I got that email too.
Propaganda is an accurate description for it. Not once did Castle or Dacus come on the forums to explain their position. If they did I missed it. That was the tell-tale sign to me that their position is indefensible. They knew that the most informed sportsmen in this state were on the forums, and we would see right through it. It's pure politicking, not sound game management.
Sad thing is, 9 out of 10 voters in the state have never even heard of these bills. They haven't heard an opposing view, and likely won't before the Legislature votes on it. The Legislature has bigger problems, and I'm afraid they'll rubber stamp it figuring the MDWFP knows best, and if not, the MDWFP will take all the heat.
I know times are tough, tax revenues are way down and there is a budget shortfall, but it is not the MDWFP's place to raise money for themselves at the expense of our natural resources. They are supposed to manage the game, not pimp it out. I hope it dies in committee, if not then we are on that slippery slope and the sky really is falling. Can you imagine what will be in store for us next year? Increased license fees, higher WMA permits, more expensive access to and camping in our state parks, boat launching fees going up, a tax on deer processing and/or taxidermy, more tax on ammo and guns? When the dept gets the notion that they are a business and they know they have a rubber stamp in the legislature, the sky will be the limit.
