Facts disputed

Rich Landers and George Orr need to get the facts straight.

Gary Douvia did not instigate where the F&W Commission meetings will take place. Director Phil Anderson recommended this. This was approved by the commission on a 9-0 vote, including Orr.

The stakeholder groups voted 70 percent in favor of antler point restrictions in Game Management Units 117 and 121. Biologist Kevin Robinette states the percentage of white-tailed deer with five or more points has risen to average 21 percent. This is because the yearling buck harvest has dropped 50-60 percent since 2005, making the five-point percentage higher. The 2009 buck harvest was the lowest in 10 years.

Robinette also states a whopping 58 percent of 2009 buck harvest in the Northeast units had four points or better and the four-point harvest in 117 is up 38 percent from 2001. This is also because of the drop in yearling buck harvest.

Remember, many of these four-point bucks can be just 2 years old. Robinette stated in a separate meeting after the spring commission meeting in Spokane that their numbers were no good. For the most part, I will agree.

Al Martz

Northeast Washington Wildlife Group