krp

Right now 100% of the auction/raffle tag money must be given to G&F... in 2072, only the face value is returned and all the rest goes to the qualifying party. In Utah they give back 30% to their G&F... Kent

There is no way using pubic funds, as in public tag revenue, for private interest lobbying is ethical in any sense... the only votes I've seen bought was to generate more money for themselves, not AZG&F... then we just trust that they will use the money for the benefit of all sportsmen... no way! Kent

Email was sent by.... Suzanne Gilstrap Executive Director/Government Affairs Consultant for AZSFW

George, there are two coming from TAH as of now to the early, if more contact me I will let you know. Kent

3rd page... This is why HB 2072 is important and why AZSFW is trying to help solve the problem last paragraph of statement 4.Summary Most of the tags (about 276 of the total) are existing draw tags with special rules giving sportsmen a second opportunity to get drawn separate and apart from the AZGFD draw. Only 54 tags would be reserved for auction, without which we could not raise the money necessary to accomplish the objectives specified in the legislation. In other words, we would be investing in 54 tags a year to help increase our wildlife herd numbers by several thousand. Or we can keep the status quo and continue to reduce the number of permits for sportsmen by approximately 2,000 a year. We respectfully ask for your support in this endeavor. Kent

Yep, and lack of rain means less ground cover and less fawn retention... can't save animals that are eaten with more money... it's not like fish that you can grow in a hatchery and then release. Money is needed but also could be managed better, but that's the way of the world. This 350 tag deal was way over the top, a totally different agenda and filled with political pitfalls. Kent

Then, if we are threatened by enviro-litigants or their initiatives that have a detrimental impact on wildlife herds, then we would react by allocating the money to deal with it at the time. What is important here is that we would have a stable source of funding so we could plan accordingly. As we see it no one issue is more important than another except our primary goal is to increase our wildlife herds and do everything we can to further our hunting and angling heritage for future generations to enjoy. Now we are right back to my original issue more than a month ago... How can you take tag money and use it to fund political lobbying? and this would open the door for all special interest groups including the Sierra Club ect to demanding or going to court for their own share or additional tags to use for funding, as the precedence will be set... political disaster and our tag system destroyed... Kent

Problem #1. Loss of Wildlife: Our wildlife herds have been slowly declining or have at best remained status quo over the past 16 years despite significant increases in the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AZGFD) annual budget and the efforts of the species conservation organizations to improve their habitat by spending millions over this same period. The tables below shows game and fish budget increases and the number of permits issued and harvests for 1994-2010. We think you will agree that “Rebuilding our wildlife herds is Priority #1”. Problem # 4. Environmental Activists: These groups have been chipping away at the Sportsmen since we can remember (and that’s a long time). When they passed the anti-trapping initiative in 1994 after failing the first time in 1992 Predator control, they have the answer to #1 in #4... but predator control is not a political vehicle. The general public may applaud a catchment for animals but not killing predators. I remember the old timers I grew up with running trap lines and the amount of predators they eliminated, the herds were much bigger, fawn retention much higher. And in fairness it was wetter... Catchments are needed... kill a predator and you save more animals. Trying to sell a conservation policy and fear mongering as the reason to steal politically just T's me off. We understand there are real threats, just this isn't the answer. Kent

Here's reality... support or the perception of support by nonaction of AZSFW will be the downfall or marginalization of ADA. This is a political issue not a conservation issue. This is a political fight not a conservation fight. YVRGC and AES made a swift political public decision for their survival and are reaping the goodwill benefit. ADA leadership has not followed and obviously are still in support and have kept themselves in the limelight, I said leadership, as some of the ADA members are also questioning the leadership. Then there are the other orgs hiding in the bushes, we see you and will deal with that later. There is X amount of conservation money out there, during this political turmoil a dip is inevitable, deal with that reality. If AZSFW is removed the money will come back and the orgs that stood tall will benefit as will a possible reorganization of the conservation platform, including the license money and such. Fight for you political life and you may have a conservation future. Kent

Well, we've said this isn't over and the threat has to be removed before the solutions if any can move forward. No way most are going to give money to anyone that may turn around and give it to azsfw. This has been a main theme this last couple of weeks. azsfw isn't dead until they say they are dead. Technically the statement came today from azsfw'c', which some have been defending, saying they are not connected to azsfw... doesn't sound like what azsfw'c' is saying themselves. Kent

All who want to come early, some broader issues will be thrown around in a constructive manner, it won't be an ADA bash... I hope. Long story short... as a child my family went to a nondenominational Christian church, it has national branches/connections including Manhattan Christian College in Kansas. Anyway, our family was involved in new church building here in the east valley. Starting in rented school auditoriums until enough money was raised to build. At about 15 I was considered a child prodigy of the church and was groomed for the ministry. I was brought into the inner workings of the organization of a church... well, seeing all the issues and egos from the elders to patrons a minister had to balance... not me! Even the love of Jesus can't stop the inner politics and personality fractions in a single church body... it's not going to happen in our hunting community or an org either. It just has to be worked around. Kent

I will join George early and hopefully some of the other big hitters in the legislative and political arena that have shown interest... what I'll do there, I don't know, lol... there needs to be a new fresh approach to the combining of the orgs for conservation first and political lobby second... I have a suggestion or two. There's an undercurrent brewing, a good one. Kent

Some of us do not work well as part of an organization, or work best, or enjoy the politics of it, or feel restricted, or confined, or held back... There are a multitude of personalities in support of hunting community issues, each has it's place and at times it's own power above the others... I have made my place in the conservation scene, who will do what I do if I abandon it. A vortex was manufactured by the leadership of the orgs, it has sucked us all in. The individuals are the ones that jumped out first and came out fighting. This isn't about the conservation of Az wildlife... this is about political corruption and cronyism by those trusted within. I understand the investment and trust that the member orgs put in azsfw and how this was a surprise and difficult to accept... of course there are those who still support the premise of 2072. A turning point is upon you, one of those times in life worked for or unlooked for... be intelligent and recognize what it is and choose the right path, the old status quo is dead either way. We offer our hand to pull you out... be stubborn then drown. Kent

I really need the 10 spot pledges... consider it the price of admission. To bad I just gave away my last 'Popeil's pocket panty unwadder' I could have raffled it off to some attendees that are in desperate need... It's getting close, 99.999% I will be there with my hand out... bring 10 bucks. Kent

Maybe they could set up one of those tank dump chairs over the fish aquarium... I could charge 10 bucks a throw from the azsfw supporters... I'd make thousands... Kent

I'm up to 7... 13 more And for the record, I'm not one of the 5 troublemakers... I'm not like that... anymore... Kent

That has merit... but the azsfw threat must be addressed to the end and more importantly, even if it was dead today. We have to exercise the emotional demons in our hunting community it has generated. This emotional infection is festering and won't go away on it's own. Does anyone think I like having a spotlight on me, I originally just wanted to submit some info so people would think and be informed on real issues. Lets lance this boil and get as much infection to the surface, see if we can't start some healing and move on to issue like yours. Kent

If I get 20 pledges for 10 bucks I show at the meeting... you have to trust me on what it's for... lol Of course it seems some have trusted more money to worse causes... this is like chess and I'm 3 moves ahead. Kent

Thanks guys, I've got 6... 14 to go. Kent

Butters, no problem... my agenda on the posts were addressing Warbird and John as officials of ADA and their statements... It's obvious they are attempting to redirect the conversation off azsfw/2072 and the real issues... heck, I'm trying to generate 10.00 donations, exposure... and I can play any game they want. Kent

Butters, can I put you down for 10 bucks, I have 3 pledged already... need 17 more. Kent

Butters, the call-out... Warbird said... Get of your butt and move away from the keyboard and do something productive for deer in arizona. John said... Big deal. I was not aware that I was required to post everything I have ever done in my whole life to appease the crowd that only keyboards and is not involved in the process of attempting to work on wildlife. JK And not a call-out but appeal... Amanda said... Kent and everyone else, would you be willing to serve on the board of directors for the ADA or some other group? John and I have posted the need for new board members for the ADA many times in this forum over the years and got very little response. Get involved before these or other issues come up. Be proactive. If you don't like the direction the ADA has taken, why not work to get on the board and help change policy? I can go on about the things I've done, it takes a lot of my time... I've even been at banquets and have seen Amanda and ADA members at another table, though I had no reason to introduce myself. Seems ADA officials only recognize their own works and everyone else sits around... I never said ADA didn't do anything, just they weren't where I was and I can play the same game. Kent

I was honored to participate with the Scott brothers and the Region 4 G&F WMs and employees on this project... We didn't have many show up being independent, but the ones that did were old hands at construction and equipment, so it went right along... the caliche was the biggest problem, Troy just kept at it with his personally donated hoe and fuel until he defeated it... I didn't see ADA there.

I thought we covered the call-out on what we each do for conservation a couple weeks ago... guess John and Warbird have no other course but to do it again. It was sitting at the keyboard and/or using the phone that stopped 2072, so it has it's place... now I understand why this is a threat to those wanting 2072 type agendas. Anyway, ADA doesn't own the conservation platform and since ADA is calling me out... I call them out... Where were you when my wife and I spent 3 days at the 23 youth deer camp in oct... Here I'm getting ready to start cooking for the returning hunters. Here we are glassing this buck right from camp Fun times for all

If anyone wants to pledge a 10 spot that can't make the meeting, I'll post on wed morning where to send it to. Just pledge it here and get on the list. John and Warbird should have been first on the list, put their money where their mouth is. Kent