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Post by hunter on Mar 6, 2012 23:10:01 GMT -5
I made the DNR Hunting Proposals public meeting and drove 140 miles from my home in VA to attend. Of course I was disappointed with the turnout but it's nothing new allot of people talk the talk and a very few people walk the walk. Meeting was very productive and I can see for sure allot of changes in the right direction with most of the proposals and the license increases have already changed and I think they are fair and within reason. Being a non-resident I'm ok with the proposed increase and dropping the turkey tag. I would say probably a 90% or better chance the deer buck limit proposal will be changed and a added bonus buck tag after harvesting two does will be included in the overall limit of bucks. I would say from what I heard the sika antler restriction proposal is dead in the water and will be dropped. September 5th opener for bow hunting I believe is for sure going to pass. Overall I was impressed by what the DNR representatives had to say and how much they listened to the concerns of the hunters that did attend and I feel confident changes are coming for the better with these proposals and much smaller license fee increases for resident and non resident hunters.
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Post by nalley1952 on Mar 7, 2012 1:09:19 GMT -5
Way to go Hunter. If I wasn't on midnights I would have made it too.
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Post by osprey on Mar 7, 2012 8:03:57 GMT -5
Glad you made it up Hunter, I wasn't able to find anybody going up and I'm not able to drive the Bay Bridge. Attendance is always an issue at those meetings. DNR keeps cutting them back because nobody comes, but nobody goes because they don't think it'll do any good. I've been covering this stuff for 20 years and I could count on one hand the number of proposals that didn't get pushed through, despite anything said at the meetings, so I have to agree on that aspect. I don't know what the answer is and DNR hasn't been able to come up with one either. Maybe if they just put the proposals out on the web, FB, Twitter, etc like one of those newspaper polls, with yes, no, undecided options? Those seem to get thousands of hits in short order.
The public meetings are the same few people at most of them, and generally the same vocal minority that are on the hunting forums. I talked with Bart after the meeting last night and he said he knew everybody there by screen name!
I did see the new license package late yesterday, a MUCH better way to go.
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Post by hunter on Mar 7, 2012 8:32:59 GMT -5
Osprey I think your going to be very surprised (for the better) when the final proposals are adopted. I know the sika antler restriction proposal was very importent to you and give the DNR a chance as I 100% believe this proposal will not pass. Not one hunter at the meeting was in favor of that proposal and from the public comments page not many hunters are in favor of it passing. I also believe we will have a Sept 5th opener for bow season and a reduced buck harvest but a bonus buck tag too. The DNR already listened to hunters and reduced the license increase significantly and no turkey tag. They do listen guys to what we have to say and everyone on this site has the opportunity to attend the next meeting in Hagerstown, if you don't speak up for what you believe in then don't complain when changes are made.
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Post by osprey on Mar 7, 2012 10:28:46 GMT -5
Well, I hope you're right Hunter, but even after the meeting I'm getting a different word on it, so we'll see how it turns out. And they only backed off on the licenses because that had to pass the legislature - there was enough outcry that might not have happened.
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