NEW PHEASANT LIMITS

[huntr42]

i WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE NEW REGS FOR HUNTING THIS YEAR AND CAME ACROSS THIS TIDBIT,BEGINNING DEC 1 AND RUNNING THRU THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON THE LIMIT FOR ROOSTERS IS 3 AND THE POSESSION  IS 9,NOT SURE i LIKE THIS

[LandDr]

Kyle here from PLM.  I currently sit on the DNR Pheasant Stamp Oversite Committee (PSOC).  The PSOC makes recommendations to the DNR on the management and future of the resource...pheasants in this case...and there are committees for big game, waterfowl, turkey, etc. as well.

For example, the PSOC made the recommendation to extend the pheasant season to Jan. 1st.

One of the recommendations that the committee PSOC made recently was to increase the bag limits as mentioned below.  I was not aware that it went through as I have not seen the new regs as of yet.

I would not be alarmed by the extended season or increased bag limits.  Study after study has shown that roosters can not be over harvested and that only one rooster is required for many hens.  As the season goes along, there are fewer and fewer hunters and less and less birds are harvested anyway.  It is also the law of diminishing returns...the harder it becomes to hunt the well trained late season birds, the fewer hunters there are.  I think there is also a statistic that shows something like 80 percent of the hunters only hunt the first weekend and maybe the second weekend.  The rest of us we called "super hunters" or the hunters that keep going out.

We also wanted to compete better with SD regarding bags limits to keep more hunters here in MN.  There is also the economic side of more people hunting or hunting more often.

It also now makes it legal to have 9 birds in the freezer even though that is what you probably had before anyway. (smile)

In a nutshell, it should create more hunting opportunities and economic opportunities without hurting the resource.  Just don't shoot the hens and it should be fine.  However, I would encourage EVERYONE to "winterize" your property or property that you hunt on so more hens make it through the winter..."Dead Hens Don't Lay Eggs!"

Kyle, PLM
www.HabitatNOW.com

[Mayfly]

This is a good thing for us late season hunters. I am not worried about it affecting the pop either. As mentioned above it is the hen that we need as a rooster will reproduce with many hens. I would not be so excited if this started the first day of the seaosn but I can live with Dec. 1st.

[JohnWester]

i may have to plan a SW mn trip this fall... if I can drag my arse outta the deer stand.

[Mayfly]

i may have to plan a SW mn trip this fall... if I can drag my arse outta the deer stand.

That was my problem last year.

[LandDr]

Exactly...it is already working if it can get a few more people out in the field a few more times.  That means more economic opportunities for rural MN businesses...hotels, restaurants, gas stations, sporting goods, etc.  More opportunities and more money spent, means more jobs being created...and so on and so on!

It got you thinking about going out in the field again.  That is good.  Make sure to take a youth along and introduce them to the outdoors as well.  We need recruitment as well.

Speaking of economic stimulation...most of you have also heard of the "Dedicated Funding" bill that will be on the ballot.  I too believe that MN needs a lot of money put into management and promotion of our natural resources.  However, I own a habitat management company (private) and I am a tax payer...my concern is that all this money is going to go to government and non-profit organizations.  More government!  More non-profits!  I like and support government (DNR and SWCDs) and non-profits (PF, DU, etc.) until they start selling seed and trees and providing planting and maintenance services.  These services directly compete with TAX PAYING private companies that are also providing JOBS.  These government and non-profits have become very agressive over the last few years because they have received more funding and they see a means of making money.  Government and non-profits should be promoting conservation, educating the public, recruiting the youth, doing administrative work, etc....not selling seed, trees and installation and maintenance services.  Leave that to the tax paying, job producing private companies.  My concern is that there will be a large amount of money going to these government and non-profit organizations which in turn will completely wipe out the private companies as we will nevere be able to compete with tax payer subsidized organizations like that.  I encourage you to contact your Representative and Senator to ask them to include lanquage in the bill to assure that government and non-profits do not compete with private business but rather support private business and use the Dedicated Funding dollars as a MN Economic Stimulant Package as well as a conservation package.  Your support is greatly appreciated! (maybe this is another thread for discussion as I think people need to know about it?)

Kyle, PLM

[JohnWester]

I understand what you are saying Kyle, and I agree with you... but sorry to say that the language for this bill is already set and passed for a general election vote... and they ain't gonna change it now.
I wish they could and would...  at the same time, they can take out the fricken arts! 

I will contact my state reps and tell them about your concerns though when they are re-writing this bill again next year, because it won't pass this year... not with the arts in it.  I hope it doesn't.  I'll be voting no.  and I'll keep voting no until they get it right.  I will not piss away 30 cents on the dollar towards arts just to get 70 cents for the outdoors.  It should be 100% outdoors/environment.
Yes, the state needs to dedicate funding to land management and clean water and habitat... but NOT ARTS!!!!.  How can any sane person make a tie between the two?

So we'll have our shot at getting the wording right Kyle... next year. 

CONCERNED SPORTSMEN VOTE NO!!!!!!!

[Joe@deerhunters]

Kyle,

Joe here from Deer Hunters.  Actually I think there is away to increase private business with the dedicated funding.  Often we here from area wildlife managers that they cannot take the Heritage grant funding for habitat projects on WMA's because they do not have the staff and time to implement the project.

I would like to see the wildlife side of the DNR adapt some of the practices of forestry.  Meaning conctract the wildlfe projects like Forestry use loggers. The projects can be managed in partnership with conservation organizatons and hire the management service company. The end result is more habitat as well as creating private business.

Have a great day!

Joe