Limiting the number of shells for waterfowl!

[LifeNRA]

<font color="red"> I am not a waterfowler, just thought you all should read this! I also placed this in the waterfowl section! </font>


11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
800-392-8683 - GrassrootsHotline

Monday, June 13, 2005

Hunters in the upper Midwest have something to worry about. The Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge is reviewing their comprehensive conservation plan. Right now the new plan would put incredible restrictions on hunters. This enormous refuge follows the Mississippi River through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois.



Among the proposals being considered are:



Limiting the number of shells a waterfowl hunter can carry to 25. This limitation is unnecessary and would unfairly target youth and beginner hunters who are not expert shots.
Complete closure of hunting in some areas of the refuge. Such closures should not be done unless absolutely biologically necessary.
Electric motor only areas that would make hunter access to these areas very difficult.
Limited permit only hunts and daily fees for hunter access.


Hunters should speak up now and protect hunting on this enormous refuge. But, this is also a good lesson for hunters. If we don’t speak up and make our voice heard we will be shut out. We need to take every opportunity we get to comment on forest plans, conservation plans and all the other regulatory steps that are taken on state and federal lands. If we don’t speak up the only voice that is heard will be that of the anti-hunters.



For more information you can visit the refuge website, or the river rats website setup by a grassroots organization.

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/uppermiss/

http://www.upriverrats.org/


To make your voice heard contact the U.S. Forest Service today, and if you can attend one of the upcoming public meetings.



Send your comments to:

U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Attention: CCP Comment
51 East 4th Street
Room 101
Winona, MN 55987

Or by email at: r3planning@fws.gov


Attend the meetings:


Winona, Minnesota
Monday, June 13
Winona Middle School Cafeteria, 1570 Homer Road

Wabasha, Minnesota
Tuesday, June 14
Wabasha/Kellogg High School, Cafeteria, 2113 East Hiawatha Drive

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Thursday, June 16
Prairie du Chien High School Cafeteria, 800 East Crawford Street

Savanna, Illinois
Tuesday, June 21
House of Events, 108 Main Street

Stoddard, Wisconsin
Wednesday, June 22
American Legion Post 315, located at 414 Broadway

Onalaska, Wisconsin
Thursday, June 23
Onalaska Middle School, 711 Quincy Street

Lansing, Iowa
Tuesday, July 12
Lansing (Kee) High School, 569 Center Street

Cassville, Wisconsin
Thursday, July 14
Cassville High School, 715 E. Amelia Street


POSTED BY: Dawson

[hutchies]

Man I would be ticked if I lived in that state. What a bunch of crap.

[johnf]

The limiting of shells just seems stupid to me whether it's the amount you can carry or the amount you can have in your gun.

After all, if I want to carry a mini 14 .223 with a 100 round clip for deer hunting it's perfectly legal, and I can only shoot 3 deer.

Why then do they limit shells for waterfoul when the limit is so high?

[buckee]

I can fully understand the logic behind limiting how many shells to have in the gun at a time, but there is no reasonable explanation for limiting how many shells you should be able to have in your belt or on your person.

[fisherguy]

The other restrictions may or not make sense, we would need to see the ecological reasoning. I see no sense in teh 25 shell limit. IF the limit is 5 ducks, who cares whether it takes you 5 or 45 shells to get them?

[slugshooter]

Just a thought, they might be tired of finding hundreds of spent shells everywhere in the refuge, not every hunter picks up after themselves, especially if they are a bad shot. Not everything's about the complete stoppage of hunting.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

[ QUOTE ]
Just a thought, they might be tired of finding hundreds of spent shells everywhere in the refuge, not every hunter picks up after themselves, especially if they are a bad shot. Not everything's about the complete stoppage of hunting.

[/ QUOTE ]
Good point. But wouldn't that be littering? There should already be laws on the books to prevent that. What's next, limiting how many sodas you can have in a cooler?

[LifeNRA]

[ QUOTE ]
Just a thought, they might be tired of finding hundreds of spent shells everywhere in the refuge, not every hunter picks up after themselves, especially if they are a bad shot. Not everything's about the complete stoppage of hunting.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
If we don’t speak up the only voice that is heard will be that of the anti-hunters.

[/ QUOTE ]

This whole thing is being fueled by the ANTI'S! Just another step in making it rough for us hunters! Besides, I am sure somewhere there is a politician involved too! Not saying what side, but guess!