It used to be that most of the WDG/WDF staff hunted or fished. Especially the bio side of things. Plus, many/most were from WA, grew up here, and were familiar with the issues.
There seems a real disconnect now in that much fewer, especially higher up, partake of the resources. I think it is important because "you" are writing the rules and you better be able to understand and justify them.
While I can't confirm, because I was told this second hand, there are professors (in WA) who recommend that their students not work for WDFW. So, you go out of state to get folks.
In WDG, not only did a lot of staff hunt and fish but Opening Day (fishing/hunting) required participation by most of the staff in monitoring. Checking lakes for catch, being at check stations to evaluate kills, and so on. Hunting and fishing were important enough to the Agency that the whole damn staff got involved. And, incidentally, had to talk one to one with the users.
Now???
Not to mention names but will here. Tom Cropp was one WDG bio I remember as a youth on the river. Great guy! Creel checked me more than once and saw him many times participating as well. His bio's on board his floats he was training back then had no clue? College educated but not river educated. Even as a youngen, I asked myself then, really? This kid knows nothing from Florida about this river, this place, this passion. I'm sure Tom did his best to educate him. Tom must be retired by now. Another name I remember was Bob Leland. I used to get hatchery plant info from him before printed published info came out to plan trips. I'm sure he is retired now also. Brings back some good memories before computers. Phone calls were the source then. I once thought of getting educated to be a bio because I loved it so much. I then had a realization that it wouldn't fit into my final plan. I think it really makes difference when managing any resource to have a passionate/vested interest in it. If the passion isn't there for those administering and regulating, how can we as sportsman for Steelhead expect any more?
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