WhtMtnHunter

Can anyone name the states with a prairie dog season? I'll bet AZ is the only one. I understand they want to feed their pet black footed ferrets, but the prairie dog protection should only extend to the ferrets home range(ie, unit 10, or the Seligman area). The closed season is during praire dog breeding season. If Mr. Husted was hunting this nuisance in eastern AZ then he should not have been cited. I see prairie dogs all over snowflake, taylor, vernon, and the round valley area. There arent any black footed ferrets around there. It is merely a problem with the hunting regulations that should be corrected.

Great hunt! I was lucky enough to draw 8 years ago and had a blast. Have been trying to get back ever since. My buddy drew this year so I finally get to return. The best write up I have seen is here http://www.monstermuleys.info/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.pl?az=show_thread&om=2026&forum=DCForumID34&archive=yes

74 to 1! I knew this was unpopular but I didn't know it was that unpopular!

Please comment about your opinions.

3-27-2012 11:15 am

Did the ADA poll their membership about HB2072 yet? I'm guessing its gonna be real tough to say the ADA supports AZSFW when 90% of their members oppose it. Maybe they are waiting to run the poll after it passes? Maybe someone should start a poll here, I'd be curious to see what percentage is against this.

Audsley, thanks for your heads up on this matter. Thousands of sportsmen depend on this kind of timely and valuable information. Unfortunately, the group we thought would be providing it to us, AZSFW, has turned against us. Dedicated sportsmen like you really make the difference. I think AZSFW is at a crossroads. If this bill fails to go through then AZSFW basically ceases to exist. Their reputation is so damaged it is unlikely they will be able to maintain the 500 members necessary to keep their SUPER PAC status by 2013. However is this bill passes, then their "expo" will have thousands of people show up, tons of out of state money, and the average sportsman won't know they are being taken advantage of. Board members of AZSFW will make hundreds of thousands on "consulting fees" every year, and its unlikely even one acre of access will be improved, or that one youth will suddenly become a hunter. I sent my emails and will be making calls tomorrow. I sure wish another political action committee would spring up as I would be willing to send them a nice check. I want to see the same opportunities my grandfather passed on to me, to be passed on to my kids.

That's the first thing I noticed. Why do they refer to a dead bill in the present tense? Shouldn't they be talking about HB 2072 in the past tense(ie. HB2072 WAS...). I'd be willing to bet that this gets resurrected in the next 30-60 days. They didn't say they were going to re-evaluate or re-assess the bill. They didn't say they wanted or were interested in any public input. They didn't say they were gonna tweak it a little due to overwhelming pressure. They said they want our support now. I'm afraid it's too late for that after they promised never to attempt a tag grab. They have irreparably damaged their reputation. Secondly, who wrote this letter? You would think they would have the courtesy to add their name to the end. This cuts to the compete lack of accountability with this organization. Who are they? Do they have biologists or ex game and fish employees on staff? They mention the CBD. Well the CBD has dozens, perhaps hundreds, of lawyers on staff, how many lawyers does the AZSFW have? They want hundreds of tags for animals that belong in trust to the entire state of Arizona, and they wont even tell us who they are? How are we supposed to trust them? I want to know who the buck stops with in this organization. Are they just a bunch of wannabe politicians? We are all aware of the 4 issues they have brought up. I don't think anyone has confidence in this organization to do anything about them. Money isn't going to buy more deer. I remember a commissioner meeting not to long ago where a rancher had decided to cut off access for hunting. One of the commissioners made a phone call during the meeting and the rancher reversed his stance. That didn't even cost a quarter for the call. The only access I see the AZSFW securing is for themselves. I'd rather leave that up to the AZ Game and Fish Dept and the commission. The decrease in sportsmen and women is a societal trend, what can be done? I'm sure most of us are willing to have our tag fees increased to make up for it. Certainly if this is the alternative. And fighting the environmentalist is not something I have ever seen the AZSFW do. I'd like to see their track record on that. The CBD sues for a living, what is their plan to counter that? I could support an effort similar to this with some serious changes. First, 90% of the tag sales go directly back to the Game and Fish. Give the hard working and underpaid employees at the Game and Fish a boost. Second, there are too many tags. Cut the raffle tags to 50 or less and the Legislator tags down to 10. If I understand correctly, the Governor tags are the ones we already have. Otherwise, no more of those.Its not fair to those who have waited for decades to draw a coveted tag, only to have 3+ rich guys with huge posses out hunting their unit before the season opens.Third, I would demand complete transparency and accountability. They report within 45 days of every detail of where and how our tags were sold. I want everything down to the check register. Fourth, they have a performance clause. They claim to be able to increase deer herds by 10%, then they will have to prove they have done so or the expo is shut down or transferred to a competent group. Fifth, and most importantly, the task of running the expo goes to a group other than the AZSFW/AZSFWC as they have already proven they cannot be trusted.

PBJ, it is called being upfront and honest... you would have been wise to also be upfront and honest about your $100 payoff to Weiers... This is why the faith in the ADA is gone, because of people like you. This will be my last post til Tuesday next week. Gee Lance, I assume from your post that you have never given a contribution to a political candidate...That is the reason for the record. A payoff??? Fairly insulting to anyone who is aware of how campaign contributions work. I have donated to several different candidates, and each year there has been cause to do so. I respect Weiers and all he has done for wildlife in AZ. So I made a contribution to his campaign for the future... 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 According to the Secretary of State, your political contributions are as follows. Please correct me if I am wrong but the only candidate your have ever contributed to since the reporting year 2000 was Jerry Weiers. I hate to say it but your integrity is in question... JERRY WEIERS 2012 12/16/2011 $100 2012 January 31st Report * Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Political Action Committee 02/26/2011 $10 2012 Pre-Recall Election Report * Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Political Action Committee 03/20/2011 $10 2012 Pre-Recall Election Report * Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Political Action Committee 03/21/2009 $10 2010 January 31st Report * Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Political Action Committee 06/27/2009 $10 2010 January 31st Report * JERRY WEIERS 2012 11/13/2007 $100 2008 January 31st Report Again this all researchable at the AZ Secretary of State website http://www.azsos.gov/cfs/ContributorSummarySearch.aspx (on the right hand side, enter any of the names mentioned above for a history of their political contributions)

I find it interesting that there are some who are "demanding" a position of the ADA.Lance has specified that he has never been a member...and yet he "demands" a position. Really? The process that any organization should follow is to carefully review their policies as well as their support on a continuing basis. I have invited folks to attend our meeting, but instead it appears that we (ADA) have to state our position first and then you "Might" come to our meeting. For the record, the ADA will not be pulling out of the AZSFWC. That group had no dog in the HB2072 fight and it would not be wise to remove ourselves from that group. There are 13 other groups that have not pulled out and some are waiting to hear more before a determination is made. As far as the AZSFW is concerned, that group has done what I consider to be some good solid work on behalf of sportsmen over the years. Your opinion may be different... that is your right. When the board has had an opportunity to listen to all the people who want to speak, and heard the response from the AZSFW, then and only then should we as a board make a decision. The tactics that have been utilized from the select group on the CWT have been more bullying than anything else. Most of the readers have no idea what work the ADA does. I am responding at a request from Amanda regarding the "demands". Show up on Tuesday. make a point and then see where the ADA goes from there. JK So Bryan Waitman, Can you tell us all, does the ADA still support the AZSFW and their lobbyist? I think it would be helpful to know this before the meeting?? Really? Look like a pretty big dog ($6187) to me. Board of Directors on the AZSFWC: President/Chairman - Jim Unmacht Secretary/Treasurer - Alan Hamberlin Director - Eddy Corona Director - Joe Del Re Director - Floyd Green Director - Charlie Kelly Director - John Koleszar Director - Jerry Nelson Director - Mark Nuessle Director - Art Pearce Director - Brian Pinney Director - Shane Stewart Director - Gary Stinson Director - Robert Thomas The AZ Secretary of State keeps records on all political contributions. This is from the Jerry Weiers 2012 political committee. The same Jerry Weiers who proposed HB2072. These contributions totalling over $6000 were all made on December 16, 2011. 3 weeks before this emergency bill was created/made public. Coincidence? Maybe some of these names look familiar? CORONA, EDWARD 12/16/2011 $100.00 DENHAM, CHRISTOPHER 12/16/2011 $250.00 Evenson, Jared 12/16/2011 $424.00 GILSTRAP, HAYS 12/16/2011 $200.00 GREEN, FLOYD 12/16/2011 $400.00 HAMBERLIN, ALAN 12/16/2011 $174.00 HAMBERLIN, DEBORAH 12/16/2011 $424.00 Hamberlin, Ryan 12/16/2011 $424.00 HICKMAN, BILL 12/16/2011 $200.00 HICKMAN, CLINTON 12/16/2011 $200.00 HICKMAN, GLENN 12/16/2011 $200.00 HICKMAN, LISA 12/16/2011 $200.00 HICKMAN SILVA, SHARMAN 12/16/2011 $200.00 HULM, TODD 12/16/2011 $50.00 Katz, Andy 12/16/2011 $424.00 KELLY, CHARLES 12/16/2011 $150.00 KING, RHONDA 12/16/2011 $35.00 KINNEY, DONNA 12/16/2011 $424.00 KOLESZAR, JOHN 12/16/2011 $100.00 MAGURA, JACK 12/16/2011 $410.00 MARVIN, J.W. 12/16/2011 $100.00 Mings, Brian 12/16/2011 $424.00 NELSON, KAREN 12/16/2011 $50.00 Pearce, Arthur 12/16/2011 $424.00 Stinson, L Gary 12/16/2011 $50.00 Thomas, Bob 12/16/2011 $50.00 UNMACHT, JAMES 12/16/2011 $100.00 I removed addresses and occupations $6187 to buy off a politician for millions in tags every year for perpetuity. Quite resourceful! I wonder if they will get their money back, or demand performance? Did you ask for you $100 back?

Hello, A friend suggested i post here. I just had 2 game cameras stolen. There were taken since Saturday when I was last out to check them and replace the SD cards. They were both securely locked with python locks so someone had to come prepared to get them. Both are StealthCam model STC-WD1. Both were located along a fenceline about 1/2 mile apart approximately 1.5 miles into the roadless Woolhouse Habitat area. I dont expect to get them back but would like to inform everyone that the cameras in that area are not safe. I have run across a few while out there, most much nicer than my cheap $50 stealth cams. Furthermore, I would never steal someone elses property and cant understand the mindset of a common thief. If anyone does have information about these cameras I would be willing to offer $100 reward. Thanks HL