Hunting Getting Too Political?

[BuckMaster058]

What do you guys think? Do any of you feel that hunting is getting political? And the lawmakers will run it into the ground and us as hunters should take it back before they do so?

[horst]

Ill agree with that to an extent.Politicians are starting to look alot closer at hunting as a means of making money for the state and less as a game management tool.Nonresident license fees have skyrocketed on most big game species in way to many states.Every year they seem to try to squeeze a little extra outta the residents as well in a lot of states.It wouldnt be bad if the money was going back into the wildlife funds but to often its being appropriated for other things and hunters arent getting anything back for thier investments.

Politicians also tend to bow down more to the special interest groups than the DNR does.Insurance industries, animal rights groups, anti gun groups, they can all sway politicians votes much more effectively than they ever could the DNR.Again money seems to lat a large role in some of thier decisions when these type groups get involved.

And then thiers just flat out incompetence.When yo get a lot of guys together who have never picked up a gun or hunted and give them a little power over the states wildlife they tend to ignore the advice of the DNR, the state biologists, and just use a band aid approach to fixing things.

On thew other hand some good can come out of it.When they start looking at thier wildlife in terms of money they start to realize things need to change.Antler restrictions, more doe tags, and better habitat are sorely needed in a lotta stateas and they are starting to implement these things to get better hunting and draw more non resident dollars into thier states.Its a milti million dollar ndustry and I think more states are starting to realize it and make some changes for the better to get thier piece of it.

You get politicians involved in something they know very little about its a fine line between improving things and running them into the ground.I wouldnt say we shouldnt let them play a role in it but we should watch them closely and let youropinions be known if they start getting off track.

[muggs]

I'd agree with that, Ohio raised all tags and licenses $4 this year.

Sadly, most of the money generated ends up in the Ohio "general" fund. Appropriately worded, because no one really knows what the fund goes to. Unfortunately, not to wildlife conservation.

[DWC]

missouri isnt that bad as of yet.but then we have alot of farmer,and not just lawyers in tne mo house and senate. but i have a feeling that things are about to change, I hope I'm wrong.

[slugshooter]

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Sadly, most of the money generated ends up in the Ohio "general" fund. Appropriately worded, because no one really knows what the fund goes to.

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Kinda like that scheme ya'lls governor came up with for the state to make money buying and selling rare coins. No surprise that now there are millions unaccounted for.

[David_218]

[ QUOTE ]
Politicians also tend to bow down more to the special interest groups than the DNR does.Insurance industries, animal rights groups, anti gun groups, they can all sway politicians votes much more effectively than they ever could the DNR.Again money seems to lat a large role in some of thier decisions when these type groups get involved.

And then thiers just flat out incompetence.When yo get a lot of guys together who have never picked up a gun or hunted and give them a little power over the states wildlife they tend to ignore the advice of the DNR, the state biologists, and just use a band aid approach to fixing things

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Sounds a lot like the DNR here in Indiana! Hunting is not only becomeing more political but MORE expensive. Many States have raised their hunting licenses and tags, yet they all comnplain about the shrinking number of hunters and the over-population of Deer.

[RangerClay]

I hate the way it has become us versus them. Sometimes I feel like Luke Skywalker fighting the evil empire who means to destroy all that is good and right.

Ranger

[MagnusBro]

First of all...YES!!! And good example muggs. I would happily pay more for all my tags if the dnr said that they needed it, but for gov. **** Tax to raise them just because he cant ballence his budget is retarded. He is an embarrassment to the name Republican. Now back on the subject at hand and not on Ohio bashing... I have cancelled several magazine subscriptions due to this problem, all they wanted to talk about was politics and not hunting. I know that it is a part of our way of life, but wow enough is enough allready. Sometimes I just want to say you mind your business and i wont hurt you.