krp Report post Posted March 2, 2012 Dear Governor Brewer and all our legislators... Concerning HB2072 and subsequent revisions of same being brought before you. As a forth generation Arizonian... ranching, mining, farming on one side and educators in every generation on the other... I was raised on Arizona culture, it's bred deep, runs in my blood... My Greatgrandfather was an educator I have a picture of him holding my Grandfather as a baby on a sidewalk in downtown Prescott, dressed in his finest suit, circa 1905. According to family history he was superintendent of schools in the Prescott/Cottonwood area. I also have pictures of him and his hunting partners, hound hunting Mingus mountain for bears and lions. He died on that mountain when his horse fell on him while hunting and my Grandfather was 10 years old. My Grandfather was a teacher and principle in the same area his entire life, my mother grew up in Cottonwood and met my father at ASU, she was a kindergarten teacher, my sister was a teacher and my daughter is a HS biology teacher in the east valley... they've all hunted. My Greatgrandfather, Grandfather and great uncle farmed and ranched in Safford and west New Mexico, they worked in the coppermines. My Dad was born in Thatcher, they moved to Tempe when he was a sophomore in HS and he worked for Motorola his entire career as an engineer. Hunting was a big part of their lives, of who they were. My Dad at 78 was successful filling the freezer with elk meat just 3 seasons ago, with my brother and I right there with him... it truly was a spiritual event... a culmination of many lives and the Arizona culture they built. For the majority of sportsmen and women, it's the culture, it's family away from the TV and video game, it's nature and spiritual. It's not about an Expo, we have two in this state already and they will cease under this legislation. It's not about an auction tag that someone else can afford, though it will be taken from someone that would have hunted, as these are not new tags, they are taken away from the public draw. This is about receiving a tag in the draw so they or their child or their Dad or their wife can continue the culture of Arizona hunting and all that involves. AZSFW may say they represent Az sportsmen... they are deceiving you. They represent their special interest only. My one lone voice represents a much larger majority, it's been proven on the internet websites and an outcry has emerged. AZSFW may say they will generate millions of dollars... they are deceiving you. They will transfer the dollars already being generated by the individual organizations, destroying them in the process, same as the existing expos, take money away from the Game and Fish general fund with reduced license sales and application fees, they will reduce the value of the existing 30 Governor tags that goes 100% to the G&F now. They will be lucky to break even on the new tag money and the expense of the super expo that few will go to with the hostile environment and rift they are creating between themselves and the majority of hunters in this state. I've heard the number of 20 to 35 million a year... not in this economy, there's never been a model of existing expos in other states that are huge that come close to that or even half of the low... they are deceiving you. These same people that are the board members and directors of this organization and self proclaimed voice of the sportsmen, are historically the ones that buy the Governor tags available now for thousands and hundreds of thousands. How do they represent the sportsmen that want a tag for their kid when they are legislating 50 of the public's 'Premium' tags, not the low quality tags, Premium tags to those like themselves. And then bypassing the Game and Fish drawing process and money generated on the other 300. They are the Walmart of the hunting scene, they will come in with promises and eliminate the small organizations/competitors, some of which have already removed themselves from supporting AZSFW and there are others following shortly. They will eliminate our culture of public hunting, they will replace it with elitism, cronyism and 'The King's Deer'... they are deceiving you. They put a carrot of youth retention and conservation works. We already do this and some of us do this without even the individual organizations help now. I can show you pictures of non affiliated youth hunt camps put on by the Wildlife managers and volunteers, kids with parents camping , hunting, eating donated food and the G&F cook trailer that I myself cook from. I can show you pictures of water catchment projects that are non affiliated with WMs and volunteers out working for days to supply a water source for wildlife... AZSFW is not there... We will not join them in any fashion in the future, they don't even have a true membership of the majority of hunters, they rely on their member organizations to cede them their membership, to cede them their youth projects and conservation works, to cede them a percentage of their dues. They may represent some of the organizations, and many are bailing over 2072... but that is a small number of the public that buy a hunting license or apply for a tag.... they are deceiving you. True youth retention is in the culture, it's in the parent taking the child into nature, to camp, to fish, to hunt, to build a love of all things that are great in Arizona beyond the flatscreen and societal noise. It's four generations sitting around a fire. In the evolution of a hunter, at one time you are young and get to see your hero care about you, at the other end you get to be the hero and pass down something that can't be sold or bought. It's thousands like myself that will spend gas and money just to help a stranger who has a child and needs a start on an individual hunt. I was asked to take a 16 year old out on a elk hunt, as we talked during the hike in, he went to the same Jr high I had over 35 years ago and was going to the high school. We spot some ek, made a stalk and he was successful with his first big game animal. I wish everyone could experience the feeling of his amazement, joy, thankfulness. It's a cherished moment for me and I have many exactly like that... you can't buy that at an expo. We were promised from the very one's that started azsfw that they would never go after tags in the way Utah has done. They promised this in 2006 when concerned sportsmen asked point blank before trusting them as a political arm. The same leadership was adamant about never asking for special tags... well they deceived us, but we aren't deceived anymore and you should not be also. Thank you, respectfully. Kent Powell PS, yes, my last name brings up that type of Arizona culture also. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BuzzH Report post Posted March 2, 2012 Governor Brewer, I am writing this letter in regard to HB2072, a bill introduced via AZSFW. I am a long-time Non-Resident Hunter of Arizona and have been applying for and hunting there for over 10 years. I enjoy the many great opportunities that your state provides. Recently, AZSFW and their Lobbyist Suzanne Gilstrap, who I understand is meeting with members of your staff today, have endorsed and attempted to push this bill through the Arizona Legislature. This comes as no surprise as AZSFW and their affiliates through-out the Western States have made the same attempt to take public hunting tags from the average hunters in those states, only to put them up for auction to the highest bidder. This has been done in Utah to the tune of nearly 600 hunting licenses in that State. SFW Founder, Don Peay, has direct ties to the AZSFW and its no shock this same type of situation is now happening in Arizona via HB2072. I am strongly opposed to HB2072 as it is in defiance of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. The North American Model is the crown jewel of all wildlife conservation found anywhere in the World. Many great Conservation and Hunting organizations like the Boone and Crockett Club, Pope and Young Club, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and others, all strongly endorse the North American Model. One of the cornerstones of the North American Model is the significance of having equal access to the publics wildlife by ALL citizens. HB2072 is in direct conflict as it effectively steals permits from the public, and directs those permits to the exclusive use of the wealthiest hunters in the United States. This situation sets up a classic example of the "kings deer" as is the common method of wildlife conservation found in Europe and Africa. Very early on in the history of our great Nation, one of the things that seperated us from Europe was equal access to the publics wildlife by ALL citizens. Famous people like Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, and others found these truths to be evident as well. It also should be noted that many Local Arizona Sporting groups are opposed to HB2072 and that many have already dropped their affiliation with AZSFW because HB2072 does not represent the views held by the Sportsmen/women of those groups. In true-to-form fashion, I'm sure Suzanne Gilstrap, SFW lobbyist, is claiming that sportsmen are endorsing this bill, and that AZSFW represents all sportsmen. This has become a common practice of SFW's throughout the Western States. Dont be misguided by their claims, as they have a very low paying membership. They do not represent the views of the vast majority of the hunting public, and surely DO NOT represent most of the hunters I know. Remember that over 90% of the hunting public are Do-It-Yourself public land hunters who apply faithfully for permits and are more than happy to wait their turn in line for their chances to hunt in Arizona. That same 90% are largely opposed to this type of legislation that unfairly gives preference to the wealthiest hunters affording them unfair access to the publics wildlife resources. I would highly encourage you to not endorse this attempted tag grab by AZSFW via HB2072. Lets keep the tradition alive that is the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation where you dont have to be wealthy to have access to the great public wildlife resources we have today. If you have any questions that I can answer feel free to contact me any time. All best regards, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
krp Report post Posted March 2, 2012 Dear Governor Brewer and all our legislators... I am very concern with language being used and claims being made by AZSFW that must be proven before any other claims can be considered legitimate. Does AZSFW have the support of the sportsmen? If they do then why hasn't any of these organizations 'Publicly supported' HB2072? Anglers United Arizona Antelope Foundation Arizona Bass Federation Nation Arizona Bowhunters Association Arizona Chapter SCI Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society Arizona Deer Association Arizona Ducks Unlimited Arizona Flycasters Club Arizona Houndsmans Association Arizona Trappers Association Coconino Sportsman Hunt of a Lifetime Mohave Sportsman Club National Wild Turkey Federation Outdoor Experience For All Southwest Walleye Anglers Arizona Trout Unlimited Council AZ Elk Society Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club Three have officially severed ties with AZSFW because of HB2072... AZ Elk Society Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club National Wild Turkey Federation And it's been said recently Coconino Sportsman has sent an email proclaiming the same. The others claim wait and see, but really they are hiding in the bushes. They are afraid of their own membership if they support and the backlash of the majority of sportsmen/women, ceasing to exist or exceedingly diminished... they are afraid to 'nonsupport' if AZSFW is successful in gaining this legislation and almost total control of all conservation and political PAC funding, that they will be blackballed, ceasing to exist or exceedingly diminished. They put themselves in this catch 22 by being silent. Make AZSFW bring proof of their claims of majority support, ask the individual organizations release 'Public' statements either on their websites or if they have none the Sportsmen websites like TheArizonaHunter.com, Coueswhitetail.com, MonsterMuley.com. Where the real public discusses the very issues that effect them. Silence would be considered nonsupport... Make AZSFW bring those public support statements to you as well as any individual support statements. Besides themselves and some outfitters that will benefit from more rich clients on these tags. I bet they can't get 200 folks to support them, probably not even 100. Conservation is dependent on the support of sportsmen in Arizona, the donations, raffles, attendance, banquets, membership of supporting organizations, volunteer work. If AZSFW does not represent sportsmen and thus flame a hostile environment that is boiling right now because of the first attempt, cause many to turn their backs in disgust of both them and politicians, HB2072 will go down as a huge failure and another slap in the face to citizens by our elected officials that wouldn't listen. I have faith in our state government to represent their constituency above the special interest and false claims. This is a fragile situation that can collapse quickly, step carefully. Respectfully, Kent Powell Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
