Private
Lands Wildlife Management Area (PLWMA) Program Status
George Tsukamoto, Wildlife Biologist
The Private
Lands Wildlife Management Area program has been in existence
for more than a decade as a trial program. The Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recognized the value
of private lands to fish and wildlife populations and to recreational
users, especially hunters. PLWMAs were developed to provide
incentives to landowners for enhancing wildlife populations,
improving habitat and allowing hunter access.
At the
request of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, a
review of the PLWMA program was initiated in 2002. A stakeholder
group was organized and charged with developing recommendations
to WDFW whether to continue, modify or discontinue the program.
As part of the evaluation a symposium was held with experts
from Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming sharing their expertise
and experience on private lands hunter access programs with
the stakeholder group and WDFW in their respective states.
WDFW also
conducted a survey of landowners and hunters about the PLWMA
program. A majority of hunters agreed that a PLWMA type program
should be continued and expanded to more private lands. Most
of the criticisms about the PLWMA program were not shared
by those who participated in the survey. In fact, a majority
of hunters surveyed strongly or moderately supported using
license revenues to fund private lands access and habitat
enhancement programs. See WDFW website for the survey results
at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/plwma/washington_plwma_opinions.pdf.
However, Washington Treaty Tribes raised concerns about the
PLWMA program, stating that it is inconsistent with the treaty
hunting rights to hunt on “open and unclaimed lands”
and their role as co-managers of fish and wildlife harvest.
The WDFW
is planning to continue with the three trial PLWMAs through
the 2005 hunting season after which the program will be changed
to address the concerns raised by Tribes and other issues.
A comprehensive Private Lands Partnership (PLP) program is
being developed that provides opportunities for WDFW to work
cooperatively with landowners who are willing to provide hunter
access. |
