Receiving a pm the other night, as well as thinking about some of what JT said has shed some light onto what direction I think we really need to take.
Yes, I can be long winded, long posts, but I think this will be worth the read and what people think of it?
For so many years, I think we as hunters have been "brainwashed".
Not because we are stupid, but because we have no other choice but to make the best of the situation under the guidelines that
our governments have left us with.
I hate restrictions because I have seen them be introduced, and then more of them stacked upon old ones, and yet, I have seen
no real benefit to many of them.
Reason being, they just aren't addressing the actual issues that are causing the problem.
Because of the way things have been, I see some try to find "new methods of restriction" to try and help the problems.
Basically just doing more of the same.
But the pm made me understand why.(the real truth, and a fair statement)
Hunters like my dad have had "their days" out there, hunting at a time where their bodies could do whatever they wanted.
But, he is way beyond those days, just enjoys the "getting out" now, but doesn't really give the situations that we are facing
much thought. (you lose friends, lose your spouse, things like hunting are no longer important).
He already knows hunting will be gone one day (I think the same sadly).
But, I find myself like the pm, I am in my 50's now, body cant do what it could do before, and we are finding that we only have so many years left, before hunting becomes a "road hunt affair" for the most part.
We are still waiting to experience something close to the "good old day" type of experience.
There is some anxiety that comes with that.
With that comes "desperation", looking for something that will work within a few years, that atleast for a short time, creates
a better hunting success experience.
If that means "shutting hunting down" for a couple of years, depending on what, some seem to be almost willing to do so,
just to have "a taste of yesterday".
But that's flawed, and our issues require some decent fixes, and then time to "build back up".
If the right fixes were introduced today, one way would be to shut it down, and things rebound quicker.
OR, we fix it, keeping hunting, and it will take longer, but I think we would get there.
JT mentioned something that was truthful as well.
These petitions/polls are nice, but probably ineffective (who's really listening?)
Someone has taken the time to set them up, so I take the time to fill it out, just because I agree and out of respect.
Those links to give your opinion by the ministry are "definitely a must", imo.
Although, I think the government already has a mandate, and knows what they are going to do regardless, but that they
"just have to do it", to look fair.
I think R&G clubs do some great things, hands on work, whether it's rebuilding some habitat, or helping in collaring programs,
they should carry on!
IT's the "coming up with changes" (like regulation changes), where I think maybe they have gone to far.
You look at the US, and many of those States are showing some great success.
They have the money (we know that), and they are using their Bios to "figure it out", and it's working.
These are small States, with way more hunters, and yet they experience a better hunt, even after the fact that much more of the land is private.
I have seen studies were they have "cried wolf" (quite literally!), only to find out that was not the case (ended up being cougar).
I know we have wolf issues, but not all these problems thru the province is all just that, and we know that.
We have some good Bios, and we should be giving them the support to get it done.
I would like to se that all the these Bios, are grass root hunters inside, although I don't know how we can ensure that.
Hunting and conservation, are hand in hand, and there is a "selfish" element to it.
We want lots of game, with a high percentage of success.
We want to grow game to hunt game (but we also enjoy them in other ways).
But there is nothing flawed with that, as it ensures that game is sustainable for everyone to enjoy.
It works, and Duck's Unlimited, Freshwater Society proves that, unequivocally!
But the Bios have their hands tied, and that the first thing we need to untie!
I think JT has hit the "root of the problem".
It's not a new concept, but I suggest a much more "aggressive" approach.
This whole fiasco has started with the Government, and continues to exist with the Government.
I suggest all the major Organizations, as well as all the small clubs of every facet in regards to hunting give this some thought,
and we, put into action.
Not all of us are scholars, not all of us "feel we have the time".
But many of us come to this site, often, or once a day etc., which means we have the time to hit "send" from our email account.
If we could some really great templates, of all the "real issues", put down onto a word document, and where approval has been given to use the documents as ones own, I think we can cause some hell.
Pass along several well thought out (take time to discus it) letters, were the end user can add his/her name to.
Pass along links for mla's (we have to figure out ourselves who your mla is), as well as George Heyman, minister of environment, and Horgan.
Okay, so far nothing new really, BUT:
We all fire off these emails, EVERY DAY!, day after day.
We clog up their email account with thousands upon thousands of emails, DAILY!!
They can hit delete, but new ones are coming!
Rather then one email, with a bunch of signatures, we send individual emails = thousands, not 1!
We all have sent off the odd one, sometimes not hearing anything.
Or, sometimes a reply say "thank you for your thoughts, and be assured we are talking about it".
And that's it.
But this time we reply:
"thank you for your reply, but I am not happy with a bunch of talk, and expect some action/results.
Being the fact that I am actually you employer, thru my taxes paying your cheque, you work for me.
My boss expects me to complete tasks, not just discuss them, and if at the end of the day, ne results are shown , I will not have a job very long.
So since my issues are only being discussed, AND NOT ADDRESSED, please continue to expect more emails on my initial concerns to come until talk becomes action"
And then, the next morning fire off emails again.
Lets just clog them up, lets show them we are tired of the same bs, that further restrictions without addressing the real issues will no longer be accepted".
Also, lets not just send it to the NDP, but those same politicians in the Liberal party that most likely would hold those positions
if they were to be elected.
Lets consider taking this to a whole new level.
Lets untie the Bios hands (the ones we know are here for us), get them the funding flowing, boots on the ground and some
action in the right direction, not just another 5 pages added to the hunting regs!
This problems lays at the foot of bureaucracy first, and that's the first key to getting those fixed.
We need to put the pressure on like it has never been seen before here in the province.
We have the speed of the internet to actually use it's full potential, all with a couple of clicks of the button DAILY!,
til it starts to happen, and we don't take the foot off the pedal til we reach our destination!
Lets lead foot-it and get'r done!
Thoughts??
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Originally Posted by Wild one
