Paintsville Lake WMA- Auxier Flats

[Highbow]

Members, this is for real, we need to get our Ps& Qs together and band together to protect a fine piece of hunting land on this WMA.
I do know for a fact that the Army Corp of engineers want to hear from us and any hunters who feel that this area should remain as a part of the WMA and not be turned into a tennis court, golf course or whatever the local politicians decide they can actually do with it.
The meeting will take place after Sept. 15th and what we need to do is get letters to the corp office and request that this area stay as a hunting ground and remain part of the WMA. The locals have been offered other sites on the State Park area that even have buildings on them now that can be used without further construction, this area is already closed off to hunting so no threat to hunting will be present by the city or county using that area.
Will you help ? if so; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, Paintsville Lake, 502 8th St , Huntington, WV 25701-2070.

[Xtreme]

Folks at this time I do hearby declare we go to the voteing booth and I request a motion and need a second that we as an organization draft a letter in support of this WMA being left open to hunting.

I am declareing this an emergency 48 hour vote so as of now the clock is ticking.

[Multidigits]

I'll second the motion--but while we're voting, I'd like to get some more information about what's going on there. Who's behind it? This is Corp property? Any relevant info please.

[Xtreme]

I've E-mailed Nathan and told him to present everything that is of importance on this. I've heard the rumbles in the distance on this before so I know this is a real threat.

Birdman where are you?....again<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

[Highbow]

Ok guys , Auxier Flats is one great section of Paintsville Lake WMA that is accessible by walking or boating. The KDFWL technician has really done a bang up job of making this a great area to hunt, one part is BOWHUNTING only, there are food plots, old roads to travel by foot , great cover, rabbits, quail, grouse, turkey, deer, elk, bear and to top that it is easy walking and would make great hunting for anyone with a handicap. The local mayor and judge both have big ideas of doing big projects on this land once they can get a release from KDFWL and the Corps. The Corp has offered a great piece of land to them instead of Auxier Flats that has never been opened to hunting because of the closeness to the dam but our current judge has made his bragging rights to this property and doesn't seem to back down on seeing it turn into a private investors dream land of tennis courts, golf course , volleyball, beach or what have they.
Do you get the big picture now, your WMA may be the next target. Again all this will come to a head within the month, the letters need to be there by Sept. 15th. Another address to send them to:
Paintsville Lake State Park, P.O. Box 920, Staffordsville, Ky 41256

THANKS GUYS AND GIRLS FOR THE HELP

[Multidigits]

So, do know what the Depts. take on this is????? Are they staying out of it or supporting it or fighting it????

[Highbow]

Multi, I'm not sure what your question is , KDFWL has been confronted with this a couple of times already, remember they report to Tourism Commissioner ANN LATTA , if she can be made to think that it will be a boost to tourism by opening this area up private investors then I think she would do it. I know that originally Roy GRimes was opposed to giving up this area.

[Multidigits]

What about enviromental impact studies, have any been done on this area. This will be required before this land can be developed. Any wetland areas would have to be replaced, most of the time on a 2 to 1 basis.

[Xtreme]

Birdman and GSP, we need to get the LOK on this asap. I'll try to call Roy G. today and see where they stand. Also, some of you guys that cruise these other sites such as Bowsite , get on bowsite or any other hunting W.VA. site and post about this. If the Corp of Engineer office is in W. VA.they may listen to some of the locals more than us.

Also if you can highbow or birdman , can you send me your Mayors E-mail and any other local powers that be?

I tried to call Walt K. last night but I was unable to get in touch with him. We need to get the UBK, NWTF,KBA, and any other organization going on this as well.

[grouseguy]

Guys, I have been to this WMA and Auxier Flats in particular. Actually, during the last two KY Grouse Hunters Association guest hunts, I hosted Rolly Beers and Hugh Adamson (LKS Director from the 3rd Dist) on this very piece of property. This is a quality game area that definately should not be developed.

[Xtreme]

The Army Corp of Engineers commander is Gen. Robrt Flowers. I don't have an address or E-mail yet but I'm working on it.

[Xtreme]

Folks , for those of you that subscribe to the Ky. Game and Fish Mag could you all make them aware of the crisis we face at the Flats? If not post an E-mail address for them on here as I feel this will be news worthy to them.

Also the UBK is now up to speed on this issue and are circleing the wagons!

[Highbow]

Thanks Rick, I have been very busy on this end. Ronnie and I are doing what we can locally. There still seems to be a lot of questions to who the major players are.

[GSP]

Highbow,
I know how things of this nature are "back porch" deals.
Is there any published info we can get a hold of?

[Highbow]

That's part of the problem, the local newspaper editor is anti-hunting and his statement in the paper was, Who cares if it causes a few hunters to not put up treestands. This is a close nit group of locals that are careful to keep the real facts away from the public till it is too late.

[Xtreme]

Okay folks, I've been on the phone and here is what I know to date.

It's pretty much a toss up on the pros and cons. The big issue is a 100 acres of flat ground. They are going to have to be convinced that there is other suitable ground[flat] besides Auxier.

I have the Corps. regional supervisors phone number and E-mail. He is out of the office today but his name and number are:Paul M. White. 606-638-9646 E-mail paul.m.white@lrh01.usace.army.mil

This is not set in stone. The developer has yet to present the plan. He is not even set on Auxier Flats. He just needs flat ground.

I have not found out if it is public yet but there will be a meeting to diccuss all of this on Sept. 20 at the Mtn. Homeplace.

The corp will NOT allow anything to be built that will not be open to the public. The gist of this battle will be fought locally[politicians].

Thats what I have to date.

[Flintlock54]

Xtreme beat me to the punch. I spoke with Robert Beverly, Paintsville Lake WMA Project Engineer, this morning and he confirmed everything Xtreme has said.

[Highbow]

Thanks, Xtreme, I have been trying to get up with Mr. Beverly. I hope this can put a halt on the site. The other site has some flat land but then again a water slide down a hill slide is what I call fun.

[Xtreme]

Nathan,you and Ronnie as well as everyone else in the area need to contact Paul M.White. I intend to speak with him ASAP myself but he is the "Big Dawg"

[Highbow]

Xtreme, the email for Paul White fails. no address found?

[Xtreme]

Nathan, I got the same thing after I had typed out a masterpiece[:(!]

That is what his executive assistant gave me for an e-mail. I know the phone number is right as that's how I got the bum e-mail.

I'll try to call him Monday. Hang tough and be looking for a alternative place for this developement.

[Xtreme]

Okay folks. I spoke with Mr.Paul White today and he said that at this time the Corp. has nothing to do with the Auxier Flats project. He was aware of the rumblings and speculations but assured me that it was a non issue at this point as far as the Corp. is concerned. He will be at the meeting on Sept. 20. He said that as far as he was concerned that the F&W Dept. had a lease on Auxier Flats and it would have to be a move by local and State government to change this.

I assured him that in NO WAY were we opposed to the plans in general. We just did not want to see valuable public hunting ground paved over if there were alternate site options. He understood and he has my E-mail and phone number if anything comes up. I explained that from what I was understanding this is something that has not been well thought out so far.For instance the plan calls for a waterslide as well as a trap and skeet range. I should hope the two would not be very close. I suppose this is what the meeting on the 20th is for.

Anyway folks, we will know more on Sept.20.

[Multidigits]

Sounds like we might need to shift focus and work on Tom Bennett. He'll likely sell out in favor of a local politician that might someday be able to repay the debt. This is above Roy's head or at least I think it would be.

[rouge]

thanks for the info xtreme. never been to a waterskeet range before?

[Highbow]

Thanks Xtreme, I have been so busy today that I couldn't get up with anyone. Glad to hear what Paul White said, but Robert Beverly seems to think that there is something about this deal that has a real stink about it. Birdman and I will keep working on things and see what comes up.[}:)]

[Xtreme]

Okay folks. I've reached deep down and sent a letter to Hal Rogers pleading the case of Auxier Flats WMA. I'm waiting on a response and I suppose that "D-Day" on this is Sept 20.

I've done my best and our ten bucks is hard at work.

[Xtreme]

Well folks, tommorow[Fri Sept 20] is the first meeting regardeing the development of Auxier Flats. I wish you guys the best and hang tough Birdman. We will require a full report of the minutes.

Good luck guys!!!!!

[Birdman]

The meeting went well, all the big boys were there and had their billfolds out. The judge pushed Auxier Flats hard. Ann Ladia said that Tom would release that area but would have to have an equal amount of land in return. Robin (mayor) offered the mountain home place as an alternative site, Bob Beverly stood tall on our side. The developer agreed to look at other sites. And I done the best I could.

When we left the meeting, all had agreed that the project was a go. The site is still in the air. But the judge is still pushing and we're still hanging in. We'll have to wate and see what happens.

Thanks for all the help and work.

[Highbow]

Thanks Birdman, I'm going to attend the meeting tonight. It is open for public comments and I just want to make sure we don't get burned.

[Xtreme]

Well done Ronnie and if I or any of the officers can be of help don't even hesitate to yell.[I know you know that] As for gov. Patton being in the picture.......Well, I'm sure you all seen the news. Ah, the sins of wine , women and song[:o)]

[Highbow]

There was no meeting tonight, I guess all the crying going on with Patton has everyone too tore up to get out. My wife just said it goes to show you that he is man.