DesertBull Report post Posted March 7, 2012 Just got an email from AZSFW asking I support setting aside less than 1% of the tags. The only reason I voted No was because they didn't give an option for F no. Something tells me they are going to bring the results of this poll to their next govenors meeting and try to Backdoor us. Literally. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted March 8, 2012 It would be nice to have some "Fat Cats" on our side. If we could get enough people to pony up some cash for a lawsuit agaisnt AZSFW, and with any luck get the court to put sanctions on it, at least until the current State sesion is over. That would keep HB2072 on the back burner, and buy some time to fight it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest akaspecials Report post Posted March 8, 2012 This will never go away. It will be a fight each time a session comes up. I think one of these other groups (or us) needs to pass legislation that would ban any sort of tag grab ever. Pretty sure we could get that rolling here with enough signatures. +1 Does anyone that is "in the know" think this is a realistic possibility? Is there a group that would take it on? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted March 8, 2012 email from AZSFW - Over the past 16 years, the costs of operating the Arizona Game and Fish Department have increased by 138% while the number of permits they have issued have plummeted by more than 27% and big game harvests are down 32%. Except for elk, the harsh reality is we are losing on average about 2,000 permits per year. Why is this happening? There are a number of reasons behind these massive tag reductions - including declining wildlife populations due to various uncontrollable factors. The one factor which we can control is not being properly addressed. We have not filled the void in predator control which resulted from the ban on trapping in 1994. In addition, the subsidized environmentalist activities leading to more land being taken for wilderness, monuments and habitat for endangered species have reduced our access to large tracks of land. This combined with a decrease in the number of Sportsmen means we are facing an uncertain future. What are we going to do about it? How do we solve the problem? We solve it by empowering Sportsmen to create a system to increase wildlife herds, improve access, and get more involved in recruiting and retaining the next generation of hunters and anglers. By setting aside less than half a percent of our current tags (280 tags dedicated to a special Sportsmen draw which will have very favorable conditions for sportsmen and 54 auction tags), we can generate over $25 million in new economic activity and invest in programs specially designed to start bending the trend lines in a positive direction and create a 3-4 day Sportsmen Expo in Arizona. We can't afford to continue to lose thousands of permits a year. Please take the survey and let us know how you feel. Learn more at http://arizonasportsmenforwildlife.org/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gotcoues Report post Posted March 8, 2012 I got it too DB, I was pissed how they worded the question and then their letter to boot. What a sham! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
.270 Report post Posted March 8, 2012 what a wonderful bunch of, well i can't think of a word i can use here that really describes em. trash maybe? we have to remove the head from the body. that's the only way a snake is safe. in this case, the heads. they're like a hydra. sfw has to shrivel up and die. we should make things hard enough that they leave us alone. i know a couple of the guys who's names have popped up as supporters of this deal. they ain't gonna want to ever talk to me again because i will not be civil. don't care where i see em or who is with em. i ain't ready to forgive. this next fall oughta be interesting in a lot of ways. after the uso deal, the next season was pretty stressfull for a lotta folks. especially uso and their hunters. they had to sub out a lotta their hunters, to more than willing outfitters that fall, for a lot of reasons, but mostly because folks hated em. there were a lot of confrontations and a lot of hard feelings over it. uso never recovered in Az. seldom see any of them around anymore. i know of a couple guys that "sub'd" out to em and they paid a hard price for quite awhile. be interesting to see if something similar happens over this deal. people need to boycott these guys. a lot of em are so rich it won't matter, but at least they won't be getting any of your money, that they can then turn around and use to try to get your tags. but some of these guys are really dependent on Az sportsmen and Az sportsmen need to be really critical of where they spend their money. i'd rather donate to al quida than these jokers. Lark. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
longshooter Report post Posted March 8, 2012 I got it too DB, I was pissed how they worded the question and then their letter to boot. What a sham! Yea I was not pleased how they worded the email either with the "only 1% of the tags" and how they tried using scare tactics . This subject needs media attention to get the word out. Maybe a bunch of us get together and picket the state capital or fish and game ? what ever works Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muskrat Report post Posted March 8, 2012 I understand (and appreciate) what the auction-tag bidders can and do contribute to wildlife, in the current way of doing things - through the AZBGSR and the Critter Group Auctions. That being said, I'm a little tired of AZSFW crying about all of the serious issues ahead of us, and spreading the fear. In their potential pool of bidders that would benefit from HB2072, there is nothing stopping those folks from simply donating to one of the various organizations. If they are serious about their passion and commitment to wildlife, just donate. They don't need a scheme. I'm not one of these guys who is against wealth. Someday, I hope to be wealthier than I am now. Part of my plan is to give to charity as much as I possibly can, because it is the right thing to do. Currently, I give to my Church what I can with no expectation to get something out of it. I do it because I want to. I give to other charities also, whenever I can, and as much as I can.Whether or not there is a benefit from all of this auction-tag money to AZGF and the wildlife they look after - this is about tags for the elitists. Nothing more. If it was about saving the elk and deer, the people who could do so would already be pouring the money in to help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted March 8, 2012 I have not, and never will be, a supporter of auction tags, govenors tags or whatever tags are sold to the highest bidder. The wildlife belongs to everyone. Game & Fish are the stewards of the wildlife. If they want tags for auction let them have the leftovers. How much is an early Whitetail hunt in Unit 30B worth? The solution is simple, but not popular. Raise tag, or license fee's, with an amendment that the increase will go toward wildlife programs. Or as DesertBull mentioned. Go with a Habitat Stamp program. I would gladly buy a stamp for say $50, that I would put on the back of my license, if I was 100% guaranteed that that money would be used for what it is intended. The biggest problem is keeping extra monies from being scooped into the State of Arizona general fund.G&F has seen that happen before. HB2072 is an abomination. It opens the door for all kinds of future problems. It will be a great day when AZSFW ceases to exist. AZSFW should be ashamed of themselves for trying to pass this bill. It shows an utter lack of character by the board members and the Organization as a whole. They are no different than the people behind USO. Greedy, tag grabbing, gimme, gimme gimme, so I can make big money off my rich clients. Makes me sick! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biglakejake Report post Posted March 8, 2012 Snapshot: i hope you fare better with the board than i did last august when expressing my disdain over auction tags and the hamberlins of this world. good luck! in 1995 it was an east valley rep that wanted to push through landowner tags to save us all from elk accidents on the hiway. in 2004 it was a lawsuit by uso that was out-n-out blackmail and we dodged a bullet. in 2012 it looks like they are banking on sportsman apathy, misinformation and high$$$ political influence-if they win this imagine what round two will be like. just ask someone from utah. lee insanity runs in the family-it practically gallups! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ringer Report post Posted March 8, 2012 They are calling those of us against this bill an insignificant minority. Someone posted a link to every legislator on another site and I wrote in opposition and had a few of my friends do the same. If they get thousands of emails against AZSFW it will impact how they view the issue. Please keep writing and calling and also contact any sponsors of their supporters who might like to continue selling things to the 99% club here in AZ. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted March 8, 2012 I got it too DB, I was pissed how they worded the question and then their letter to boot. What a sham! This subject needs media attention to get the word out. Maybe a bunch of us get together and picket the state capital or fish and game ? what ever works The Goldwater Institute. They are tax payer watch dogs and violating the gift cause of the AZ Constitution is right up their alley. They protected us from (the tax payer) from having to guarantee loans and buy some billionaire a hockey team. This tag grab is related in my opinion. Taking public assets and making them available to only a select few with money and political pull. Also, think Fiesta Bowl and John Junker.....who preparing to meet his new "roommate" at Perryville Prison for buying favors in the legislature. http://goldwaterinstitute.org/who-we-are Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted March 9, 2012 Gilstrap is speaking to the AZGFD Commission tomorrow Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snapshot Report post Posted March 9, 2012 Gilstrap is speaking to the AZGFD Commission tomorrow Swell! Anyway to cut her off at the pass? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted March 9, 2012 Gilstrap is speaking to the AZGFD Commission tomorrow Swell! Anyway to cut her off at the pass? Glue dollar to the ground and she'll spend all day trying to pick it up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
