Here's the main problem with F&G Departments

[Ithaca 37]

Many of you have voted for the politicians who put these policies in effect. YOU are to blame for the problems we have now. When are you going to wake up?

"In the early 1990s, Western politicians and those in control at the time were mostly Republicans. They coordinated a political hit on Western Game and Fish agencies, which were felt to be too powerful.

The commodity-oriented politicians in control of the Western states got tired of Game and Fish agencies pointing out the problems developments and agricultural practices were causing wildlife."

And if you don't agree with this article, please don't bore us with your usual worthless, factless diatribes-----just tell us why the article is not true. WITH FACTS!

If you love to hunt and fish, you really have to be an idiot to continue voting for these people.

http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2003/04/13/editorial/colu mns/6cbe7da2a17305d323b86ecf0f321b45.txt

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1">[ 04-20-2003 10:17: Message edited by: Ithaca 37 ]</font>

 

[Ithaca 37]

No answers from the anti F&G, anti environment crowd, huh?!

 

[BuzzH]

Thanks for the link Ithaca, too much truth in that article...

Nice to know wildlife policy is being set by the ag. industry, mining industry, etc. etc. etc. and that wildlife needs are only met if they dont interfere with the profit driven motives of the few.

Wouldnt it be great if wildlife was at least given EQUAL consideration?

 

[Oak]

That was a good article. It's also good to see that it was written by the retired Wildlife Division Chief of the WY G&F. Here in CO some of the recently retired DOW folks are finally starting to raise a voice regarding their treatment by the governor and his lackeys. It's surprising to see that the Casper paper is taking the side of wildlife over agriculture. They had two pro-wildlife opinion pieces in two weeks.

I've posted this before, but it fits here (and it pisses me off). This is a good example of what the article is saying. Here in CO, the nine voting members of the wildlife commission, which are appointed by the governor, are required to come from five interest groups and the public at large: livestock producers(1), ag. producers(1), boards of county commissioners(1), wildlife organizations(1), sportspersons or outfitters(2), and the public at large. Take a look at the backgrounds of the commissioners, though. The county commissioner rep., Marianna Raftopoulos owns and operates a sheep and cattle ranch. Olive Valdez, one of the public reps., is self employeed in the livestock business and is president of the Farmer's Union local in Antonito, CO. Phil James, another public at large rep. is senior and executive vice president for two divisions of ConAgra, Inc. Obviously the livestock and ag. reps are going to put their industries first, so the commission has 5 of 9 voting members that make their living in the ag. business. How balanced does that sound?

The problem is that most hunters don't pay attention to what's going on in their wildlife department. They are usually quick to blame the department for everything they dislike, without knowing what's going on behind the scene. If that's what you do, you deserve what you get.

Oak

 

[Ithaca 37]

Oak, You're right about hunters not knowing what's going on! We see it here in SI just about every day. If you were to ask the posters in SI how their F&G Dept. is run, how the commissioners are chosen, what industries they come from, how the budget is developed, who controls it, etc.. , how many do you think could answer?

One of the Idaho commissioners was known as "The Butcher Of The Targee Forest" when he worked for the FS. Another is a logger. One is a rancher who is only interested in killing predators. All are handpicked by our Governor to be against dam breaching to save the salmon.

That's why we're collecting signatures to put a F&G initiative on the ballot that will give sportsmen a say in choosing commissioners. There are Idaho Hunt Talkers who are against the idea and refuse to sign the petition! Ask MD4M why she won't sign it!

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1">[ 04-21-2003 22:57: Message edited by: Ithaca 37 ]</font>

 

[Washington Hunter]

Ithaca, that was a great article. I read it right after you posted it, and even emailed it to my brother because I thought he should read it too. I'm sure the exact same type of thing happens here in Washington. But I have to admit, I'm guilty of not really knowing how our fish and wildlife department operates, but then, I don't complain about everything they do either. The main problem we have in this state is too many people, and just not enough resources to go around. And I realize how hard it must be for the fish and wildlife department to keep everybody happy, especially when there are so many damn whiners out there. There are several things I don't agree with, but I know they are only trying to keep everybody happy. I am going to try to learn more about the political part of how the fish and wildlife department in my state works. Heck, I work in the same building, it shouldn't be that hard for me to find out what's going on. Thanks again for the article Ithaca. Amazing how none of the anti-environment people have anything to say, probably because they all know how true this article is.

 

[Ithaca 37]

Wash., Thanks! It's a great editorial and should be read by anyone who likes any kind of outdoor recreation. I even emailed it to my representatives in the Idaho legislature. I passed it on to a friend who writes for our local newspaper and suggested they use it for a basis on an editorial of their own.

There's too much truth in it for our "anti" crowd here in SI to deal with, and it shows them how little they actually know about how they've been duped.

 

[Lostagain]

Wow, finally the posters stay on the REAL issue. Welcome to the to REAL issue guys. It's past time to change the whole system of land management, and with you guys finally awake to that, maybe it will happen.

 

[Ithaca 37]

LA, Thanks for the compliment. Why didn't you alert us as to the REAL ISSUE a long time ago? I've posted about knowing how your legislators vote many times----usually can't get much response. How about showing me how to do it?

 

[Lostagain]

IT== everytime anyone else has an idea to change, YOU IT degrade on their spelling, reading comprehension, and/or idiotisms. You IT do not want any one else to have a voice, only the great IT can. *edited* and have a good day.

FYI, we in MT thought we would have a sportsmen's voice at the MTFW&P but then he sold out to the RMEF and was he then left to twist in the wind.

 

[BuzzH]

How dare someone with the MTFWP "sell out" to an organization that secures wildlife habitat, funds habitat enhancement, etc.

The sportsmen of Montana would be much better served by continuing on with their long history of representatives who have been bending over for every landowner, miner, logger, etc. in the state since day one.

I dont know exactly what you're refering to LA, but I can guarantee I'd rather see the MTFWP sell out to Sportsmen groups than to sell out to Ag, mining, etc. etc. etc., which has been common-place for too long.

 

[Lostagain]

Exactly Buzz=== he was considered to be hopefully a decent commissioner from the sportsmen side of things, but then he bailed out and went to do the dirty work for RMEF who then dismissed him as yesterday's garbage. A shame he wasn't really in either position for the longhaul.

 

[Washington Hunter]

Elkchsr, no comments or opinions on this one?

 

[ELKCHSR]

Washington Hunter...
I just got done with a coupe day's of class's and couldn't attend to every article on the board, I would tell you personally that I was very sorry, but I would be lying...LMAO!!!! I will look this one over probably a little later today and maybe make a post on it to make you happy, or maybe not, I don't need to post on every one, and I don't need to be nasty to those I don't care for all the time, just because you fit into this mold, others do not, I still haven't seen you put up much of any thing in the positive end of things, just sit on this board and run on like a sounding board with an echo...

 

[Washington Hunter]

Fine, I won't ask for your opinion anymore, and I won't give you advice regarding the health of your puppy either. I thought an opposing point of view would be good, so we could have a little debate on this issue, since most everybody seemed to agree with the article. I figured you could be counted on to come up with an argument against it, just as I know Rush Limbaugh would. If you don't think I post anything positive on here, too bad. It's just not positive in your point of view because 90% of the time you don't agree.

 

[ELKCHSR]

I do appreciate the advise on the pup…

As with every thing else on the board, none of us make the others happy all the time, no matter how close some of us agree on some things. Before the last couple of my posts, I hadn't realized I was getting snotty at you, (if in fact I had been), but recently you have been getting that way here. Whether it was intentional or not, that is the way it has came out, and I have only stepped up animosity to what I perceived was said, if I was wrong about that, well I will apologize, if you were having a bad couple day's and needed some one to take it out on, well, I could understand that also. If it is just because you can't stand Rush and because the mere mention of his name or things he say's drives you up a wall and because I was the one to bring it up. That I will not apologize for, as I would not make you try and apologize for articles you post if you believe in them or not. I may take those that do to task to see if they really believe what they put up, but will not get into the name calling and what not and have tried to keep a habit of that on this board and in my life. I also try not to start the nasty stuff, but do get into the subtleties of it if it is started first, that is just the game and its rules….
Russ...

 

[Washington Hunter]

Russ, well to tell you the truth I don't take anything on here too seriously. If we all agreed on everything, there would no point in even posting in the SI forum. If my posts seem to come across excessively on the snotty side, I'm sorry for that, but I really am not into kissin' ass, so maybe that is why. I give my opinion when I have one, on a particular subject, and that's about all I can do. I may not always be right, but it's just an opinion. The people that really get on my nerves, are the ones that love to hunt, but don't think wildlife habitat should take priority over other things, like agriculture and development (and I'm not necessarily referring to anybody on this board, but just hunters in general.) That's why I thought this article was really good. It explains why we have the problems we have with wildlife, and wildlife habitat. It's just selfish people, and selfish politicians, who don't care about anything except for the amount of money in their bank acccount.

P.S. How's the pup doing?

 

[ELKCHSR]

Where on the same page then...