Ducks Unlimited’s Regional Field Office Named WDFW Organization Of The Year

The Pacific Northwest Field Office of Ducks Unlimited was among those recognized last week by WDFW during its annual Citizen Awards.

The organization and state agency partnered on a big project opening up dikes on Leque Island near Stanwood, teamed up to acquire 1,600 acres of wetlands near Westport, restore and upgrade wildlife areas in the Columbia Basin, and worked together on a spring migration study in the Channelled Scablands.

Rachel Voss and Jim Terry were named WDFW Volunteers of the Year.

Voss is the state chair of the Mule Deer Foundation and a major project she worked on was coordinating the purchase of $15,000-plus worth of top-flight trail cameras for game wardens to use to reduce poaching.

She also is a member of many WDFW advisory boards and is considered “an ally of Washington hunters on social media, at WDFW Commission meetings, and at the State Capitol.”

Terry is all but a staff member with WDFW’s District 11, which covers Pierce and Thurston Counties in the South Sound, volunteering on Oregon spotted frog searches and restoration efforts, eradicating predatory bullfrogs, and monitoring other nongame species. And as a “skilled marksman,” he helps out on deer research as well.

Two brothers with large acreages in the Palouse and a long history of working on habitat with WDFW were named Landowners of the Year. Mark Bailey and Gary Bailey teamed up with Eastern Washington University grad students on an interesting pollinator corridor study, as well as hosted youth mentor pheasant hunts and have offer 5,000 acres for hunting through WDWF’s Hunt By Reservation program.

And Marty Kotzke, who certified 300-plus Hunter Ed students in 17 courses last year in the Puyallup area, was awarded the Terry Hoffer Memorial Firearm Safety Award. Last year he was honored with the 2018 Citizen Educator of the Year award and WDFW notes that he volunteers time to plan and staff National Hunting and Fishing Day festivities and processing small game survey results.

Kudos all! Thank you very much for your time and efforts on behalf of Washington fish and wildlife, habitats, and hunting and fishing – good examples of all-around wildlife advocates!