Sortmen's Caucus

[schuyler olt]

I have the privilege of attending this meeting tomorrow as the spokesperson for the LKS. I would like to have the benefit of your thoughts as to what issues should be brought to the forefront. Obviously, cervid ranching and alternative agricultural processes involving wild critters (be they fish or land animals) are important pressing issues.

But I think that, as we approach tax reform and different thinking on monetary issues, hunting and fishing opportunities must be addressed. Sure, hunting and fishing are industries. But more importantly, they are integral parts of the historical and cultural fabric of this state. We still hunt with Kentucky long rifles. We still see the outdoors as one of the most effective classrooms to teach fundamental core values and ethics. We still see the fishing pole and the gun as important ways to bridge generations, and to bring families and friends closer together.

As it stands today, the biggest reason people cite for not hunting is that they do not have a place to go. We desperately lack public ground. We desperately lack public access to streams. And we desperately lack the money to acquire and maintain public ground. That doesn't mean that we throw up our hands. It means we look at ways to convince private landowners to permit some private access not through mandates but through incentives. It means that we start a dialogue with the farmers and other landowners in this state to see what would it would take to encourage them to allow others to freely hunt their farms.

As we lose farmland and other wild lands daily to development, the lack of access will become more and more difficult to resolve. Without access and opportunity, outdoor recreation will ultimately become the province of the wealthier segments of our socity. If that happens, we have lost.

Just my two cents' worth. Your thoughts?

[Multidigits]

Your are correct, lot's of issues facing the sportsman. None are more important than having a place to hunt. Bringing hundreds of youth hunters won't help, if folks don't find quality hunting somewhere. Bringing in thousands of dollars from NR hunters will fail for the same reasons. We need good, quality hunting and better managed WMA's that we already have. If it gets to the point that you can't add any more acres, then you need to improve what you have. We haven't and don't have any plans to do either that I'm aware of? I trust that you will represent us well as always. And your time spent is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Okie]

Here each hunter and fisherman buys a Legacy Permit at $5 each. All funds to be used only for land acquisition for public WMA's. I kinda like the idea.

[GSP]

As it stands today, the biggest reason people cite for not hunting is that they do not have a place to go. We desperately lack public ground. We desperately lack public access to streams. And we desperately lack the money to acquire and maintain public ground

Sky, I think the public land should be the top priority.

I read the Okie's plan that the state of OK adopted. It sounds good, as long as the $$ gets USED for the intended purposes

[grouseguy]

Sky,

I know it sounds like an echo in here, but put me with the group that wants to emphasize the need for increased public land acquisition and habitat improvement as PRIORITY NUMBER ONE, which should also include a dedicated funding source for this purpose.

In following up on the need for increased sportsmens opportunities above, I would also like to see you address the very nature of the Sportsmens Legislative Caucus...it should be a conduit between the sportsmen themselves and the legislature, NOT between the KDFWR and the legislature, and the LKS should be viewed as the logical spokesman for the sportsmen. Unfortunately, the wants/needs of the KDFWR has evolved away from the wants/needs of the sportsmen and the legislators need to hear this loud and clear.

[WBBP]

Sky:

Thanks for investing your time and effort on this. I believe that the three priorities (other than the shipping/raising of cervids) should be:

1) Developing and executing a detailed management plan for each WMA. The management plan would start with a comprehensive assessment of every WMA to determine the proper habitat that needs to be developed and maintained, plus the specific wildlife populations that each WMA can support.

2) Acquisition of more public hunting land through "lease to own" or "direct purchases". One way to do this would be by the legislature forcing the KFWRD to set aside a percentage (7.5%) of its annual budget to be spent on land purchases. Finding the right land to purchase is time consuming and will be expensive-but it has to be done. This should already be a priority of the Department.

3) Raise the pay for conservation officer's. I will take some flack over this, but the CO's are drastically under paid. Yes, I know they are doing something they love-doesn't matter, they should still be paid more. Some on this forum seem to have a problem with everyhting the CO's do. I don't and have never met a bad one.

Thanks, K

[Birdman]

Gentlemen, everyone on this thread is basically looking in the same direction. That’s why most of us were or will be elected to lead the league. We simply need to fulfill our goals. Wednesday at 11am, we will take a major step forward. If we were playing ball, we would be early in the second quarter. So tighten up your head gears and get after it. And thanks to everyone that has helped and continues to help.

[Xtreme]

Ditto to the more public/quality land !!! I'll see you tommorow Sky!!! And by the way let me thank you for the work you have put into this!

Rick.

[Highbow]

Go after them guys, my wife goes back to the hospital tomorrow, so I'm only available on a limited basis for the next few weeks. I agree with what you have listed as priorities. I have no problems with increasing pay to COs if we can get more LE when & where it is needed. We need CO sting operations setup to bust large poaching areas and put a dent in the poacher numbers for the future.
One thing I didn't see listed, ELIMINATE TELECHECK and go back to the old system or modify the current to allow more info gathering and have it setup at TELECHECK STATIONS.

[Multidigits]

I don't see how we as sportsman can get more money for CO's. It wuld be nice if as sportsmen, we could demand one per county like we should have or double what we have now, but we can't.

BUT what we can do, and this falls in line with this Caucus is try and get KLEPF funds for the officers. It's not a lot of help, but it's some, and it's deserved. Tom Bennett hasn't gotten it for them, MAYBE we can help through this caucus or through the LKS?

[Highbow]

Very true Multi, I went to bat for the Cos a few years back and was successful in getting a raise in pay to them from Gov Patton, it is a job that has a lot of hidden dangers and they are far too few of them to enforce the laws we now have. The majority of the Cos are great guys and put forth a lot of effort without much appreciation.

[creekdawgg]

I would like if you asked for KDFW to atleast put the tele-check system online as well as call in, I would think it may be an alteritive to getting a busy signal for an hour or two like I expercineced this year. thanks in advance

[DW]

I want to see something done with the 32 million before it blacktops a road somewhere or buys toliet paper for a rest area. Raising funds are fine but until you spend what you have it's a hard sell.

[schuyler olt]

We need to put our heads together and put together a working group to interface with the caucus, and identify them to the caucus leadership. By doing so, we will enhance the lines of communication and hopefully enhance the positive effectiveness of this group. We need folks from the LKS, the various sportsmen's groups, including anglers, and clubs. The more balanced and bipartisan, the better. Thoughts?

[GSP]

Sky, what are some of your initial thoughts? I also agree with DW. We need to see a long term plan for WMA's, (one that does not exist).

[Birdman]

The caucus has nothing to do with the 32 million in my opinion. If we can correspond with this group 32 million is a pi-s in the wind to what we'll have to work with and to what we can accomplish. As for the group being formed, let the forming begin.

The leaders of our state affiliates is as good a place to start as any. LKS, CYBER HUNTERS, NWTF, ETC.

[turk2di]

Sky, I think the public land should be the top priority.

I read the Okie's plan that the state of OK adopted. It sounds good, as long as the $$ gets USED for the intended purposes
And lets start with Peabody. This huge, multi-habitat heaven should not be allowed to vanish piecemeal by leaseosmosis! I don't care what fee's are levied, i'll pay!

[Multidigits]

The caucus has nothing to do with the 32 million in my opinion. If we can correspond with this group 32 million is a pi-s in the wind to what we'll have to work with and to what we can accomplish. As for the group being formed, let the forming begin.

The leaders of our state affiliates is as good a place to start as any. LKS, CYBER HUNTERS, NWTF, ETC.

I agree in a way, but if the Gov. can take it and then it is an issue with the committee. There needs to be a plan for the use of the excess funds and why we need that much money in that fund. Maybe they do have one, but with their history of not having basic plans on just about everything else, I doubt that one exisits.

[Highbow]

I hope that things are about to come together soon. I'm sick of all this hostile feelings and want to see some action in the right directions for our end of the state.I know the whole state has areas that need improvements but our deer herds have been neglected, our grouse trapped, quail wasted and habitat forgotten way too long.