Knoll Memo Backs Claims of Collusion by WDFW Commissioners

April 1, 2026
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In a bombshell revelation that's got Washington state's hunters and Second Amendment advocates buzzing, the Sportsmen's Alliance and Conservation Coalition of Washington have dropped the Knoll Memo—a damning internal investigation by WDFW Legal Liaison Thomas Knoll. This isn't some leaked rumor; it's a meticulously documented takedown alleging that commissioners Lorna Smith, Melanie Rowland, and Claire Davis straight-up violated the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and Public Records Act (PRA) through coordinated collusion and deliberate obstruction. Knoll's findings paint a picture of backroom scheming: commissioners allegedly dodging transparency by using private emails, text chains, and off-the-record huddles to shape wildlife policies, effectively turning public oversight into a farce. For those who've followed WDFW's slide toward restrictive hunting regs and anti-gun posturing, this memo is the smoking gun proving what many suspected—insiders gaming the system to sideline sportsmen. Dig deeper, and the 2A implications hit like a .308 round. WDFW isn't just about deer tags; it's a frontline battleground where wildlife management intersects with firearm rights, from lead ammo bans to expanded predator protections that empower anti-hunting zealots. These commissioners, with their track record of pushing urban-centric policies, have been accused of colluding to ram through regs that hamstring rural shooters and trappers—think suppressed public input on wolf quotas or shotgun-only zones that neuter modern sporting rifles. Knoll's memo exposes how they allegedly stonewalled records requests and held secret strategy sessions, echoing the same opacity tactics gun-grabbers use in legislative backrooms. This isn't isolated; it's symptomatic of a broader Deep State playbook in state agencies, where appointed officials treat the public as adversaries, eroding the checks that keep 2A-friendly policies alive. The ripple effects for Washington's 2A community? Massive. This memo arms sportsmen with legal ammo to demand accountability—potentially ousting these commissioners via recall or ethics probes—and sets a precedent for FOIA warriors nationwide. If pro-2A groups like the Sportsmen's Alliance leverage this right, it could flip WDFW's board toward hunter-led governance, blocking future assaults on carry rights in the woods or ammo restrictions disguised as conservation. Stay vigilant, patriots: transparency wins wars, and this is one battle we're primed to dominate. Eyes on the hearings—your next hunt might depend on it.

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In a bombshell revelation that’s got Washington state’s hunters and Second Amendment advocates buzzing, the Sportsmen’s Alliance and Conservation Coalition of Washington have dropped the Knoll Memo—a damning internal investigation by WDFW Legal Liaison Thomas Knoll. This isn’t some leaked rumor; it’s a meticulously documented takedown alleging that commissioners Lorna Smith, Melanie Rowland, and Claire Davis straight-up violated the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and Public Records Act (PRA) through coordinated collusion and deliberate obstruction. Knoll’s findings paint a picture of backroom scheming: commissioners allegedly dodging transparency by using private emails, text chains, and off-the-record huddles to shape wildlife policies, effectively turning public oversight into a farce. For those who’ve followed WDFW’s slide toward restrictive hunting regs and anti-gun posturing, this memo is the smoking gun proving what many suspected—insiders gaming the system to sideline sportsmen.

Dig deeper, and the 2A implications hit like a .308 round. WDFW isn’t just about deer tags; it’s a frontline battleground where wildlife management intersects with firearm rights, from lead ammo bans to expanded predator protections that empower anti-hunting zealots. These commissioners, with their track record of pushing urban-centric policies, have been accused of colluding to ram through regs that hamstring rural shooters and trappers—think suppressed public input on wolf quotas or shotgun-only zones that neuter modern sporting rifles. Knoll’s memo exposes how they allegedly stonewalled records requests and held secret strategy sessions, echoing the same opacity tactics gun-grabbers use in legislative backrooms. This isn’t isolated; it’s symptomatic of a broader Deep State playbook in state agencies, where appointed officials treat the public as adversaries, eroding the checks that keep 2A-friendly policies alive.

The ripple effects for Washington’s 2A community? Massive. This memo arms sportsmen with legal ammo to demand accountability—potentially ousting these commissioners via recall or ethics probes—and sets a precedent for FOIA warriors nationwide. If pro-2A groups like the Sportsmen’s Alliance leverage this right, it could flip WDFW’s board toward hunter-led governance, blocking future assaults on carry rights in the woods or ammo restrictions disguised as conservation. Stay vigilant, patriots: transparency wins wars, and this is one battle we’re primed to dominate. Eyes on the hearings—your next hunt might depend on it.

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