OLYMPIA — The Democratic chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee said the state’s wolf policy is failing northeast Washington, echoing the frustration long-held by Republican lawmakers from that wolf-saturated corner of the state.

Sen. Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles, wrapped up a hearing on two wolf-related bills Feb. 17 by saying the state should rethink wolf management, including by considering moving wolves to Western Washington, spreading the blessings and burdens of living with wolves.

“I can’t look around the state and say, ‘Gosh, we’re doing good on this issue.’ We’re not doing good. We’re not doing good by the folks in northeast Washington,” he said.

“Wolves need to predate, but they need to predate on wild animals, not domesticated animals,” Chapman said.

The committee took testimony on Senate Bill 5354, which would give counties more say in managing wolves, and Senate Bill 5590, which would allow ranchers to shoot the first wolf seen returning to feed on a carcass.

Wolf advocates testified against both bills. Washington Wildlife First science director Francisco Santiago-Avila said SB 5590 would amount to baiting wolves. SB 5354 would undermine management by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, he said.

“We think wildlife concerns should be addressed by experts, not county governments, which may be under very real pressures from local special interests,” he said.

Republic, Wash., rancher Kathy McKay testified for both bills. She invited legislators to visit her wolf-plagued guest ranch 125 miles north of Spokane. She tearfully described how wolves come in waves to kill her domesticated animals.

“The losses have become unbearable,” she said. “I encourage you to visit. It’ll show you what we’re up against. It’s non-stop.”

Neither bill is likely to pass from the committee, though Chapman said he’s tempted to put them up for a vote just to see what happens, an extremely rare move by a committee chairman.

He said he preferred Fish and Wildlife take change, rather than the Legislature pass a bill here and there. But he said he was starting to feel like a failure after nine years in the Legislature.

He speculated that some counties will get tired of waiting for something to change.

“I think we have some great sheriffs around the state. I think there will be an opportunity for some sheriffs to say, ‘We’ve got to take matters into our own hands,’ “ Chapman said.

Republican Sen. Shelly Short, who represents northeast Washington, introduced the bill allowing counties with wolves to write management plans with the participation of Fish and Wildlife.

She said she wasn’t looking for a sharp change in wolf management. “I want my folks back home to have a voice,” she said. “It is a continual burden on my district and the ranchers in my district.”

Fish and Wildlife said eight counties would qualify to have county-level plans. The department’s wildlife program director, Mick Cope, said the department would have to hire more people and each plan would have a lengthy environmental review.

Sen. Keith Wagnoner, R-Sedro Woolley, said his bill to allow ranchers to shoot the first wolf back to the carcass would teach the rest of the pack to stay away from livestock.

Stevens County Sheriff Brad Manke said it would be effective. Fish and Wildlife already sometimes temporarily traps wolves coming back to feed on a carcass to send a message to the pack.

“We call it ‘spank and release,’ “ Manke said. “And it does change pack behavior, if they (Fish and Wildlife) are available.”