bonuspointjohn

I am a member of the AZSFWC board. It is the group that would handle the money distribution and is NON PROFIT. There are several members elected to that group, and all belong or are on the boards of the other critter groups. There will be a meeting to discuss the bill next week, and all of the board members from all of the AZSFWC members are invited. Stay tuned, more is to follow.

+1 There was an initial expenditure to cover the cost of the lobbyist. That is and always has been the only paid position. Over the years, the AES, ADA, ADSBSS and the AAF have contributed to having Capitol Consulting as their lobbyist. Prior to that, the founding members all kicked in some serious money on behalf of sportsmen... and some continue to do so to this day... NO ONE ELSE GETS PAID....... can't get any clearer than that... Call me Terry.. We are not too far removed to remember the Fiesta Bowl and their "administrative" costs. Different arena same corruption The AZSFW board is strictly volunteers initially, each of the beginning few who started the organization back several years ago were required to pony up some significant cash to be a board member. The only person who does get paid is Capitol Consulting, who acts as our lobbyist at the state legislature. I know of absolutely no lobbyist who would ever do the political infighting that has been necessary to carry the water for us who would do it as low as Suzanne and company have done. Thanks for the reply, John. I have a question regarding the wording in your statement though. You mention; "..... strickly volunteers initially". Is that referring to the fact that 'initially' the beginning few ponied-up money? Or is it indicating that it is 'initially' volunteers, but there could or might be paid positions in the future? Or will it always remain strickly volunteer? Again, I only ask because this seems to be a big bone of contention with SFW in other states, at least in Utah. Lark, your point regarding no outfitter response is very insighful. No doubt that local outfitters would LOVE to have more big money tag holders to guide.... S. Stanly and Lark, i am an outfitter and guide and i want nothing to do with this. Besides guys we get hunters every year no matter what so to say we have a lot to do with it is probably wrong--or at least with me and my crew it is. We literally turn people away each year.

Just curious how the AZSFW has made a penny in the past 6 years of existence... I know you have not paid a dime... nor have all the other "experts" who are chiming in. The real truth is that several very dedicated sportsmen who do have deep pockets put together this organization.... And paid for it out of their own pockets. No one on the board makes a penny, never has... Statements that charge otherwise are blatantly false.

Your comments have been noted. I would pose another question. Do you have any idea what the AZSFW has done for sportsmen in Arizona over the past 5 years? Do you have any idea How many good things that Rep Weiers has done for us? By the way, the AZSFWC is comprised of 18 different groups, all sportsmens groups that have a vested interest and are willing to donate time and energies to shaping policy. The AZSFWC is the oversight group that was proposed for handling the monies from the Expo. If you are telling us to stick it where the sun does not shine, then you are telling all the groups that message. Hatred and anger are simply fear turned outwards. I do not know you, you do not know me. Why not give a little faith that we are not trying to screw sportsmen? Oh, I know! I was one of the people who warned against AZSFW when they started! AZSFW like someone else I know promissed us "Hope and Change", and now years later all the warning we had for hunters are coming true, I guess I can say, I told you so. The AZSFW has done more to benefit hunters than any other group in this state. Your commission is protected for years into the future when we have a democrat as governor. The $3.5 million dollars from the legislature 5 years ago when times were good is only because of their efforts. Please, let's acknowledge some of the good things that have happened.

We should talk Terry, this bill had plenty of good things about it...JK... you know how to reach me if you would like to talk. We will be meeting with all the members of the AZSFWC next week to move forward and answer questions...

+1 We are not too far removed to remember the Fiesta Bowl and their "administrative" costs. Different arena same corruption The AZSFW board is strictly volunteers initially, each of the beginning few who started the organization back several years ago were required to pony up some significant cash to be a board member. The only person who does get paid is Capitol Consulting, who acts as our lobbyist at the state legislature. I know of absolutely no lobbyist who would ever do the political infighting that has been necessary to carry the water for us who would do it as low as Suzanne and company have done.

Your comments have been noted. I would pose another question. Do you have any idea what the AZSFW has done for sportsmen in Arizona over the past 5 years? Do you have any idea How many good things that Rep Weiers has done for us? By the way, the AZSFWC is comprised of 18 different groups, all sportsmens groups that have a vested interest and are willing to donate time and energies to shaping policy. The AZSFWC is the oversight group that was proposed for handling the monies from the Expo. If you are telling us to stick it where the sun does not shine, then you are telling all the groups that message. Hatred and anger are simply fear turned outwards. I do not know you, you do not know me. Why not give a little faith that we are not trying to screw sportsmen?

There is a misconception on the term "emergency". The only reason for this portion is so that the bill would go into effect immediately rather than 90 days after sine die..... Then there could be planning for an expo in 2013.

My assumption is that he is referring to Pittman Robinson/ Dingell Johnson money that was passed back in the 1930's

One more try.... From my earlier message: Can we assume that these 54 auction permits will be in ADDITION to the 30 or so that are already allocated through another state law? Also, did either Weiers or AZSFWC run this by the game commission before going forward with it? If so, what did the commission think of the idea? These tags will be in addition to the current auction tags. The current commissioners were briefed prior to the dropping of the bill. conceptually most of them agreed to the bill, but were significantly upset that they never saw it prior to dropping. They will oppose the bill today by a 5-0 vote.

Thanks for a valid response Bill. There was a case a few years back in Arivipa Canyon. Guess who was there to help?... The AZSFW...Lawsuits are tricky business and should be the last resort. Otherwise we become that which we already detest... the CBD, the Defenders of Wildlife and the Sierra Club....

I have read the "informed opinions" that are begging all to say "NO" to this bill. I am curious about several things however. 1) without any additional funding from somewhere, how will we as sportsmen address the issue of access to public lands through private lands? As president of the ADA for the past 3 years, I have had countless calls and discussions regarding access. I read the assertions by some that there "are no access issues"... Really?... Do you think I make this stuff up? Have any of you experts talked to anyone within the AZGFD who works south of Phoenix? 2) There will be a Democratic Governor in this state at some point in the future. The last time we had appointments of commissioners from a Democratic governor they were people that all of us would like to forget. Who do you think arranged the bill so that sportsmen had a say in who would be the next commissioner? Who do you think arranged for $3.5 million dollars for habitat projects all across the state when there was money to be had in the legislature? There are always issues that need to be addressed in any bill. Condemning it to the point that all here have seemed to do is not productive. Constructive work on the bill would be a good start. Reading the bill and asking intelligent questions would be a great step. Calling members of the SFW "turds" shows a lack of class.

The money will not be going into the general fund. The revenue will be paid directly to the AZSFWC and therefore no state agency can touch the money.

The tags are going to be generated to the AZSFWC, which is comprised of 18 different member organizations. How does this block them from anything:?... The current tags that go to the different critter groups will stay in place. Where does this hurt our groups?.....

The tags would be purchased from the Department and there could be no possible involvement by the legislature. The $20,000,000 dollars represents the figure of all the dollars that would be spent by visitors coming to the Expo. The tags will be purchased by the AZSFWC and there are 18 groups currently that are members of that organization. Public scrutiny of the money would be welcomed and justified. Thinking that the money could be swept is impossible. As far as landowners who lease land..... yes, they do block gates that go past their privately owned land. In SE Arizona, there are thousands of acres of public lands that are blocked by these landowners. Negotiations by the department have proven to be fruitless. Checkerboard land is indeed being blocked, since there is no way to stake jump. The ranchers have new pots of gold in the future through solar development and it just gives them another reason to say NO!... When ranchers own the land, that is theirs to use and we have no dispute with that. When someone owns 200 acres and is the bottleneck to 40,000 acres, that is when we have a problem.

I have done some more research and there will be roughly 54 tags that will be auctioned. The remainder will be for raffle tags... for all of us who cannot spend the big $$ to buy the auction tags. So really, anyone who wins the raffle tag is doubly blessed. Cheaper than an AZGFD tag and still in the draw for the next year. Please keep forwarding the questions. thanks, BPJ

I will try and address some of the issues that have been presented here. I have been in favor of the concept of having this legislation passed and will support the bill during the legislative process. I am a life member of the AES, President of the ADA, Board member of the AZSFWC, Vice President of the Arizona Super Big Game Raffle and board member of the Arizona Wildlife Federation. As president of the ADA, I am approached constantly about access to public lands that are blocked by private landowners. The bill in question will address that issue by funding 1/3 of the money that is raised through the tags allocated towards public access FOR ALL.... not just the wealthy. The ADA and every group that I belong to have all been united in one cause..... NO landowner tags. The AZSFW is not affiliated with any other national group. The AZGFD has tried for years to negotiate landowner access and have failed miserably. For southeastern Arizona I have a map which shows all the locked gates to public land that is currently being treated as private. County monies are being spent to maintain those roads....your monies, the taxpayers. The AZSFW will be attempting to negotiate access and cannot do any worse that the AZGFD has done. There are statements that salaries will be increased. AS president of the ADA, I make nothing. zero,nada. So, yes, I will get a raise. I will make 10 times more than zero..... zero. We would hope that sportsmen would read the bill and understand the benefits that the package presents. I have worked on behalf of wildlife for many years, worked on many projects and sat through countless meetings. In all the years that I have been active, one group has been able to work with the legislature.... The AZSFW. A healthy series of questions regarding the bill and what will be happening should be expected. Condemning the bill and making statements that have no basis in fact are truly detrimental to the process. Coues country is being tucked away by landowners who are either afraid of damages, greedy to maintain a haven behind them that no one can access or simply wanting to maintain privacy. We can have philosophical discussions in the future, but condemning a bill without any readings and assuming that this is for the rich is wrongheaded. I hope that some of you will attempt to understand the process and submit coherent questions. BPJ

Recent meetings being held by the USFWS have led to the attached letter from the Arizona Deer Association. The feds are planning expanding the wolves from just the Blue to all across the Southwest. Please read the document attached. The future of all of hunting in Arizona as we know it is in jeopardy if this comes to pass as expected. BPJ Grand Plan for Wolves.pdf

I understand a lot of what Lark says. The whole basket however came to the AZGFD door and they could either be the red headed step child to the USFWS or be on the outside looking in. Please understand that the Commission gives direction and marching orders to the department. Look who the Commissioners were for a strong 5 year period... Governor Napolitano appointments, she is now in charge of Homeland Security. Her appointments were solidly in the wolf corner. The whole direction of the department is being changed by the new commissioners. Commissioners Husted, Harris and Mansell are really after sportsmen's interests. After Commissioner Freeman leaves, we will be rid of the Green Guard that she appointed. The future for Commission appointments has not looked this good in a long time. I hope that all of you who have read the letter that we wrote from the ADA will pass it on to your friends and they to their friends. Too often sportsmen have avoided politics like the plague..... and it has been to our detriment. We cannot get a fair shake from the big newspapers here in town, nor in Tucson. The only thing we can do is to build awareness in the rural communities and get those papers to ridicule placing more predators in areas that are marginal at best for deer and controlled by hunt success for elk. I sit in meetings at least 5 nights a month and this topic is covered at almost all of them. We will not let the future be dictated this time like it was last time. If we have to sue the feds, so be it. The CBD and Sierra Club have made vast fortunes by filing mountains of lawsuits. I think it is time for us to do so as well...BPJ

Guys..... I have read most of your responses and there is one point that needs to be made. The AZGFD and the commission do NOT want to increase the wolf population. The CBD (Center for Biological Diversity) in a lawsuit that was won by them against the USFWS has pushed the USFWS into this situation. The AZGFD is a very 2nd rate player in this mess and has no control. The opinion by the chief of the department is that New Mexico screwed themselves by pulling out. They now have no say and will have to watch what transpires. The feeling in the department is that even though they are treated like the red headed step child, at least they know what is going on. There will be opportunity to comment and another one of the fictituous Environmental Impact Statements will be brought out. There were plenty of statements that they made in the first one in 1995. These have ALL turned out to be erroneous and the USFWS can be called on it. The point of the publishing the letter that I did was to let you know what is going on, where the situation is at the moment and I promise that the ADA will keep you informed in the future. There are a lot of people who are banding together to fight this thing and I personally feel that we have a leg to stand on this time around. The scientists who wrote this thing work for Ted Turner and his Endangered Species bunch. Base on the plummeting deer herds in Arizona over the past 25 years, we cannot have a major predator brought anywhere near the Strip or the Kaibab or the Rim country. Keep the faith, we will not let it happen without a huge fight. We are soliciting help from our Congressional delegation as well, so be aware that is in the works. How we each respond to the wolf issue is a lot like the old boot legger days... The feds wanted one thing, the people wanted another.... we know who won that battle. Anyone for a drink?...BPJ

All the sheds are not found during the spring, some whiten up and stay out there for years on end. Scouting for upcoming hunts pays dividends as long as you can pay attention to looking while glassing and hiking...bpj

I was part of the initial group that developed the OHV regulations. Sadly, the National Forests have NO travel plans in place yet in many of the areas. Legally, some folks in some forests can ride anywhere they want. Does it make it ethical?...heck no. Does it make it right?...again heck no. I have talked to plenty of the enforcement guys and they are indeed writing tickets. That came from the OHV fund and yes, there are either 6 or 7 already hired. Until the Feds get their collective heads out of the sand AND complete all the necessary paperwork, you will see these transgressions. The OHV community places an extreme amount of pressure, since they are a huge part of the economy that drives these rural communities. I determined about 6 years ago, that finding shed meant going where they could not go... Vertical and REALLY thick areas... keep watching for the feds to do their planning...BPJ

There were no units determined for a late hunt. The Commission did agree to change their buck to doe ratios from 10-20 bucks/100 does to 20-30 bucks /100 does. Unit 3A/3C has been changed to an alternate unit where the philosophy will be to manage as an older class deer with fewer hunts. I would suspect that units 1 and 27 will be in line at some point in the future as they will have the same rebounding affect after the fire for mule deer. The Rodeo Chedeski fire helped a ton in bringing back mule deer, and the same should hold true for the Wallow fire...BPJ