State wildlife agency leaders to meet with public in Vancouver

State wildlife director Jim Unsworth and the senior leadership of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will meet with the public Wednesday in Vancouver to ask their views and priorities regarding fish and wildlife management.

The session will begin at 6 p.m. at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way.

Top leadership and regional staff will attend the meeting, where people can discuss fishing, hunting, other outdoor recreation, habitat protection and restoration, licensing and enforcement.

The session will begin with a brief presentation by regional staff. Participants then will be invited to talk in small groups with representatives of the agency’s Fish, Wildlife, Enforcement, Licensing and Habitat programs, as well as Unsworth and his staff.

The department will summarize the comments and suggestions from the public, as well as from outdoor organizations, advisory groups, tribes and state and local elected officials.

The information will be used to help identify potential changes in agency operations.

Unsworth said the department needs strong relationships with the anglers, hunters, outdoor groups and others as it deals with future policy, budget and fee proposals.

Comments also will be accepted online through Oct. 31 at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildfuture.