There was a time, and it was way pre-merger, that WDG pretty much required at least field staff to attend the local fishing and hunting group meetings. I know that some agency folks were as high as president in some of the groups. Staff were expected to interact with the public and know what was going on.

When I was in active management, which again was soon after Noah landed the Ark, that we were expected to interact with any and all fishermen and groups when they called. We (WDF) even developed a half-day presentation on the details about how commercial salmon management occurred, including the legal constraints. After we did this it really made discussions easier. They may not (and often didn't) agree but they knew what rules we were forced to work under.

I don't think the Agency, now, really values the users except for the money they provide through license purchases. Sad.