After backlash from local hunters, a meeting in Elma Monday to discuss restrictions relating to trophy blacktail deer hunting in the Minot Peak (660) Game Management Unit that was initially open to only those invited by Region 6 of the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife is now open to the public — or at least for the public to observe.

While the general public is welcome to the meeting, only a portion of it will involve topics not related to the Minot Peak management plan — those the general public is free to comment on. When asked if the general public was welcome to participate in the Minot Peak discussion, Anthony Novack, district wildlife manager for Grays Harbor and Pacific counties, said, “It is open to observe and attend,” but only those selected initially to be part of the focus group will be in on the discussion.

To that, longtime sportsmen’s rights advocate Dan Boeholt responded, “Novack is not a dictator. Not going to happen his way.” He vows to go over Novack’s heads to his “bosses’ bosses” to make it more of a public forum. “I have never lost a battle with (Fish and Wildlife) and I’m not going to start now! And I’ve been battling them for over 30 years.”

Brian Calkins, regional wildlife director for Fish and Wildlife, said, “This is something new we are trying. When we do statewide surveys anyone can weigh in on on anything. This case affects a specific (Game Management Unit), and Anthony, in his original proposal, wanted to take the extra step of identifying the hunters specific to that unit. As part of this meeting we still would like to do this, but anyone who attends will have an opportunity to comment on this proposal.” In other words, while the focus group discussion is open only to those signed up as part of that group, the public can observe and make comments to Fish and Wildlife staff afterward.

Boeholt told the Daily World last week that a meeting to discuss turning Minot Peak into a trophy deer area would include only a select few hunters who filled out a survey at the Puyallup Sportsman’s Show last winter. Novack responded that the Elma meeting was meant to be a “focus group, a meeting directly related to hunters who reported 660 as their primary hunting area, or reported harvesting a buck there.” That initial list was gleaned from the surveys at the sportsman’s shows – hunters who called Minot Peak their home hunting area could mark a box if they would like to continue to be a part of the process of establishing a trophy hunting area there.

Those that said they would like to participate got a follow-up survey directly mailed to them, asking more pointed questions about the types of regulations that could be used to create quality blacktail opportunity in Minot Peak. Respondents who wanted to be part of the focus group could say so on the survey. It was from that list the final focus group was created, said Novack.

Boeholt and Mitzi Schindele – newly-appointed head of the local Working Wild Olympics Campaign against the Wild Olympics Campaign – made several radio appearances Monday to decry what they and others considered an exclusionary, private meeting.

“(Fish and Wildlife) had not had a hunting meeting in this area in 13 years,” said Boeholt. “We were not on the list again last July. That’s a lot of pent-up frustration.”

Novack said the department then had “a fair amount of public interest in having a broader meeting since we didn’t have one in this part of the state this year. So we’re kind of double-dipping here; we will have the opportunity to discuss proposals in the state’s three-year plan and have the focus group.”

The last Minot Peak survey asked questions relating to shortening the regular season, making the unit three-point or better, allowing only for the harvest of spikes and two-points to those without special permits, to making the late buck season in November open to special permits only. The Minot Peak plan under discussion now is part of the 2018 hunting season package and would not impact the 2017 season.

“We’re prepared to discuss a variety of issues, but we want to take some time to hear what Minot Peak hunters have to say about this proposal.” Calkins said. “We don’t always get all the information we need from online surveys or a single meeting.”

The meeting is Monday, Oct. 2 at the Elma Grange hall at 401 West Waldrip Street. Doors open at 6 p.m., meeting is scheduled through 9 p.m.