The Enforcement Program of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is the fourteenth largest general law enforcement agency in the State, with 139 Fish and Wildlife Officers deployed statewide.  In addition to fish and wildlife law enforcement, Officers routinely enforce boating and specialized forest product laws, assist with public safety incidents, and respond to general criminal law enforcement calls for service.  In addition to Officers, the Program has five full-time Hunter Education staff, plus three Communications/Dispatch Officers, and other support staff in the Olympia Headquarters. 

Thank you for completing this survey. Your responses will be kept confidential.  Your feedback is very important because you represent other Washington residents who may not have a chance to respond.  Your input will lead to better service, will help set enforcement priorities, and improve employee training.

PART I. DEMOGRAPHICS

In Washington State this past year I have:

        (Please check all that apply)
Hunted
Trapped Wildlife
Fished Recreationally
Fished Commercially
Gathered Shellfish (clams, crabs, squid, oysters, etc.)
Attended a Hunter Education Class
Participated in Crime Observation Reporting Training/Eyes in the Woods Class
Traveled to view fish/wildlife

Used a:
WDFW Wildlife Area
WDFW Access Area (Boat Ramp)
Obtained a Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA)
Had a dangerous/problem/nuisance wildlife issue

Participated in outdoor recreation using a:
Boat
Snowmobile
Motorcycle/Off road vehicle (ORV)

What is your age? -- Select -- Under 18 18 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70 and older

What is your sex? Male Female

Are you a resident of this state?   Yes No

  If yes, for how long? -- Select -- 0-5 years 6-10 years 11-20 years 20-30 years 31+ years

Do you hunt?   Yes No

How long have you hunted in this state?	Years Months
Which seasons do you hunt?	Spring Summer Fall Winter

Do you fish?   Yes No

How long have you fished in this state?	Years Months
Which seasons do you fish?	Spring Summer Fall Winter

In which Counties do you most frequently participate in outdoor recreation?

(Please check no more than three)
Adams County Asotin County Benton County Chelan County Clallam County Clark County Columbia County Cowlitz County Douglas County Ferry County Franklin County Garfield County Grant County	Grays Harbor County Island County Jefferson County King County Kitsap County Kittitas County Klickitat County Lewis County Lincoln County Mason County Okanogan County Pacific County Pend Oreille County	Pierce County San Juan County Skagit County Skamania County Snohomish County Spokane County Stevens County Thurston County Wahkiakum County Walla Walla County Whatcom County Whitman County Yakima County

PART II. PERSONAL CONTACT WITH ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM STAFF

In the past year, have you had any personal contact with the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Program?

Yes No

If yes, how would you describe your experience?

Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative

If yes, which staff were you in contact with?

(Please check all that apply) Officers Customer Service Hunter Education

Did you receive one or more of the following?

(Please check all that apply) Citation Written Warning Verbal Warning Assistance Training None

From this experience, how would you rate this staff member’s appearance?

Excellent Good Average Poor Very Poor No Opinion Comments: Characters remaining:

From this experience, how would you rate this staff member’s attitude?

Excellent Good Average Poor Very Poor No Opinion Comments: Characters remaining:

From this experience, how would you rate this staff member’s demeanor?

Excellent Good Average Poor Very Poor No Opinion Comments: Characters remaining:

From this experience, how would you rate this staff member’s overall knowledge and job competence?

Excellent Good Average Poor Very Poor No Opinion Comments: Characters remaining:

 

PART III. FISH AND WILDLIFE OFFICER STAFFING LEVELS

When you recreate in Washington, how often do you observe others violating Fish and Wildlife rules or laws?

Always
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Never

Comments:

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When you recreate in Washington, how often do you see Fish and Wildlife Officers patrolling the area?

Always
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Never

Comments:

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How often would you wish to see Fish and Wildlife Officers patrolling your recreation area?

Much more often
More Often
No change
Less often
Much less often

Comments:

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The statewide average is about three Fish and Wildlife Officers assigned to each county. Knowing this, do you feel that more Officers are needed, and if so where?

        (Please check all that apply)
No additional Officers - present patrol coverage is adequate.
Additional Officers are needed in Eastern Washington counties.
Additional Officers are needed in Western Washington counties.
Additional Officers are needed for patrolling coastal waters and Puget Sound.

Please check three of the following that you consider to be the most important activities for Fish and Wildlife Officers:

        (Please check no more than three)
Conducting regulatory checks of taxidermists, game farms, Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators, etc.
Conducting Hunter Education, Crime Observation Reporting Training classes; other public education
Conducting Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) and fish screen checks.
Enforcing boating, snowmobile, and ORV rules/laws.
Enforcing commercial fisheries/wholesale fish dealers rules/laws.
Enforcing general state criminal laws that ensure public safety.
Enforcing hunting/trapping rules/laws.
Enforcing recreational fisheries rules/laws.
Enforcing sanitary shellfish rules/laws.
Enforcing Wildlife Area/Access Area (boat ramp) rules/laws.
Responding to dangerous wildlife issues (typically cougar, bear, moose)
Responding to problem/nuisance wildlife issues (typically deer, elk, coyotes, raccoons, beavers, birds)

PART IV. ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM OVERALL EVALUATION

Is the Enforcement Program providing adequate fish and wildlife law enforcement in the county in which you recreate the most?

Yes No

Statewide? Yes No

Please rate the Enforcement Program’s quality of service given to protecting wildlife resources?

Excellent
Good
Average
Poor
Very Poor
No Opinion

Please rate the Enforcement Program’s quality of service given to protecting fish/shellfish resources?

Excellent
Good
Average
Poor
Very Poor
No Opinion

Please rate the Enforcement Program’s quality of service given to protecting public safety?

Excellent
Good
Average
Poor
Very Poor
No Opinion

Please rate the Enforcement Program’s overall quality as a natural resource law enforcement agency?

Excellent
Good
Average
Poor
Very Poor
No Opinion

Did you complete the 2007 Customer Satisfaction Survey?

Yes No

Since 2007, how would you rate the overall performance of the WDFW Enforcement Program?

Improved
Stayed the same
Gotten worse

Other: (please comment below)

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To submit recommendations and suggestions for improvement, please send your comments to enfcomments@dfw.wa.gov.