Introduction
Master Hunters are ambassadors of safe, ethical, responsible, and legal hunting and outdoor recreational activities in Washington, and are stewards of the hunt. Members of the Master Hunter Permit Program (MHPP) give back to the wildlife resource through their volunteer work and help promote and strengthen the heritage of hunting through their actions.
Master Hunters are used as a tool to help achieve Wildlife Program goals and initiatives through:
- Strengthening the conservation ethic and the image and heritage of hunting in Washington by engaging in public outreach related to the role of hunting today and in the future.
- Improving landowner relations through the practice of ethical and responsible hunting.
- Helping to resolve human/wildlife conflicts or public safety issues through the control of game populations causing damage to public and private property.
- Increasing hunter access to private lands through volunteer efforts.
- Increasing recruitment and retention of hunters through participation in Hunter Education Training, Hunter Training Clinics, and mentoring of first-time-hunters.
- Protection and enhancement of critical habitats through volunteer projects associated with WDFW Wildlife Areas and Water Access Sites.
- Participating in Citizen Science wildlife data collection.
- Serving in an administrative or coordination capacity for a volunteer network.
- Providing a communications link with the general public to impart accurate information about WDFW¡¦s management activities associated with wildlife and hunting.
The Master Hunter Advisory Group (MHAG) represents master hunters statewide, and advises WDFW on issues and opportunities affecting master hunters and the Master Hunter Permit Program (MHPP). The MHAG works in partnership with WDFW to identify and foster meaningful volunteer opportunities for hunters and Master Hunters throughout the state. These opportunities are intended to promote the conservation ethic and address priority needs of the Wildlife Program and the Department, as well as to develop a dependable means of coordination and management of Master Hunter volunteer efforts within each WDFW Region.
1 While this annual report covers calendar year 2014, it includes some activities that occurred in January 2015.