters,
The Tinpan wildland fire has been burning for just over a month in the upper Entiat Valley. It is a low intensity burn (that will be good for the mule deer habitat) but the upper Entiat Valley will be closed to the public during the September High Hunt. It has been proposed that the WDFW provide for a High Hunt in the Entiat North Fork. We support that idea. The North Fork was part of the High Hunt for 30 years, it includes 36 miles of trail which range from 4000 feet to 8245 feet in elevation, it is prime mule deer summer range.
The purpose for re-opening the North Fork for the 2006 season include these:
Providing a High Hunt in the Entiat will reduce the number of displaced hunters who are likely to choose to hunt in the southern part of the Clark GMU 244. That part of the hunt is on trails that are already heavily used by hunters and non-hunters; adding more will not be a positive.
The Forest Service managers support the re-opening of the North Fork.
Local businesses, who benefit from recreational activities, support the hunt.
The mule deer that summer in the North Fork have not experienced a High Hunt for 15 years; hunting the North Fork (while the Entiat herd relax) will be good. There is no biological reason to avoid hunting the North Fork.
It will be a positive thing to see the WDFW cooperate with the Forest Service. WDFW inertia can be a bad thing. Give them a push.
It is our understanding that forest managers have talked with Director Jeff Koenings and Region 2 Director Dennis Beich. It appears that the WDFW will just "let things ride". Perhaps hearing from you will help. Local people in the Entiat Valley are also letting their voices be heard in support of the hunt. Below are some WDFW people to contact.
WDFW Director Jeff Koenings [email protected] 800-833-6388 or mail to him at Department of Fish & Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
WDFW Region 2 Director Dennis Beich, 1550 Alder Street NW, Ephrata, WA 98823 or phone 509-754-4624
WDFW Wenatchee Office, 3860 Chelan Highway N, Wenatchee, WA 98801-9607 phone 662-0452
WDFW Commissioners [email protected] (there are 9 of them; this address should reach all of them). Commissioner Jerry Gutzwiler is from Wenatchee and may enjoy hearing from you.
Feel free to forward this message to anyone who cares. WDFW inertia can be difficult to overcome but your voice of support may help.
P.S. Most of you know that Entiat hunters will have camps available in the Clark or Alpine parts of the wilderness. This effort is to save a hunt in the Entiat. If we can get that area re-opened, many Entiat camps will go into the North Fork.
Thanks,
Bruce and Sandy Wick, owners, www.icicleoutfitters.com
P.O. Box 322 , Leavenworth, WA 98826
1-800-497-3912 or 509-784-1145 Ranch
509-763-3647 Lake Wenatchee Riding Stable (May 15 - Sept.)
509-669-1518 Icicle Valley/Leavenworth Riding Stable (June 11-Sept. 11)
EMAIL FROM FISHUNTER:
Dear WDFW Director Jeff Koenings, WDFW Commissioners, and Commissioner Jerry Gutzwiler:
I have hunted Washington with the same hunting partners for over 30 years. Myself and a group of 4 of these hunters have been drop camping the high hunt in the upper Entiat Valley for years, and we were scheduled to do the same Drop Camp this year. In light of the Tinpan wildland fire which has been burning for just over a month in the upper Entiat Valley, it appears certain that the Cottonwood trailhead will be closed and we will not be able to make the high hunt. I understand that you are presently considering a proposal that the WDFW provide for a High Hunt in the Entiat North Fork. I support that idea and respectfully request that you adopt an emergency order to allow a high hunt in the Entiat North Fork. As you know, the North Fork was part of the High Hunt for 30 years, and includes 36 miles of trail which range from 4000 feet to 8245 feet in elevation.
The public benefit from re-opening the North Fork for the 2006 season are many:
Providing a High Hunt in the Entiat will reduce the number of displaced hunters who are likely to choose to hunt in the southern part of the Clark GMU 244. That part of the hunt is on trails that are already heavily used by hunters and non-hunters; adding more will not promote the public interest.
The Forest Service managers support the re-opening of the North Fork.
Local businesses, who benefit from recreational activities, support the hunt.
The mule deer that summer in the North Fork have not experienced a High Hunt for 15 years; hunting the North Fork (for just 2006 as a result of the Tinpan wildfire) will benefit the public interest in wildlife management. There is no biological reason for WDFW to not allow a high hunt on the North Fork.
The public interest will be promoted by this joint agency effort between WDFW and the Forest Service, which would further promote additional intra-agency cooperation in the future.
You now face a unique opportunity to serve the public by opening the North Fork for a high hunt, and I would respectfully request that you take immediate action to take advantage of this opportunity. I understand that forest managers have talked with Director Jeff Koenings and Region 2 Director Dennis Beich. Please provide your candid consideration to this proposal, and work with the forest managers to provide for a High Hunt in the Entiat North Fork.
If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this further, please contact me. I would be happy to provide testimony in any public hearing or meeting on this subject. If it would be helpful to speak with your Assistant Attorney General regarding this matter, or anyone else for that matter, please provide me with their contact information and I would be happy to do so.
Sincerely,
Walter H. Olsen, Jr.
Olsen Law Firm PLLC
604 W. Meeker Street, Suite 101
Kent, Washington 98032
phone: (253) 813-8111
office fax: (253) 813-8133
page/voicemail: (509) 267-4278
personal fax: (509) 267-4278
EMAIL FROM ICICLE OUTFITTERS:
Dear Hunters,
The Tinpan wildland fire has been burning for just over a month in the upper Entiat Valley. It is a low intensity burn (that will be good for the mule deer habitat) but the upper Entiat Valley will be closed to the public during the September High Hunt. It has been proposed that the WDFW provide for a High Hunt in the Entiat North Fork. We support that idea. The North Fork was part of the High Hunt for 30 years, it includes 36 miles of trail which range from 4000 feet to 8245 feet in elevation, it is prime mule deer summer range.
The purpose for re-opening the North Fork for the 2006 season include these:
Providing a High Hunt in the Entiat will reduce the number of displaced hunters who are likely to choose to hunt in the southern part of the Clark GMU 244. That part of the hunt is on trails that are already heavily used by hunters and non-hunters; adding more will not be a positive.
The Forest Service managers support the re-opening of the North Fork.
Local businesses, who benefit from recreational activities, support the hunt.
The mule deer that summer in the North Fork have not experienced a High Hunt for 15 years; hunting the North Fork (while the Entiat herd relax) will be good. There is no biological reason to avoid hunting the North Fork.
It will be a positive thing to see the WDFW cooperate with the Forest Service. WDFW inertia can be a bad thing. Give them a push.
It is our understanding that forest managers have talked with Director Jeff Koenings and Region 2 Director Dennis Beich. It appears that the WDFW will just "let things ride". Perhaps hearing from you will help. Local people in the Entiat Valley are also letting their voices be heard in support of the hunt. Below are some WDFW people to contact.
WDFW Director Jeff Koenings [email protected] 800-833-6388 or mail to him at Department of Fish & Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
WDFW Region 2 Director Dennis Beich, 1550 Alder Street NW, Ephrata, WA 98823 or phone 509-754-4624
WDFW Wenatchee Office, 3860 Chelan Highway N, Wenatchee, WA 98801-9607 phone 662-0452
WDFW Commissioners [email protected] (there are 9 of them; this address should reach all of them). Commissioner Jerry Gutzwiler is from Wenatchee and may enjoy hearing from you.
Feel free to forward this message to anyone who cares. WDFW inertia can be difficult to overcome but your voice of support may help.
P.S. Most of you know that Entiat hunters will have camps available in the Clark or Alpine parts of the wilderness. This effort is to save a hunt in the Entiat. If we can get that area re-opened, many Entiat camps will go into the North Fork.
Thanks,
Bruce and Sandy Wick, owners, www.icicleoutfitters.com
P.O. Box 322 , Leavenworth, WA 98826
1-800-497-3912 or 509-784-1145 Ranch
509-763-3647 Lake Wenatchee Riding Stable (May 15 - Sept.)
509-669-1518 Icicle Valley/Leavenworth Riding Stable (June 11-Sept. 11)
EMAIL FROM FISHUNTER:
Dear WDFW Director Jeff Koenings, WDFW Commissioners, and Commissioner Jerry Gutzwiler:
I have hunted Washington with the same hunting partners for over 30 years. Myself and a group of 4 of these hunters have been drop camping the high hunt in the upper Entiat Valley for years, and we were scheduled to do the same Drop Camp this year. In light of the Tinpan wildland fire which has been burning for just over a month in the upper Entiat Valley, it appears certain that the Cottonwood trailhead will be closed and we will not be able to make the high hunt. I understand that you are presently considering a proposal that the WDFW provide for a High Hunt in the Entiat North Fork. I support that idea and respectfully request that you adopt an emergency order to allow a high hunt in the Entiat North Fork. As you know, the North Fork was part of the High Hunt for 30 years, and includes 36 miles of trail which range from 4000 feet to 8245 feet in elevation.
The public benefit from re-opening the North Fork for the 2006 season are many:
Providing a High Hunt in the Entiat will reduce the number of displaced hunters who are likely to choose to hunt in the southern part of the Clark GMU 244. That part of the hunt is on trails that are already heavily used by hunters and non-hunters; adding more will not promote the public interest.
The Forest Service managers support the re-opening of the North Fork.
Local businesses, who benefit from recreational activities, support the hunt.
The mule deer that summer in the North Fork have not experienced a High Hunt for 15 years; hunting the North Fork (for just 2006 as a result of the Tinpan wildfire) will benefit the public interest in wildlife management. There is no biological reason for WDFW to not allow a high hunt on the North Fork.
The public interest will be promoted by this joint agency effort between WDFW and the Forest Service, which would further promote additional intra-agency cooperation in the future.
You now face a unique opportunity to serve the public by opening the North Fork for a high hunt, and I would respectfully request that you take immediate action to take advantage of this opportunity. I understand that forest managers have talked with Director Jeff Koenings and Region 2 Director Dennis Beich. Please provide your candid consideration to this proposal, and work with the forest managers to provide for a High Hunt in the Entiat North Fork.
If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this further, please contact me. I would be happy to provide testimony in any public hearing or meeting on this subject. If it would be helpful to speak with your Assistant Attorney General regarding this matter, or anyone else for that matter, please provide me with their contact information and I would be happy to do so.
Sincerely,
Walter H. Olsen, Jr.
Olsen Law Firm PLLC
604 W. Meeker Street, Suite 101
Kent, Washington 98032
phone: (253) 813-8111
office fax: (253) 813-8133
page/voicemail: (509) 267-4278
personal fax: (509) 267-4278