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Cowlitz commissioners press state Fish and Wildlife on licensing, hatcheries and predator management
Summary
Commissioners spent extensive time criticizing Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife policies, including a 38% license fee increase, reductions in hatchery production, and predator management; they urged more local engagement and accountability and planned to invite agency staff back with more specific answers.
Members of the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners used a general‑business portion of the meeting to press concerns about Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife policy, funding and local impacts.
One commissioner said the department raised fishing and hunting license fees by 38% this year and asked where the revenue is going while hunting and fishing opportunities and hatchery production appear to be decreasing. “Where do we see this 38%? How do we justify that? Where is that money going?” the commissioner asked.
Commissioners criticized what they described as bureaucratic management and a lack of on‑the‑ground answers from regional Fish and Wildlife staff. They said some policy decisions — including reduced hatchery production and an emphasis on restoring native fish strains — are creating fewer stocked fish and shorter seasons, and they questioned whether those policies match local needs.
Several commissioners discussed predator management, including wolves, cougars and bears. One speaker said there are wolves on Mount Saint Helens Tree Farm and urged that hunters, ranchers and other local residents be involved in data collection. The board discussed how predator populations can expand when packs push younger animals into new areas and how limited hunting methods — for example, restrictions on hunting with dogs — can affect population control.
Commissioners and commenters called for more local input into state board appointments and suggested that some states require board members to hold hunting or fishing licenses for many years before appointment. They also said enforcement staffing levels in the region are low; one speaker noted Region 5 has about 19 enforcement officers.
The board said it would invite Fish and Wildlife back for a more focused session and asked staff to solicit questions ahead of time so regional officers can prepare specific answers. Commissioners also encouraged public engagement and local participation in policy discussions.
Remarks during this discussion were part of a broader conversation and reflected commissioners’ views and questions; the Fish and Wildlife regional staff said they were limited in authority to change statewide policy and offered to meet separately with commissioners to dig into details.
