IDNR and "Stakeholders" deer meeting minutes

Hmmm....

I think that the time is ripe for an Indiana Gun Hunters Association. There are a lot of us low life lead slingers (read non-bow hunters), who are not interested in trophy hunting (read red-neck meat hunters) who may not hunt with arrows, but are sure gettin' the shaft!

An employee of the IDNR said that they would welcome any new "stakeholder group" to give input. Not sure how much good it would do as any newly forming group would have the "least seniority" AND pull. The recently reorganized (how convienient was that for the deer input?) Indiana Sportsmens' Roundtable has a self appointed board consisting of a whos who of past IDNR directors and lobbyists. They do not represent indviduals, but clubs that they are actively recruiting. Their very first meeting they voted on some of the NRCAC recommendations that were not even released yet on the NRC website. It did not matter that whatever member groups that were in attendance never saw these before or polled their members about how they should vote. The made decisions based on what the board wanted. Make no mistake about it, these are the guys getting the most listening to.

IMO - The most influential person in this whole thing is the President of the ISR and the legislative liason of the IBA.

Now, here is what I think that the IDNR should do in making new regulations..

LISTEN TO INDIANA HUNTERS, not special interest groups.

Thye should depend entirely on the random surveys of Indiana hunters. They survey 18,000 or more Indiana hunters every couple years. They should go by what real Indiana hunters say and not by what some agenda (some up front and some hidden) driven special interest organized hunting groups.

I thought a few years back that the IDNR was getting away from this good old boy network in Indy, but it sure doesn't look like it. In fact a president of one of these groups throw it in my face that the "good old boy network was alive and well there."

Just what we don't need - A "good old boy network" running deer management.

If you don't speak up the DNR hears nothing, groups like the IBA and IDHA have been speaking up for years, and they get heard. Like it or not, they have influence, and the only group that would have more influence is a larger and more vocal one.

I wondered why they didn't invite Woody to this meeting since he owns a site that has 2251 members and is dedicated to hunting in Indiana. To me Woody is a stakeholder.

But then I realized if Woody was there all the good ol' boys would have to hold another invitation only secret luncheon again to keep him from spreading the truth.......h.h.

This is the IDNR 2007 Indiana Deer Hunter survey. The 31% response was 5,874 deer hunters. I think that is a lot better that a couple dozen guys representing the clubs limited membership and their own personal agendas..


Quote for the 29007 IDNR survey:



www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-MR_988_Deer_Hunter_Survey_2007.pdf

Yes, these are scientifically valid surveys of what the real deer hunters in this state feel about what we presently have and what, if any, changes they would like to see made.

The IDNR seem to me to totally disregard these surveys in favor of “stakeholders”.

In 2005 the IDNR Indiana Deer hunter survey showed that more hunters favored allowing crossbows for all in ALL of the archery seasons that didn’t, but as we have seen the IDNR is going with what the bowhunter club, that has less than 300 members wants.

Speaking of crossbows.. If the IDNR wanted “stakeholder” representation where were the crossbowers at? They were going to discuss crossbows and the deck was stacked with anti-crossbowers. The IDNR and NRC has a list of crossbowers in this state from the crossbow permits and the input given last year. Why was not someone from the crossbow rank invited? No, it did not have to be me…just anyone with a little knowledge of crossbows and what they will and will not do.

Membership numbers are vague from some of these organizations as they really don’t want people, especially the decision makers, to know their limited membership numbers. An ex-officer of one of the clubs said it best,” It is all about perception”.

Last I heard the IDHA had less than 200 members (4 or 5 years ago) and the IBA has less than 300 members (this year). Not sure about anyone else.

The way I understand it the ISR has club memebrships, not individual memberships.

I went back and pulled up the email from the ex-officer to get his exact words when we were discussing numbers of organized club members and their influence.. He said," Remember, perception is reality and for many, many years, the DNR and legislature has yielded to perception."

More like DECEPTION.

My question above had nothing to do with Woody's integrity or character ..... please dont read that into it. It was just a genuine question. Woody does not set policy at this site and try to make the members think the way he does nor does he make them want the same things he wants.

That is a good thing.

I absolutely believe Woody would convey any information we gathered here truthfully. As far as the polls go, not every member has to respond to gauge opinions. Do you really think the IBA or IDHA asked every member what they thought? I guarantee you that did NOT happen!