TLH Report post Posted May 20, 2012 I have been a member of the YVRGC since 1998. I started out paying my dues so I could enter their big Javelina contest. This turned into just being able to support Jonhny and the Legislative leg of that organization. Two days after my dad's funeral some great friends took me on a club waterhole project in 2005 and I have been hooked ever since. I can now proudly say that I have been a club board member for the last three years, waterhole project co-chair for that long, legislative co-chair for two, and proudly represent Yuma on the HAHWG Steering commitee and group. Unfortunately I am a farmer and my schedule NEVER permits me to do all of the things I "want" to do. I feel pains in my heart everytime the club or the GFD asks me to do something and I have to tell them no, I guess I should play the lottery more regularly. I cannot express how important it is to support any group that works for what you believe in. If you think you are better off not "getting involved" you are dead wrong. You don't have to change your life to make a difference. Every penny and minute donated to a cause counts. The Good Lord knows I have donated more sweat than dollars, because it is what I can afford. David David, You can not put a price on your time or your sweat--once that day goes away you can not get it back and no money can buy it back. A person who donates their time are the ones that give the most. Good for you and people like you--we need more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coueshunter Report post Posted May 20, 2012 everyone.......time donated is the #1 thing that is needed. the small amount of money your membership dues represents is so small compared to the need for time. please donate some time to any part of wildlife conservation you can........projects, banquets, lobbying, phone calls, recruiting etc.........we have/must change the mindset of hunters and get them involved wherever they can...........allen taylor..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted May 20, 2012 everyone.......time donated is the #1 thing that is needed. the small amount of money your membership dues represents is so small compared to the need for time. please donate some time to any part of wildlife conservation you can........projects, banquets, lobbying, phone calls, recruiting etc.........we have/must change the mindset of hunters and get them involved wherever they can...........allen taylor..... +1!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gotcoues Report post Posted May 21, 2012 I signed up for a life membership w the AES. My goal is to become a life member of atleast one wildlife org a year. I've been hooked on the outdoors for almost 20 years, it's who I am. It's time for me to give back to something that has given me so much. I really enjoyed working on Ben Brochu's last water catchment project along side other CWTailers and can't wait to go again, this time with my kids as well. With the blessing of my family (they put up with me being in the field a lot), I've also decided to completely sponsor a youngster each year on a deer hunt. The plan is to take a beginner or someone who hasn't ever hunted and provide a mentored hunt at no cost to them or their family. With the help of a couple close friends, I'm going to take them to the range once and haul my trailer to our campsite for their deer hunt. Hopefully this will become a success and I can introduce a few new people to the sport. I plan on encouraging parent participation and recruit some veterans to help glass and help in camp. I'll keep you guys posted as this first hunt unfolds. I look forward to meeting more good folks from CWT and the hunting community in general. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted May 21, 2012 I signed up for a life membership w the AES. My goal is to become a life member of atleast one wildlife org a year. I've been hooked on the outdoors for almost 20 years, it's who I am. It's time for me to give back to something that has given me so much. I really enjoyed working on Ben Brochu's last water catchment project along side other CWTailers and can't wait to go again, this time with my kids as well. With the blessing of my family (they put up with me being in the field a lot), I've also decided to completely sponsor a youngster each year on a deer hunt. The plan is to take a beginner or someone who hasn't ever hunted and provide a mentored hunt at no cost to them or their family. With the help of a couple close friends, I'm going to take them to the range once and haul my trailer to our campsite for their deer hunt. Hopefully this will become a success and I can introduce a few new people to the sport. I plan on encouraging parent participation and recruit some veterans to help glass and help in camp. I'll keep you guys posted as this first hunt unfolds. I look forward to meeting more good folks from CWT and the hunting community in general. Awesome!! Thanks for your dedication to our hunting community! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
donniedent Report post Posted May 21, 2012 One thing I'm going to require at my house for my 6 kids is from now on, if they want to hunt, they have to go volunteer on a water or habitat project before they can even apply. I want to make it a habit for them and hopefully they will carry that on when they are adults. I would really like to see hunters educate themselves about the species they hunt. My favorite animal is the desert muley so I have read all the research I can get my hands on to educate myself about what these deer need. If we were more educated about our species of focus, we could have a better undcerstanding of what game and fish has to deal with and how to better assist them. I hear things all the time about shutting down units to let the herds grow and other such things. I recently thought that was a good idea myself but since I started reading the research and educating myself, I found out that closing a unit will not grow deer herds at all. Will more bucks be there? Yes but it won't grow anymore does or fawns or deal with what hurts them. Herd health is measured by fawn/doe ratio, not buck/doe ratio unless..... buck/doe ratios fall below 7/100 or above 40/100. I hear that sort of old dogmatic retoric all of the time and what those mindsets create in the long run is more challenges for the dept. They end up managing us instead of the deer. To me, educated hunters are as valuable as volunteering hunters. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coueshunter Report post Posted May 22, 2012 donnie, i agree with you about knowledge of your favorite animal, but the bigger battle we all face is desire. people have to have the desire to get involved, learn, educate themselves and help wildlife. we all need to force ourselves to get involved with the desire to save/enhance our wildlife.....if not for ourselves, but for the animals and the kids.............allen taylor....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
donniedent Report post Posted May 22, 2012 I agree with you on the desire part. I think there might be more desire to help out there than we relize though. I don't run into guys that don't have the desire to help, I run into guys that have no desire for the politics. Unfortunately, theres more of that garbage in these orgs than i care to speak of. I know many many guys that are willing to help but as soon as the political crap starts happening they are out. I've gotten a pretty good taste of that stuff myself and its all I can do to even have the desire to post anymore on these subjects. Unfortunately when you start talking about projects, you start talking about orgs and when you start talking about orgs then you start with the politics and thats when you lose people. As I said before, there are things out there that still need to be done. I've got 5-8 good guys I can count on to show up to a little work project and I know above anything it will be fun and it won't be politics. Thats where I will be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Non-Typical Solutions Report post Posted May 22, 2012 I agree with you on the desire part. I think there might be more desire to help out there than we relize though. I don't run into guys that don't have the desire to help, I run into guys that have no desire for the politics. Unfortunately, theres more of that garbage in these orgs than i care to speak of. I know many many guys that are willing to help but as soon as the political crap starts happening they are out. I've gotten a pretty good taste of that stuff myself and its all I can do to even have the desire to post anymore on these subjects. Unfortunately when you start talking about projects, you start talking about orgs and when you start talking about orgs then you start with the politics and thats when you lose people. As I said before, there are things out there that still need to be done. I've got 5-8 good guys I can count on to show up to a little work project and I know above anything it will be fun and it won't be politics. Thats where I will be. Plus one on that.....the politics kills the desire.......I also like your family approach. Teaching our(my) kids to do better than we(I) have is critical. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rthrbhntng Report post Posted May 22, 2012 If you really have the desire then the issue of politics should not be an excuse to not get involved. It should just limit your involvement to pursuing positive results. Here are a couple of pictures from parents and leaders that took the time to get kids involved in the Arizona Elk Society work project last weekend. They didn't have a care in the world about politics. About half the kids from Troop 14 had never been to the woods or camped. If you ask any conservationist how they got started in conservation they will tell you "Somebody took me outside". Take em outside and get them started young. Steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coueshunter Report post Posted May 22, 2012 Guys, the straight answer to this is that politics is just part of the game. It doesnt mean you need to be involved in the "political process" but just recognize that politics within the organizations, politics from outside sources, politics within our state gov. , politics within AZGFD etc....is just a fact of life. Now if politics "kills the desire" then you need to find someone who will pick up the task that so many dont want to do. It is a necessary evil, but just part of the whole process. It is no different than chores you dont want to do around the house, but they have to be done..............Allen Taylor............. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
donniedent Report post Posted May 23, 2012 Steve, you know my mind on this subject and I can promise you I will not be detered from getting my hands dirty. I'm just telling you what I'm hearing from guys I know. Here's the bottom line... People have jobs and drama there. People have home and drama there. People have extended family and drama there. People have friends and drama there. They want their passion to be fun and drama free, especially if they are volunteering. Its supposed to be fun. Hard work can be a lot of fun! Hunters, by nature, are not affraid to work hard. But, they don't want their volunteer time tainted by a bunch of BS. Who would? Steve, again, you know my mind. Donnie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedGoat Report post Posted May 23, 2012 Donnie, Whenever we do a project politics always comes into play. Whether it be that it took six years for the money/permits to come through or its the latenight/way after dinner campfire talk. The people that want to be involved in the political speak will voice their opinion and those that don't will steer clear. Everyone should check out a project.....it is up to them if they want to get involved further. Sometimes the best ideas come from those on the periferal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Non-Typical Solutions Report post Posted May 23, 2012 Politics doesn't kill my desire to help or serve the concepts of wildlife management. It kills my desire to dump my money into something that may not represent what I really believe. If I donate time to a project I know exactly what got done and why, if I send money into an organization/politics.....I don't know whos pockets are benefiting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rthrbhntng Report post Posted May 23, 2012 SPORTSMEN NEED TO GET INVOLVED! "You have a stake in what happens....... You need to invest a little bit of time to get the right thing to happen" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
