A national hunting advocacy group is alleging that members of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission violated the state’s Public Records Act and is asking Gov. Bob Ferguson to remove them from office.

In a lawsuit, The Sportsmen’s Alliance says records it obtained show commissioners discussed agency business via text messages and, in some cases, directed colleagues to delete those communications. State law requires commissioners to retain official records, including texts.

The dispute stems from a 2022 vote in which the commission canceled Washington’s spring bear hunting season indefinitely. After a commissioner referenced receiving a text message during that meeting, the Sportsmen’s Alliance filed a public records request in September 2023.

The group says the state Department of Fish and Wildlife did not turn over most of the requested records until after it filed a lawsuit in January in Thurston County Superior Court.

On June 27 the group filed additional information in their lawsuit, asking the governor to remove the four commissioners. A hearing in that case is scheduled for Aug. 1.

Posted: July 8, 2025
Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Brechner FOI Project, Brechner Freedom of Information Project, FOI, FOIA, open records laws, public records