Arizona Deer Assoc. HELP

[coueshunter]

The AZ Deer Association really needs some people to step up and donate some time. They need volunteers for the board, volunteers for habitat projects, fundraising projects like the banquet, just volunteers to help with all the functions the ADA serves for wildlife. Alot of the guys who have done this for years are just getting worn out. New blood like Keith Gaines, Amanda and others here that give their time is really in need. This is your chance to speak up and help AZ wildlife. Please email me, Keith or Amanda to volunteer. Come to the next board meeting....................Thanks...........Allen Taylor.........

[GameHauler]

Allen,

What can I do to help from Payson on a small scale?

I do not, will not go to the Valley.

If it is just folding mailers and that would help let me know.

I will talk C-n-S into doing it

Honestly though I could help out in a way like that.

Its a great organization and would like to contribute.

Hopefully you can get some other folks to help better than I can.

[Kilimanjaro]

Allen,

What can I do to help from Payson on a small scale?

I do not, will not go to the Valley.

If it is just folding mailers and that would help let me know.

I will talk C-n-S into doing it

Honestly though I could help out in a way like that.

Its a great organization and would like to contribute.

Hopefully you can get some other folks to help better than I can.

 

 

I see that as being a regular occuring problem with the various organizations here in AZ (ADA, ADBSS, AAF, etc).. all are located and have their fundraisers, dinners, meetings, etc in the valley.. and ALOT of folks just flat out refuse to go there. If they would move their get togethers around to diff locales in the state such as Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott, Sierra Vista etc. I think that alot more folks would become involved in the org. and be willing to show up and help at the functions..

I try to go to the PHX area only when I HAVE to!! Suns and D-backs games on ocassion, the NRA convention this yr, and a couple of flights that I have to catch from there.. other than that, I avoid at all costs!

[GameHauler]

Good Reply.

Maybe not having them in down town and moving them around a bit would help.

Say fort McDowell or off of Shay Blvd( I might go).

Casa Grande or Awatukee (spelling) Tucson may come.

Black River or Anthem and Flag and Prescott may come.

You Folks are used to that CRAP and know how to travel it

so driving an hour one year or 15 minutes the next should not be a problem

Bring me into that City and after 5 minutes I just want to scream.

It has been since 2004 since I have been there and do NOT plan to return.

Sorry to get off topic but something to think about and let me know if I can help.

[RoughCut]

 

 

I see that as being a regular occuring problem with the various organizations here in AZ (ADA, ADBSS, AAF, etc).. all are located and have their fundraisers, dinners, meetings, etc in the valley.. and ALOT of folks just flat out refuse to go there. If they would move they're get togethers around to diff locales in the state such as Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott, Sierra Vista etc. I think that alot more folks would become involved in the org. and be willing to show up and help at the functions..

I try to go to the PHX area only when I HAVE to!! Suns and D-backs games on ocassion, the NRA convention this yr, and a couple of flights that I have to catch from there.. other than that, I avoid at all costs!

+1

[TLH]

Pretty simple fix to all of this is teleconferencing--this would get more people to attend the meeting via phone and that would get more and more involvement into all the groups. I know that the AES actually have this in their meetings now. The ADA meets at The University of Phoenix and it is always on a Tuesday night which is a work night for most of us--there are times when the meeting goes past 10 pm and for those that get up early to go to work it just doesn't work out for them.

 

 

[KGAINES]

Thanks Allen, there are a lot of ways to help out even if you can't be there the for the meetings every month. The youth camps can always use help, the banquet is another, not to mention the projects and volunteer work that we are a part of around the state. Join the group and be a member, send stories and pictures for the magazine, show up at the AZGFD meetings and voice your concerns to the department or just say you stand with the ADA. I do very little compared to some of our board members and volunteers and the work they have done over the years is starting to pay off with the studies, the projects, and the AZGFD.

 

How many of the coueswhitetail group are members of the ADA, but they are limited with their involvement because of location, or they are not members because of location. It is something the ADA might need to think about in the future if it would get more members and more people involved with all that we have going on.

[MuleyMan]

Several thoughts here.

 

1) The ADA seems to have changed course and consequently now it looks like it needs more help to fulfill it's original mission statement. Go figure. Oh wait.....what was the original mission? The ADA should now be named the AKA......Arizona Kids Association. This is substantiated by the magazine. Plenty of kids stuff, ain't there? Almost compares to RugRat Times. If the ADA truly wants to help deer, then stick to results (spelled D-E-E-R) and not people emotions and not empire building and not survival (via funding) of the org as first priority. That mentality is soooooooooo old and tired. AZGFD clearly wants $$$ as first priority (translated this is.....more hunter opportunity=more licenses=get more kids involved to ensure the future=juniors hunts, etc...), reducing 'quality of the experience' to the lowest priority. Looks to me like the AKA is doing this exact same thing. I'm confused. I always thought the AKA and AZGFD were oil & water.

 

2) I propose that the next ADA board meeting be held at Lilo's Cafe in Seligman........outside........on the deck..........BYOB.

[CouesWhitetail]

I hate going to PHX as well and try to avoid it whenever I can. In the past we have had board members from far away places (like Springerville) and they participated by conference call during the meetings.

 

As Keith mentioned there are lots of ways to get involved with that do not require going to meetings or fundraisers in PHX. The ADA is always looking for volunteers to help with habitat improvement projects throughout the state. Go spend a weekend building a wildlife water. You could even sit on the committee that reviews the habitat projects that get funded by the tag fund sales. We always need help there. Being on the habitat committee does not require you to live in a big city or attend lots of meetings. Youth camps are another area where you can help but don't have to go anywhere near phx. There are generally camps in unit 36a, 23, and 20C.

 

Or if you want to help with the fundraiser, but don't want to go to it, you can make phone calls to businesses asking for donations. Or if you don't have the time or desire to do that, you can just make your own monetary donation.

 

Just signing up as a member is a useful way to support the organization. That may be the simplest way anyone can help.

 

If you are motivated, you could even form a chapter in your area. Want more representation in Tucson? Get a chapter formed with a board to make decisions on how you can help deer in the surrounding area. We have one very active chapter that is way up by the Kaibab. They have their own fundraiser and focus on their own projects up there.

 

 

to learn more about the organization, visit http://www.azdeer.org

 

 

Amanda

 

[TLH]

Kids are our future--do you really think we old farts will be around to fight the fight? If we do not spend the time and money on our younger hunters we will find ourselves left out in the cold very soon.

 

The anti's have recruitments that are very young--the Disney mentality is easier to sell than taking a kid hunting and spending the time with them to get them hooked on hunting. Tell me if this isn't true because i would love to hear your take on it. What is easier--take a kid to the zoo--to the movies or get them out in the field and get them interested in hunting. I know what it takes as i have raised a couple kids and also raised a couple of nieces and nephews all of which are strong believers in the hunting heritage. With out kids you would never understand the accomplishment of this task. (i also have a 3.5 year old grandson that will soon baptized in the hunt)

 

The ADA has to generate money to pay for all of the projects and the camps that they have each year--if they do not generate the funds they will cease to exist--i know for a fact that they have almost a half a million dollars set aside this year and next to do southern unit projects in this state--the Kaibab study has cost a ton of money and it has yielded invaluable information that will change the course of the way the game and fish will manage that herd--if not for the ADA this would have never happened. I am not sure where you get the AKA but i would suspect you have been out of touch with the ADA for a long time--you need to get back into the group and see what is really going on before you try and discredit the only true deer association in this state.

 

Just my two pennies

[KGAINES]

Several thoughts here.

 

1) The ADA seems to have changed course and consequently now it looks like it needs more help to fulfill it's original mission statement. Go figure. Oh wait.....what was the original mission? The ADA should now be named the AKA......Arizona Kids Association. This is substantiated by the magazine. Plenty of kids stuff, ain't there? Almost compares to RugRat Times. If the ADA truly wants to help deer, then stick to results (spelled D-E-E-R) and not people emotions and not empire building and not survival (via funding) of the org as first priority. That mentality is soooooooooo old and tired. AZGFD clearly wants $$$ as first priority (translated this is.....more hunter opportunity=more licenses=get more kids involved to ensure the future=juniors hunts, etc...), reducing 'quality of the experience' to the lowest priority. Looks to me like the AKA is doing this exact same thing. I'm confused. I always thought the AKA and AZGFD were oil & water.

 

2) I propose that the next ADA board meeting be held at Lilo's Cafe in Seligman........outside........on the deck..........BYOB.

 

The magazine does what it can with the stories it gets, and if the majority of the stories are about kids then I guess that is what will be in the magazine, it also shows that the ones that are involved with the youth activities are more likely going to submit stories. I think the ADA spends a decent amount on youth stuff, others would say not enough and then there are those that say too much, I like where were at and I am a part of the board, I attend the meetings and give my input, and I really don't see it changing, but if you don't like the way it supports the youth you are more than welcome to show up at a meeting and give your opinion, let us know how the ADA can better support deer in AZ, and tell me why kids don't mean a thing when it comes to deer in AZ.

 

 

[bobbyo]

This is my two cents. i have nothing against any organization, but i am going to state the plain truth. We have too many hunting organiztions and hunters are being spread too thin. We need to consolidate our resources. Lets name A FEW clubs. ADA, ABA, AQA, AAF, MDF, DCA, AES , SCI, PVC. NATF, DU, ADBSS, AWF. I'M Sure, I AM MISSING PLENTY OF others. We have more sub groups then the French Parliament. We have no unified voice as hunters. We are basically a bunch of splinter groups concerned with our own pet projects. Divided we have no power and AZGF and legislature and Governor can pay no attention to hunters. Of coarse agreeing on the one voice is impossible without compromise and agreement. Is there a way we could come up with one encompassing organization that some how includes all the diverse interests of various organization to speak for all hunters. I have ideas, but really don't want to waste my breath. Really is there a way we can all come together. A consensus.Maybe a super meeting of all groups in Phoenix .

Bob

[CouesWhitetail]

This is my two cents. i have nothing against any organization, but i am going to state the plain truth. We have too many hunting organiztions and hunters are being spread too thin. We need to consolidate our resources. Lets name A FEW clubs. ADA, ABA, AQA, AAF, MDF, DCA, AES , SCI, PVC. NATF, DU, ADBSS, AWF. I'M Sure, I AM MISSING PLENTY OF others. We have more sub groups then the French Parliament. We have no unified voice as hunters. We are basically a bunch of splinter groups concerned with our own pet projects. Divided we have no power and AZGF and legislature and Governor can pay no attention to hunters. Of coarse agreeing on the one voice is impossible without compromise and agreement. Is there a way we could come up with one encompassing organization that some how includes all the diverse interests of various organization to speak for all hunters. I have ideas, but really don't want to waste my breath. Really is there a way we can all come together. A consensus.Maybe a super meeting of all groups in Phoenix .

Bob

 

 

 

Actually, there is an all-ecompassing group that is more of a political voice for hunters. It's not species specific, it's hunting and fishing specific. It's called Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife.

http://www.arizonasportsmenforwildlife.org/index.asp

 

Prior to AZSFW, there was the Wildlife Conservation Council which worked to get all groups together for one voice. Each group sent a rep to those meetings. But it is now looking like the WCC will merge with the non-profit arm of the AZSFW, which is called AZ sportsmen for wildlife conservation (AZSFWC).

 

 

Amanda

 

 

 

 

[Muley62]

After reading these post I can say that I agree or understand at least some part of everyones issues, even Muleyman!

 

As for the out-of-town/I-hate-the-Valley gang-I don't blame you in the least! Half of our board is trying to find a way to get out of Phoenix. As Terry mentioned tele-confrencing is becoming more convenient all the time, so being a board member is not out of the question. As you know there are big mule deer in northern Arizona and there are some serious mule deer hunters living up there. Those guys did not want to drive down here so they started the Buckskin Chapter of the ADA. I am not suggesting that you go to that length but maybe consider doing something that involved sportsmen from the Payson area, Tucson area, or Kingman area, maybe a hunters clinic, small fundraiser, Adopt-a-Ranch, or highway clean-up. I am probably creating more questions than I am answering but my point is that the potential is endless.

 

The person who made the point about too many organizations is, in part, correct. The problem that I see is not that there are too many groups as much as we all try to be involved in too many groups. I may be the worst offender in the entire state! I am on or have been on the boards of the ADA, ABA, ABGSR, AZSFW, AWF, and OE4A. Frankly, I am getting burned out and it is my fault. I should have stayed focused on one or two groups and i would be more energized. So don't worry about all of the groups, it is overwhelming, just pick one or two that you are going to work with and get started.

 

Most of all, remember that all of these groups are volunteer run. No one is getting paid to do this work, they give their time and money by the bucket loads. Too many times I hear "what is in it for me?" from potential members instead of "what can I do to help?" I am preaching to the choir here, because I can tell by your responses that you are not that type. Volunteers don't always get things done as fast as you would like, or as professionally as you would expect so give them some slack.

 

Thanks for the conversation here, lets keep it going.

[deserthunter23]

As an Az resident for the last 31 yrs,Ive seen lots of changes in our hunting community.I belong to RMEF(life),NRA(life),ADA,Ducks Unlimited.I have come to a point where I have some time and would like to give back to the sport I love.How can I become involved as a volunteer?I am one of the unfortunate souls chained to the valley,so I am local here.Thanks,and good luck to all in the draw.Steve