Nummie

Couestaxi, my question regarding the official position of RMEF was part and parcel of the vigilance you are recommending. In New Mexico, I have confirmed that they do indeed own a ranch, and the DO participate in the landowner tag program. So, based on that, I have to wonder just where they are on this issue. I've heard that they are an apolitical organization, but I must wonder. That is not "bashing", as you say. Jeff Groscost will never get my approval, even if he WAS a supporter of hunting. He should be in prison serving hard time for what he forced on the citizens of this state! Depending on who you ask, he and the legislation that was past have been responsible for $500 MILLION in costs just so a few thousand people can ride around in fancy SUV's. If you care to debate the virtues of Groscost further, I'll be glad to participate. You probably know what position I'll take.

Guys, I decided that the best way to spread the word on this Ranchers For Wildlife program was to post on as many hunting websites as possible. I don't usually hunt for whitetail, but I do bowhunt for elk and turkey, and sometimes mule deer. But, I think we all must band together to make damm sure RFW never becomes the law of the land. Someone mentioned the AZ Deer Assoc. and AZ Elk Foundation. I met representatives of both organizations at that meeting on Wednesday, January 26. They both stated to me that they were very much against RFW. I've also seen both those individuals at various public meeting that G&F has held throughout the state. I don't know either of their names, but if someone does have a phone # or e-mail address, I'll surely contact them. I would rather work as part of an established organization to defeat RFW and subsequently begin the process of working to some other equitable solution for the ranchers and hunters. When talking to an official of the NM G&F department, I found out that RMEF does indeed have a large ranch in that state, and yes, they do participate in the hunting tags for ranchers program. I'm very leery of RMEF's motives in this situation, so keep a careful eye out for their actions in this situation. Manimal, thank you for acknowledging my efforts. I don't know if you are an Arizona resident, but if you are, then you will remember the Alt Fuels debacle of about 4-5 years ago. A state legislator by the name of Jeff Groscost, who had a reputation of bullying politics anyway, was able to convince enough other legislators that passing of the Alt Fuels bill was good for the state. Well, it was good for his associates in the propane retrofitting industry, and ultimately the program has cost $500 MILLION that the state (us) are paying for!!!! I DO NOT INTEND ON SITTING ON MY HANDS AND LETTING SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!!!!! It could, if we are not diligent though. JMHO

I'm in the process of determining which of our many wildlife organizations and foundations support the "Ranchers for Wildlife" proposal recently presented to the AZ State Senate committee on Natural Resources. Before I join forces with any of these orgainzations, I want to know which side of the barb-wire fence each sits on. What are you thoughts on which organizations would be impactful to this issue, one way or the other? My Thoughts are..... RMEF Nat'l Wild Turkey Federation Ducks Unlimited State or federal deer associations????? Any others??????

You are all bringing up valid questions and suggestions to solve the problems. Let me state that the real issue here is that the ranchers in this state aren't that concerned with what the state will do to solve their problems with wildlife damages on their holdings. One of the above posts touched on that very subject. G&F tells me that indeed, there are many programs currently available to ranchers to mitigate damage problems, some of which are under-utilized. No, ranchers REALLY want a program like that which is available in other states now, and that is they want a new, monopolistic, private, cash-cow/money making industry in "game management"! In New Mexico, this industry makes over $30 million for ranchers and outfitters. In Utah, it is well over $10 mil! I, for one, will do everything I can to make sure that does not EVER happen here in Arizona!!!!!!!!! But, once ranchers realize that this new gravy train will not arrive, maybe then they will again seek out the programs offered by the G&F and the state, AND the federal government that will help them mitigate this habitat degradation problem. However, this may never happen. We, as hunters and sportsmen, must stay on top of this issue, lest we become complacent and wake up some day to this nightmare becoming reality. All state G&F agencies that I have contacted have confirmed to me that their programs are NOT good for the state, the hunters, sportsmen, or anyone EXCEPT ranchers. In closing, I think ranchers ought to concentrate on doing what they know best.....and that's ranching, not game management. JMHO

Dudes, thank you all for taking my post seriously. I attended the meeting today and will paste my report for all to see (I posted it on other boards also). BTW, whoever mentioned that one e-mail wouldn't make a difference.......Senator Flake mentioned that he received at least 50 of them as well as numerous phone calls. He actually read one of them out loud!!!! ******************************************************************** OK. I attended the committee meeting this afternoon. After some presentations and discussions on other subjects, they got to the "Ranchers For Wildlife" presentation. First, a speaker began the presentation with a video presentation that left a lot to be desired, and I'm sure impressed NOBODY. Then, representatives from the Navajo Tribe spoke about various issues related to the Big Boquillas Ranch and dancing around the issue of creating a program to compensate ranchers and other private landowners by giving them hunt permits to market for sale. Layne Brandt (guide), then proceeded to plead the case by voicing various anecdotes related to game management, or lack there of. OK, now I'm really not convinced here. Finally, a repesentative from the Arizona Cattlemens' Association tried to save the day by appealing to everyone to work together to solve the problems of damage to habitat, etc. This guy probably made the most sense to me. At least he acknowledged that for everyone to work together, three conditions must be satisfied. They are.... The solution must be good for, (ie; acceptable and workable) 1. The Game & Fish Department 2. Private ranch and large land owners 3. Hunters and sportsmen What I took away from this presentation was; A. The presentation was very UNorganized and didn't impress anyone. B. Hunters will fight with everything they have to keep this ill-conceived plan to give away control of a very precious natural resourse from ever becoming law. C. The legislators are aware of the political hot potato that is at their feet. D. There really is a problem here that needs to be addressed SOON by rational, cool-headed members of the public, ranching interests, legislators, and the Game & Fish Department to find solutions that everyone can live with. You can help now by contacting the people in my original post and asking them how you can help to find a solution. Senator Flake mentioned all the e-mails and calls he has received since Monday, and even read one of them. They need to know that cooler heads will prevail to help in fixing this problem.

AZ STATE SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES RANCHING FOR WILDLIFE PROPOSAL THIS IS IMPORTANT TO HUNTERS Representatives of Ranching For Wildlife will give a presentation to members of the committee regarding a proposal to create compensation to Arizona ranchers in the form of wildlife hunting permits, which could be marketed as private land hunts on their holdings. This proposal has been legislated in most western states and has resulted in reducing or even eliminating available permits for the general public! I?m told that in Utah alone, no bull elk permits exist for public draw, and are ONLY available through the private ranch hunting program! This proposal could also include leased state land!!!! This measure has been identified as potentially much more damaging to public hunting than George Taulmann?s USO debacle, and I urge everyone to attend the meeting at the State capitol Senate building on Wednesday, January 26, at 1:30 pm., in room 109. The meeting is open to the public, and speakers can address the committee. The AZ Game & Fish Department is not involved in the planning process regarding this proposal, and is publicly opposed to it. The department already is addressing the issues that this proposal is supposed to solve with its Landowner Relations program, instituted about 2 years ago. I will be attending this public meeting to find out more about who is proposing it, and why. I have a feeling that it could be a Trojan horse measure that would further diminish public hunts in favor of the rich by transferring wildlife management from Game & Fish to private individuals for monetary gain. In other words, this could very well be another attempt by a few to control the natural resources of this state that we, the public already own! Do you want this to happen? You can help by writing your state senator and letting him or her know how you feel about the measure. This is definitely not the first time it has been attempted, but is probably the most organized effort to date. Listed below are the senate committee members who will decide if this proposal goes any further. Please contact these individuals also and let them know how you feel about the measure. Jake Flake, Chairman rancher (602) 926-5219 jflake@azleg.state.az.us Rbt. Blendu, Vice-Chair broker (602) 926-5955 rblendu@azleg.state.az.us Marsha Arzberger rancher (602) 926-4321 marzberg@azleg.state.az.us Tim Bee printing (602) 926-5683 tbee@azleg.state.az.us Rbt. Cannell ???? 602) 926-4139 rcannell@azleg.state.az.us Marilyn Jarrett retail 602) 926-5288 mjarrett@azleg.state.az.us Rebecca Rios ???? (602) 926-5685 rrios@azleg.state.az.us