While I did, in a past life, work at WDFW (and both its predecessors), my career was spent working for the fish and the ecosystem that supports them and which they, especially salmon, are the keystone species.

My first loyalty was to ensuring the resource was protected and thriving. In my view, a dead fish doesn't spawn and really doesn't matter who or what killed it. That said, as an employee back then I worked hard (in daily interactions because we managed salmon day to day) to ensure that the non-Indian got their share. While most of the action was focused on the PS net fishery (we managed adults returning to spawn) I was also involved in pushing, and getting, rec fisheries opened to.

The Tribes are taking over the fisheries and we (agencies, politicians, and stakeholders) are letting this occur.

Piper is right, though, that it would do WDFW a whole lot of good if employees fished and hunted more. At a minimum, they would have to read the pamphlets.