Waterfowlers take note!!!

Buckshot??? Hmmm... I'll bet that's how those guys do it on the Flyway Highway too!!! LOL!!!

No, seriously... I hope all of the candor is staying in this forum and the messages going out to the reps are nothing but professional and sincere. The web can be a double edge sword...

I lost a bit of my professionalism....... Here's my letter to Craig Fry:


Representative Fry,

I’m writing you to disclose my opposition to the law you are trying to create with HB 1194 that was introduced on the 10th, and currently sits with the House Natural Resources Committee. I’ve read several of your pointed, and frankly ‘childish’ replies to several of my fellow waterfowl hunters, and I’m not here to engage you in a battle of words. It has however, became obvious to me by some of the terminology that you’ve used, that you are very unaware of the subject that you have chosen to author a bill. I find it deeply troubling that an elected official would take the word of a few of his constituents as fact, and not do the necessary research before you use your ‘powers’ to possibly enact a law that will affect thousands of individuals. This notion, along with the fact that you are basically siding with 2 particular individuals who have broken the law, individuals who were caught by Indiana Conservation Officers in the act of breaking those laws. Rep. Fry, your bill is basically thumbing your nose at law enforcement officers and the dangerous job they have to do, and taking a stand with those who have zero regard for the laws that you have been elected to uphold, protect, and create.

I offer my experience to you if you wish to ask some questions such as ballistic information for shotguns, the waterfowl laws that are set by State and Federal statutes, and information about invasive non-native species that are taking hold in this state, which WILL be a major concern in just a few years. If you don’t think that I’m being honest with you, ask a few of your fellow lawmakers from the State of Illinois about their river systems since the introduction of Asian carp. It was no big deal when this species appeared……some thought that these “flying” fish were an interesting novelty and now they threaten every river ecosystem in the Midwest and South. Mute swans pose just as big of a danger, and yet you fight for the right to keep these dangerous animals in your district’s waterways. God have pity on your conscience if one of these swans hurts, or kills one of your constituents. It has happened…..do the research Rep. Fry.

Warning is being given to you by the few shots you are getting across your bow Rep. Fry. Indiana’s waterfowl hunters will be flanked on every side by the entire hunting community to stop this waste of time piece of trash legislation that you have chosen to clog our legislative system with. I would think that there are more pressing issues facing your district than putting your efforts into HB 1194. You don’t have a clue as to the fight that you will getting into if your bill should ever see the light of day beyond the HNRC. I hope you have some waders, because your feet are about to get wet………

Travis Peters
Noblesville, IN

I thought mine was seething.....

Who was that reply from?

I meant which rep had you contacted.

That was factual & courteous Jack. You should read my letters when I'm ed.

Jack & Travis, the "Digest of Introduced Bill" for HB 1194 lists the current status after the first reading as "referred to Committee on Natural Resources. But, that's as much as I can find.

I have weighed in on the matter to my House Resentative, House Senator, the House Natural Resource Chair, Vice Chair, and all Members (7 Dem/5 Rep...) With the following:


Representative...

I am contacting you to express my opposition to House Bill 1194, which proposes to prohibit hunting for waterfowl on or along portions of our Indiana rivers or streams. The basis for this bill appears to be a retaliatory response in reference to two northern Indiana landowners who were arrested by the DNR for hunter harassment.

This bill is laced with inconsistencies, excessive boundaries, and is in direct conflict with US Fish and Wildlife Services approval for Indiana to offer a late hunting season targeting the reduction of urban geese. The late season applies to a list of specific Indiana Counties. Ironically, every county listed in the “Explanation of Local Expenditures” and “Local Agencies Affected” section of the Fiscal Impact Statement for this bill are also Counties participating in the late hunting season (specifically Marion, Lake, Allen, and St. Joseph…)

House Bill No. 1194 proposes, “A person may not hunt for waterfowl on or along any part of a river or stream that is within seven hundred fifty (750) feet of an area with a high population density.” That is two hundred and fifty (250) yards…, a little over 6 times the lethal distance of a typical waterfowl load. The “Explanation of State Revenues” section of the Fiscal Impact Statement for this bill outlining the fines for a violation indicates, “That a person who takes or possesses a wild animal, except a deer or turkey, in violation must reimburse the state.” That makes no sense at all. That represents that deer hunting and turkey hunting within the 750 feet (250yards) poses less of a threat to public safety than waterfowl hunting does outside of the 750 feet (250 yards).

This bill is a blatant attack on waterfowl hunters, and has the potential of harming sportsman, wildlife, and Indiana revenues across the board. The loss of hunting land and opportunities in Indiana will eventually shove revenues generated by sportsman outside of Indiana. Without the waterfowl hunter, the goose population will rapidly increase creating environmental and ecological problems with no good economical solution. Please protect our rights to hunt the waterways of Indiana by rejecting House Bill No. 1194.

Sincerely,

I haven't received any responses, other than e-mail confirmations of receipt.

Anything else we can be doing??? I wonder if the larger "Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Gear" retailers in Indiana (Cabela's, Bass Pro, Gander Mountain...) could assist in having a say in this... Cabela's boast in their "Conservation Partners" section of their web page:

"Cabela's is dedicated to preserving your way of life not because it is our business, but it is our way of life as well. Like Cabela's, these organizations are dedicated to conserving the fish, game and wild places that are our heritage."

Well..., couldn't hurt... Anybody have any contacts in upper management or public relations of any of these retailers???

Thanks JB... Your welcome to it.

Everyone needs to keep making noise (well..., of the right nature...)

I was down in Columbus, IN on one of my jobsites yesterday and struck up a conversation with two electricians who had D.U. and "jukin" stickers on their truck windows (I figured they might just be duck hunters...). Neither of them had a clue that this bill was out there. A week ago..., I didn't either.

This came across my e-mail late last evening from Representative Phil Pflum(D), one of the House Natural Resources Committee Members:

"Thank you for taking the time to contact me. I fully support a persons right to hunt, and would be opposed to HB1194. Thanks again for your e-mail. Phil"