Led by the state archery association, an infant program called Eyes in the Woods is targeting those who hunt and fish for off-limits game. He's vice president for the hunting division of the 3,000-member Washington State Archery Association. Winton helped develop Eyes in the Woods to train hunters, anglers and anyone else who spends time in the wilderness to spot violations and report the right information to lead the state to the suspects. The Fish and Wildlife Department needs all the help it can get, state officials admit. It's across the board with all species.
Troubles tracking the violators are just as universal.
No, we can't. That's a maybe. John McIntosh, state fish and wildlife officer in the Tri-Cities for 21 years, said the enforcement side of the agency barely is holding together. The state's enforcement contingent in Benton and Franklin counties dropped from six to four in the last year as two employees left and were not replaced. Statewide, five officers have been laid off because of the agency's budget shortfalls, McIntosh said.