Wanna do something to fight poaching?

[loucompton]

Folks, as sportsmen and women we have decried the cuts to our Natural Resources Police over the last several years. How many times have you heard it said on this or other internet boards about how DNR doesn’t respond to complaints of trespassers, or how poaching of deer and other game species is out of control? While we’ve all been out there hunting and not really thinking about the MD Natural Resources Police, they have been the target of massive budget cuts over the last few years. There was a press release recently where NRP just had its first class of 18 new recruits. That would normally have been good news except that the real shame was barely mentioned. That class was the first in SIX years. Also making news but not being widely publicized is the fact that our DNR and governor have decided to cut all funding for the aviation unit of NRP as a cost cutting measure.



There is a ray of hope to help properly staff NRP and thus provide an appropriate level of dedication to the natural resources of this state as well as the MD citizens that engage in all forms of outdoor recreation. Senator Roy Dyson of So MD has introduced Senate Bill 765 which will require the Governor to staff NRP at a constant level of at least 480 NRP Officers. That would be a substantial increase considering that the current level is at 249.



Your help is needed to address this matter folks. If you really want to see an increase in policing of our natural resources and a real effort to beat back those poaching scumbags that we have all had to learn to live with lately then the time has come to do something to make it happen. We all need to phone our elected senators and delegates and encourage them to support SB 765. Phone calls are best and e-mails would be better than nothing. It only takes a minute of your time and if we are to retain a NRP Force with any degree of credibility we all need to jump in and demand our elected officials act to support an increase in NRP staffing.



If you don’t know who your elected representatives are then just hit the first link below and it will take you to a site where you can easily find out who they are and how to contact them. The second link is the actual bill if you care to read it. The last link is to the members of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. The final link is to a lsit of the Senators on the B&T committee. We really need to light up the phones and e-mails on this one folks!



The bill will be heard before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on 3-18-09 at 1:00PM if you can make it to testify.


mdelect.net/



mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/sb/sb0765f.pdf



mlis.state.md.us/Other/Roster/Committee.pdf

[loucompton]

Here is the text from a letter I just received about this matter from the NRP asking for our help.


March 4, 2009

Are the Natural Resources of Maryland important enough to be protected from the poachers?

Maryland Bowhunters Society

Dear Mr. Compton:

This letter is an urgent request for your help. As an officer sworn to protect and defend the natural resources in the state of Maryland, along with the Department of Natural Resources Police Force, I am asking for your support at this critical juncture in our state’s history.

In recent years we’ve watched in dismay as recommendations from environmental task forces and conservation groups have been ignored. The public has gotten a lot of empty rhetoric and campaign pledges from a Governor and administration that, time and again, have neglected their promises and obligations to make Maryland’s environment and natural resources a priority. My fellow officers and I have watched a continued and systematic pattern of disregard for Maryland’s sole agency charged with the enforcement of conservation laws and regulations. Examples include:

· Since 1990, the Natural Resources Police Force has been stripped of more than 250 positions, leaving approximately 231 officers to protect and defend the natural resources of the entire state.

· Of the fourteen agencies within the Department of Natural Resources, 40% of the recent budget cuts came from Natural Resources Police.

· The loss of our aviation unit – critical for aerial reconnaissance in waterfowl baiting, illegal poaching, and search and rescue missions.

Regardless of how many excellent pieces of legislation, policy or recommendations that are enacted, they are pointless if there are not enough officers – “boots on the ground” – to enforce laws, protect resources, ensure the safety of our citizenry, and provide proper stewardship of a fragile ecosystem. Specifically, our goal is to establish legislation that would provide for a minimum number of 480 MNRP conservation officers, and the reestablishment of the Aviation Unit.

There is one glimmer of hope on the horizon.

Recently, Maryland Senator Roy P. Dyson (D) of district 29 proposed Senate Bill 765. This bill would require the Governor to include in the annual State budget an appropriation for a minimum number of 480 Natural Resource Police officer positions.

We need your assistance. Your support in favor of this bill will show the value you place in protecting Maryland’s environment and ensuring a viable and sustainable future for Maryland’s natural resources. Please join us. Help reverse the current trend and make real change happen before it is too late.

“In order to successfully meet current and future fisheries management challenges stronger enforcement – on the ground, in the water, and in the courts is desperately needed. Without enforcement, even the best fisheries management plans are doomed to fail.” Fisheries Management Task Force Chairman Thomas B. Lewis

Sincerely Yours,

Michael P. Dyson

Michael P. Dyson, Natural Resources Police FOP Lodge 8

[loucompton]

Come on fellas; 10 views and not a single response? We gotta get on top of this one it,s important.

[davep]

Maybe I'm jaded Lou, but I think the NRP's problems run WAY deeper than budget.
Over the years, they have become just another LE agency. From the push to become "more diverse and representive of MD's population" ,to the move switch unions ,to the relabeling Park Rangers as NRP officers: all of these actions have hurt the Dept and moved them from their original purpose.

Used to be most offciers grew up hunting/fishing/trapping and a career in the NRP was a natural extension of this love for, and understanding of, the natural world.
They did their job well because they WERE outdoorsmen!

Many today have NO CLUE about the sports they are supposed to be overseeing. No background in any of the field sports, and sad to say, a few seem to have no interest in it!
There are a few old school, retired officers who try to bring some of these guys up to speed, but I think the results are not always as desired.

And then there are those few who see us in an adversarial role, instead of partners.

The latest class commissioned are transfers from other agencies, etc,ie were already in LE, then came over to NRP. There is a new class starting from the ground up.

And I'm not trying to lay all the blame on the officers either. I know many problems originate above.Scheduling/OT etc are all a mess. The Dept has become WAY to politicized over theyears.

We are fortunate,esp in southern MD, to have some VERY dedicated officers, who give 110%, and who go way out of their way to not only protect our resources, but who encourage and mentor our youth. But sad to say, one bad experience with an over zealous officer, or one who is ignorant of the law, or our sports, turns many folks off for good. Especially our youth.

I have an old trapping buddy who has been a CO (conservation officer) in another state for over 20 years. Had to have a MINIMUM of a BS in fisheries/wildlife mgmt/Nat'l resources,etc to qualify. And most had an extensive outdoors background beforehand. He is intimately involved, not only in LE aspects, but in ALL management aspects of the fish and game he is protecting. He is out on surveys all the time. There, officers are intimately involved in the Depts programs, making for a more cohesive, unified,informed Dept.


Check out the numbers of NRP in MD, and the square miles our fair state encompasses, then compare the numer of officers per square mile to some of the other states. Granted, we have a much higher population density, and literally thousands of miles of waterways to patrol, but we are not THAT understaffed, relative to other states.

I do believe that we could better train the offciers we have, better utilize them, and be more selective of those we start with, PC or not. Get the Dept BACK to its original mission.
And the AV units are a no brainer: We NEED them.

But how many times have agencies used these sorts of vital resources as a bargaining chip?
Remember "if we don't get the huge increases in vehicle registration fees, we'll ground the Medevac units!" a few years back?
I'm just saying.... ;D

[sideways]

I've contacted my representative.

It's your choice to sit back and do nothing but after hearing on the news last night that PG County is thinking about letting the latest class of police recruits go in order to meet budget, I sent my emails

Just what we need fewer law enforcement officers, in what we refer to as the vehicle theft capitol of the world.

Waldorf is already known as PG county South!

[osprey]

From the Outdoor Wire, California is even worse...though that's no news flash!

California's Bad Situation Worsening?


The sign says it all. And for California, the facts are simple: there simply aren't enough game wardens to protect the environment, wildlife, fisheries and the public safety of people there.

California has miles of coastlines, hundreds of miles of rivers and tens of thousands of acres of wild land. It also has one of the worst poaching problems in America. The problems aren't difficult to explain: there simply aren't enough California Game Wardens to protect the resources from people. Today, there are thirty eight million people living in California. There are around 200 Game Wardens in the field - total. That means each Warden - if all the wardens worked 24/7, would be responsible for policing the actions of 190,000 state resident.

California has the worst Game Warden per capita ratio of all the United States - and any Canadian province. And they're charged with pollution investigations, anti-drug enforcement, homeland security, search and rescue and other duties, in addition to the normal jobs you'd expect. It's not hard to understand why Game Warden is one of the most dangerous of all California law enforcement position. With an estimated $100 million plus black market trade in the state, the stakes are high and the likelihood of being caught is not.

With California's financial crisis worsening, the news only gets worse. If the furloughs to save budget dollars aren't enough, as many as forty-five percent of the state's already-beleaguered "environmental cops" will be gone. At that point, there would be only 100 Game Wardens to police the entire state.

The math just doesn't add up. Consequently, everyone suffers.

To help spread the word, the California Fish and Game Wardens Association has sent a documentary DVD out to legislators and members of the state media to try and explain the seriousness of the problem.

The DVD,"Endangered Species: California Fish & Game Wardens" is one of those eye-opening bits of outdoor reporting. It documents the two years that Snow Goose Productions principals James and Andrew Swan spent traveling the state with Wardens and is woven together with narration by actor Jameson Parker (Simon & Simon).

The project includes footage taken from airplanes, helicopters, snowmobiles, boats and patrol vehicles as wardens are seen in a variety of harrowing situations. Those enforcement situations include the bust of a 20,000 plant marijuana grove, busts for abalone, caviar and bear poaching, patrols for spotlighting; even discovery of a terrorist cell and a shootout in a marijuana grove. It makes obvious the danger of the Game Warden's job - and the dedication of those Wardens who are trying to make a difference.

"Endangered Species" doesn't paint a positive picture for California residents, or the state's abundant, but pressured wildlife. Knowing the odds of being caught are extremely slight seems to be all the encouragement needed for poachers looking to make a fast buck at the expense of the wildlife.

The project was supported by the California Fish and Game Wardens Association, the California Waterfowl Association, The Wild Sheep Foundation, Northern California Council Federation of Fly-Fishers, and the Game Commissions of more than a dozen California counties.

As the California Game Wardens face mandatory furloughs, force reductions and a variety of criminal situations from chasing poachers to taking down drug operations, they're doing it at the lowest pay level of any state law enforcement agency. It's not an uplifting story, but "Endangered Species: California Fish and Game Wardens" is one that individuals, organizations and legislators need to see. Copies are available from Snow Goose Productions. You can learn more at www.jamesswan.com/snowgoose/cp.html

[shadow]

My representative has been contacted (he happens to be a personal friend of mine). Chewed his ear off on a few matters including in support of this bill.

There are many bills out there that "effect" the way we hunt. One that is in the House, HOUSE BILL 1309 Natural Resources - Hunting - Expansion of Safety Zone, would move the safety zone to 300 yards from 150 yards. Don't know about others, but I have harvested quite a variety of game (deer, rabbits, geese etc...) between the 150 and 300 yards. Would put quite a crimp in my goose spot as the owners house is only about 200 yards from the pit.

All should try and keep themselves aware of the different Bills sponsored out there. Although many will not even make it to a vote, you would be surprised at what you may find and some of the things sponsored. If some of these things were to pass, the hunting I grew up on would become a thing of the "past". Do yourself and your hunting heritage a favor and view the bills in the House and Senate @ -

www.mlis.state.md.us

The Bill in this post may not get a response from you, but I am sure there will be one in there you will find that may "peak" an interest !

[Hardcorehunter]

I agree Shadow, thanks for the post.