On Monday, January 19, the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources is holding a public hearing on critical legislation to restore and sustain Washington’s vital ungulate populations, which include mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, mountain caribou, and bighorn sheep. SB 5960 is scheduled to be heard at 1:30 p.m. in Senate Hearing Room 1 and virtually.
Please use the Take Action button to email committee members and urge them to vote “Yes” to SB 5960.
The Importance of Washington’s Ungulate Populations
Washington’s deer, elk, moose, goat, caribou, and sheep are more than just wildlife; they are a vital part of the state’s nature, local traditions, and the small-town economies that rely on outdoor tourism.
Addressing Rising Predator-Prey Conflicts
However, in regions where predators like the gray wolf have been federally delisted, increasing predator-prey conflicts have led to concerning declines in these herds.
Key Provisions of SB 5960
SB 5960 provides a balanced, science-driven approach to wildlife management through several key provisions:
- Establishes clear “at-risk” designations for populations that fall 25% below their 10-year rolling average, triggering immediate mitigation efforts,
- Requires implementation of predator mitigation actions to be responsive to the unique characteristics of specific zones, ensuring that local ecological needs are met,
- Mandates annual population surveys conducted in partnership with sportsmen, using transparent methods to ensure public trust in state data, and
- Requires annual reports to the Legislature on population trends and mitigation progress, ensuring that wildlife management remains focused on measurable recovery benchmarks.
Engage Your Community: Protect Our Heritage
Don’t forget to share this alert with your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen. Urge them to use the Take Action button to contact the committee members and urge them to vote “Yes” to SB 5960.
Washington sportsmen know there has never been a more crucial time in sportsmen’s history to protect and preserve our traditions and heritage for future generations. Washington needs everyone involved and engaged in protecting our way of life. Urge your family and friends to join you and the Sportsmen’s Alliance in the fight against the rising tide of animal extremism and gun control activism. The legacy of hunting, fishing, and trapping depends on our actions today.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance guarantees hunting, fishing and trapping for the American sportsman now and forever. We’re there when sportsmen need us most. We are the only organization specifically created to protect the individual hunter, angler and trapper – no matter the threat. We will never compromise when it comes to defending our way of life in the courts, in the legislatures, in the public square and at the ballot box. We make this promise to the American sportsman: we will never give up and never give in while proudly securing our future against those seeking to destroy our values, beliefs, and traditions. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
