Birdman
04-01-2005, 11:38 AM
From J. R. Radcliff, 3rd district President
On March 23, 2005 the 3rd District Federation of the League of Kentucky Sportsmen passed a unanimous motion “that our vote of the crossbow issue be shared with the other federation members and also the conservation organizations that are affiliated with the League of Kentucky Sportsmen”.
In that regard, the 3rd District had voted moments before on the following motion. “The 3rd District opposes the crossbow season change passed on March 4, 2005 and that we will do this in writing in person at the meeting on April 22, 2005 at the Department of Fish and Wildlife.”
The vote passed 70 to 2 in favor of opposing the crossbow season changes. The clubs present at this meeting represent a broad interest of sportsmen and women. The following clubs were in attendance.
Clubs in attendance Harrods Creek, Ky. Fur-takers, Electricians Rod & Hunting, Jefferson C. Sportsmen’s Club, Fern Creek Sportsmen, Lill Kentucky Muzzleloaders, Quial Unlimited (Jefferson Co.), Ohio River Bow Hunters, Two Bucks, Lesco Bow Hunting Club, Derby City NWTF, Chickasaw Archery, Central Ky. Bow Hunters, Dogwood Drummer’s Chapter on NWTF, Eddie Oiozco NWTF, Meade Co. Sportsmen,
These two clubs were none voting clubs, Safari Club International (State Wide), Ky. Hunters for the Hungry
The 3rd District Fish and Wildlife Commissioner, Allen Gailor, was also present to give his reasons for voting for the changes in the crossbow season.
There were many reasons that the majority of those present voted to oppose the crossbow seasons. One of the biggest objections centered around the process that lead to the commissioners vote. We felt the process was flawed. The three-year-old statewide hunters survey that was used to support the crossbow changes had 44 questions, and only one related to the crossbow issue. The 3rd District felt that the question in the survey was vague and ambiguous. The question read, “What do you think about the use of crossbows during archery season?” It did not ask about the use of crossbows for deer and turkey, and it certainly did not ask about the use of crossbow during the entire archery season.
The 3rd District Federation of the League also felt that the commissioner’s agenda for the Department of Fish and Wildlife resources meeting on March 4 was misleading, The agenda listed “Crossbow survey” and did not say anything abut a change in the crossbow season. This is not the proper procedure for a season change that would make Kentucky’s crossbow season for deer and turkey the longest in the nation at 136 days.
Many of the members at the meeting were upset that Commissioner Gailor would not reveal who on the department staff sponsored or promoted this crossbow season change. He was respectfully asked repeatedly and never gave an answer.
Members were also upset that there is no hard biological evidence that the crossbow season change would not have a negative impact on our deer and turkey. There is no way to accurately forcast the biological inpact of the 136 day season, because no one knows how many hunters will take up this crossbow as a result of these proposed season changes.
Many of the turkey hunters present questioned the department’s use of the state of Ohio’s crossbow statistics. Ohio has a one-turkey limit on fall turkeys and only 2/5 of the state is open. Since the fall gun season opens before the crossbow season and it is a one-bird limit it is obvious that most turkey hunters I Ohio would have already harvested their bird with a gun.
Kentucky is an entirely different situation. This proposed crossbow season change would allow the use of crossbows, which resemble a gun, for 136 days of turkey hunting. No one knows how many crossbow hunters we will have if this measure stands, and it will be the longest crossbow turkey season in the nation.
Members and conservation clubs were also upset that a change this sweeping was not taken to the Wildlife Districts in the stat for study and imput. It was done in a hurried fashion, as evidenced by the Wild Turkey Federation Kentucky State Chapter President, Joe Broughton’s, request at the commissioners meeting for the measure to be tabled. He did this so the 24,000, member organization could study and discuss it. That respectful request from one of the states largest conservation organizations was denied. All other archery clubs and sportsman’s clubs of the state had little or no time to contact their membership for general input before this measure was rammed through by the commissioners who voted in favor of it.
We also had a concern that a 136-day crossbow season for deer will have a negative impact on buck-to-doe ratios. Deer herd statistical data from the other states with crossbow seasons indicate that crossbow harvest is slanted towards bucks and we are just now starting to balance our buck-to –doe ratios in the state of Kentucky.
We are sharing this information with you as a mandate from our membership in the 3re District, the most populated district in the state We currently enjoy top ranking stastus for deer and turkey hunting in the U.S. We do not need to follow the lead of less successful states in ill-advised changes like these. We hope you find it useful.
Respectfully
J.R. Radcliff
On March 23, 2005 the 3rd District Federation of the League of Kentucky Sportsmen passed a unanimous motion “that our vote of the crossbow issue be shared with the other federation members and also the conservation organizations that are affiliated with the League of Kentucky Sportsmen”.
In that regard, the 3rd District had voted moments before on the following motion. “The 3rd District opposes the crossbow season change passed on March 4, 2005 and that we will do this in writing in person at the meeting on April 22, 2005 at the Department of Fish and Wildlife.”
The vote passed 70 to 2 in favor of opposing the crossbow season changes. The clubs present at this meeting represent a broad interest of sportsmen and women. The following clubs were in attendance.
Clubs in attendance Harrods Creek, Ky. Fur-takers, Electricians Rod & Hunting, Jefferson C. Sportsmen’s Club, Fern Creek Sportsmen, Lill Kentucky Muzzleloaders, Quial Unlimited (Jefferson Co.), Ohio River Bow Hunters, Two Bucks, Lesco Bow Hunting Club, Derby City NWTF, Chickasaw Archery, Central Ky. Bow Hunters, Dogwood Drummer’s Chapter on NWTF, Eddie Oiozco NWTF, Meade Co. Sportsmen,
These two clubs were none voting clubs, Safari Club International (State Wide), Ky. Hunters for the Hungry
The 3rd District Fish and Wildlife Commissioner, Allen Gailor, was also present to give his reasons for voting for the changes in the crossbow season.
There were many reasons that the majority of those present voted to oppose the crossbow seasons. One of the biggest objections centered around the process that lead to the commissioners vote. We felt the process was flawed. The three-year-old statewide hunters survey that was used to support the crossbow changes had 44 questions, and only one related to the crossbow issue. The 3rd District felt that the question in the survey was vague and ambiguous. The question read, “What do you think about the use of crossbows during archery season?” It did not ask about the use of crossbows for deer and turkey, and it certainly did not ask about the use of crossbow during the entire archery season.
The 3rd District Federation of the League also felt that the commissioner’s agenda for the Department of Fish and Wildlife resources meeting on March 4 was misleading, The agenda listed “Crossbow survey” and did not say anything abut a change in the crossbow season. This is not the proper procedure for a season change that would make Kentucky’s crossbow season for deer and turkey the longest in the nation at 136 days.
Many of the members at the meeting were upset that Commissioner Gailor would not reveal who on the department staff sponsored or promoted this crossbow season change. He was respectfully asked repeatedly and never gave an answer.
Members were also upset that there is no hard biological evidence that the crossbow season change would not have a negative impact on our deer and turkey. There is no way to accurately forcast the biological inpact of the 136 day season, because no one knows how many hunters will take up this crossbow as a result of these proposed season changes.
Many of the turkey hunters present questioned the department’s use of the state of Ohio’s crossbow statistics. Ohio has a one-turkey limit on fall turkeys and only 2/5 of the state is open. Since the fall gun season opens before the crossbow season and it is a one-bird limit it is obvious that most turkey hunters I Ohio would have already harvested their bird with a gun.
Kentucky is an entirely different situation. This proposed crossbow season change would allow the use of crossbows, which resemble a gun, for 136 days of turkey hunting. No one knows how many crossbow hunters we will have if this measure stands, and it will be the longest crossbow turkey season in the nation.
Members and conservation clubs were also upset that a change this sweeping was not taken to the Wildlife Districts in the stat for study and imput. It was done in a hurried fashion, as evidenced by the Wild Turkey Federation Kentucky State Chapter President, Joe Broughton’s, request at the commissioners meeting for the measure to be tabled. He did this so the 24,000, member organization could study and discuss it. That respectful request from one of the states largest conservation organizations was denied. All other archery clubs and sportsman’s clubs of the state had little or no time to contact their membership for general input before this measure was rammed through by the commissioners who voted in favor of it.
We also had a concern that a 136-day crossbow season for deer will have a negative impact on buck-to-doe ratios. Deer herd statistical data from the other states with crossbow seasons indicate that crossbow harvest is slanted towards bucks and we are just now starting to balance our buck-to –doe ratios in the state of Kentucky.
We are sharing this information with you as a mandate from our membership in the 3re District, the most populated district in the state We currently enjoy top ranking stastus for deer and turkey hunting in the U.S. We do not need to follow the lead of less successful states in ill-advised changes like these. We hope you find it useful.
Respectfully
J.R. Radcliff