Gerald Martin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2009
- Messages
- 8,636
Presented in Thompson Falls by the Montana chapter of SFW. Rusty Wickman gave the presentation outlining the need for reducing the number of wolves in order to get our deer and elk herds back.
Main thrust of the meeting as I saw it was "wolves are killing all your deer and elk, everyone needs to join SFW since they are the ones fighting for us sportsmen against wolves. Also, they are the orginization that will work to force FWP to work for us instead of special interest groups."
At some point in the presentation, there was an offhand remark made that in Helena working with the legislature and FWP there are other conservation orginizations who are basically in FWP's backpocket and just tell FWP they are doing a good job instead of holding their feet to the fire. (this isn't a direct quote, just my best attempt at remembering what was said)
Rusty's presentation garnered a highly emotional response from most of the audience as they expressed their frustrations with the wolf situation and their desire to see the number of wolves drastically reduced. I could see most of the audience figuratively pulling out their wallets to lend their support to this group even before the presentation was over.
When it came time for the question and answer session there was a lot of hand-wringing over the agenda of the wolf huggers and incompetant government agencies. Softball questions that only served to further the emotional response that SFW wanted to see in my opinion.
When I raised my hand I asked the question of why I should join SFW when there are other less controversial conservation groups I could support in light of what is happening with the parent orginization of SFW in Utah. I mentioned the lack of financial transparency and accountability in reguards to auction and raffle tags with the Convention.
I also asked about Don Peay's comments saying that the North American Model for Wildlife is socialism. Their response is that he was taken way out of context and that he fully supports the North American Model.
I asked about SFW's stance on the Elk Management Plan once we do get wolves under control and if they supported raising the numbers of elk in this state. I pointed out that even in areas where wolves are devistating elk numbers several of those units are over objective and FWP is legally bound to manage for the objective.
I stated that I totally object to the privitization of wildlife and transferrable landowner tags that can be sold to the highest bidder. I was assured that they opposed that also.
One other statement that I think worth mentioning and was a direct quote. "All the money that is raised in Montana, will stay in Montana."
Paul Fielder, who represents region 1 for the Montana Trappers Association and serves on the MTFW& Citizens Advisory Council was there as a guest speaker with a presentation on trapping wolves. As I understood it he is not a SFW member but came to speak on trapping and access issues.
He spoke after I raised the question of financial transparency and urged the crowd that it was very important that they understand where their money was going.
So in light of today's presentation, I wanted to start this thread as a way to congeal some of the arguments of why SFW is not an orginization I want representing me , based on their past history and the results in states where they have worked for years.
I will be emailing a link to this thread to Rusty Wickman, Paul Rossignol, and Paul Fielder inviting them to participate in this discussion. Paul's wife Jennifer is running for office this fall and this might be a good chance for her to gain some insight as to why not all sportsmens are gung ho for SFW.
Please include links to some past discussions we've had in the past and feel free to add information that is pertinent to this discussion. Also, I'm operating on the assumption that these guys are genuinely concerned about the wolf situation and may either not be aware of some of the controversy surrounding SFW or may have just been drinking the kool aid for too long. My point? Don't make this personal, let's keep it informative so others who are thinking of joining SFW can make an informed decision.
Thanks, Gerald
Main thrust of the meeting as I saw it was "wolves are killing all your deer and elk, everyone needs to join SFW since they are the ones fighting for us sportsmen against wolves. Also, they are the orginization that will work to force FWP to work for us instead of special interest groups."
At some point in the presentation, there was an offhand remark made that in Helena working with the legislature and FWP there are other conservation orginizations who are basically in FWP's backpocket and just tell FWP they are doing a good job instead of holding their feet to the fire. (this isn't a direct quote, just my best attempt at remembering what was said)
Rusty's presentation garnered a highly emotional response from most of the audience as they expressed their frustrations with the wolf situation and their desire to see the number of wolves drastically reduced. I could see most of the audience figuratively pulling out their wallets to lend their support to this group even before the presentation was over.
When it came time for the question and answer session there was a lot of hand-wringing over the agenda of the wolf huggers and incompetant government agencies. Softball questions that only served to further the emotional response that SFW wanted to see in my opinion.
When I raised my hand I asked the question of why I should join SFW when there are other less controversial conservation groups I could support in light of what is happening with the parent orginization of SFW in Utah. I mentioned the lack of financial transparency and accountability in reguards to auction and raffle tags with the Convention.
I also asked about Don Peay's comments saying that the North American Model for Wildlife is socialism. Their response is that he was taken way out of context and that he fully supports the North American Model.
I asked about SFW's stance on the Elk Management Plan once we do get wolves under control and if they supported raising the numbers of elk in this state. I pointed out that even in areas where wolves are devistating elk numbers several of those units are over objective and FWP is legally bound to manage for the objective.
I stated that I totally object to the privitization of wildlife and transferrable landowner tags that can be sold to the highest bidder. I was assured that they opposed that also.
One other statement that I think worth mentioning and was a direct quote. "All the money that is raised in Montana, will stay in Montana."
Paul Fielder, who represents region 1 for the Montana Trappers Association and serves on the MTFW& Citizens Advisory Council was there as a guest speaker with a presentation on trapping wolves. As I understood it he is not a SFW member but came to speak on trapping and access issues.
He spoke after I raised the question of financial transparency and urged the crowd that it was very important that they understand where their money was going.
So in light of today's presentation, I wanted to start this thread as a way to congeal some of the arguments of why SFW is not an orginization I want representing me , based on their past history and the results in states where they have worked for years.
I will be emailing a link to this thread to Rusty Wickman, Paul Rossignol, and Paul Fielder inviting them to participate in this discussion. Paul's wife Jennifer is running for office this fall and this might be a good chance for her to gain some insight as to why not all sportsmens are gung ho for SFW.
Please include links to some past discussions we've had in the past and feel free to add information that is pertinent to this discussion. Also, I'm operating on the assumption that these guys are genuinely concerned about the wolf situation and may either not be aware of some of the controversy surrounding SFW or may have just been drinking the kool aid for too long. My point? Don't make this personal, let's keep it informative so others who are thinking of joining SFW can make an informed decision.
Thanks, Gerald
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