attn public hunters

[SB]

Ramsey,

I know people that use to be in that "system" you speak of that had an opportunity to have an impact on how business was done up there from the inside. They were hunters themselves. One would have thought they would have tried to make the system more consumptive user friendly but did not.

What would you recommend doing specifically from the public's position to start changing things?

[dawg-n-duck]

Hammer
To let you know I do deer hunt very frequently, but it does not interest me near as much as duck hunting does. Like you say we all duck hunt for the fun of it or we would not put the money in it that we do. Let me ask you a question,"would duck hunting be fun if every mornin you woke up went out anywhere and killed you limit of ducks in 10 minutes with no problem??". I do not think that would be any fun to many people at all. That is the aspect of duck hunting that i consider to be a challenge. You can go kill a trophy deer whenever you get ready to, just go book a hunt in Texas or somewhere. I know that i have a few "trophy" ducks, it might not be the actual mounted duck, but the story that went into the taking of it.

[Double R 2]

Ramsey,

I know people that use to be in that "system" you speak of that had an opportunity to have an impact on how business was done up there from the inside. They were hunters themselves. One would have thought they would have tried to make the system more consumptive user friendly but did not.

What would you recommend doing specifically from the public's position to start changing things?

When it comes right down to it, SB, one person and one person only has the final say on actual implemented hunting policy on FWS refuges and that's the project leader. The refuge(s) for which that person is responsible is their own little kingdom, a full day's drive from Atlanta and their supervisor. Their staff may argue, cuss and discuss but Project Leaders always have the final say. A few, but by no means all, FWS staff forget that they work not for the Guv but, as civil service employees, the American taxpayers.

What can the public do? Make their voices heard. Contact the refuge(s) you're interested in and find out the status of the CCP (Comprehensive Conservation Plan) for that refuge. Organize like-minded people to participate in scheduled meetings and speak your mind in a positive manner. If public comment is over write your State representative. Remember too that Pickering heads the Congressional Sportsmans Caucus and most all the key players from Mississippi are involved. In the instance of Coldwater River, Dahomey and Tallahatchie NWRs, the public meetings are over but you can still contact the Grenada office at 662/226-8286 and request a CCP comment form. Have everyone within the organized group complete a form and send it back in, and why not forward a copy to the FWS Regional Office in Atlanta AND to your State representatives?

It's important to remember folks that FWS is under Congressional mandate to include public comment in the planning process. But remember also that FWS is under provide not only wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities, but also to manage and protect waterfowl, other migratory birds and threatened and endangered species. By law, only a percentage of each refuge may be open for hunting. That said, it doesn't necessarily have to be waterfowl hunting. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Hope everyone gets what they go hunting for this weekend, Best of luck.

[gadwall2]

The loudest voices, not the most voices, get heard.

Ramsey, I saw some interesting stuff yesterday. Thanks

[Delta Duck]

Yall have all the fun!

[Deadeye]

Good post Ramsey! Great info. Folks, there's a duck hunter/sportsman that's involved, plugged in and informed.

Deadeye

[SWAG]

Just one problem with the Tallahatchie/Dahomey NWR.

[Duckdawg10]

and we were a little late, so most of the good spots were gone. We pulled up behind a few hunters and just observed and I have never seen such sky-busting. I heard duck calls being blown in ways I never knew they could be blown. It actually was amusing.

[Double R 2]

Just one problem with the Tallahatchie/Dahomey NWR.

Think so? Whatcha gonna do about it?!

[Bustin' Ducks]

Go get 'em....

[MemphisStockBroker]

SB-
raise the cost to hunt some areas, and put the money directly into making that area top notch. keep some areas inexpensive, but charge $250+ for a permit to hunt some of the primo areas. (that's peanuts for most people who duck hunt - and allot less than a guide service). planting food for the ducks ain't cheap.

yes, we do need more land. conservation easements can be scary to some because of the timeframe. but there needs to be some way to get land available to the public.

you have a difficult job.....

[Double R 2]

FWIW - Official report that the 900 acre planted rice field on Morgan Break NWR holding 40,000 ducks and geese! But it's a closed area.

For anyone interested, here are folks that want to hear your thoughts on public land hunting in Mississippi.
Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus Contacts

[spoonie]

there are many states that have a rule if you set up closer than 200 yards to someone you can and will get a ticket and i think the ticket had a heavy fine.i think thats a good rule and should be adopted in ms.

[Haymaker]

I have hunted in Southern IL and know that there is a law that says the outer edge of my decoy spread must be 100 yds from the edge of your decoy spread and that the blinds must be 125 yds, I think, apart. I think that this is a good rule, but I have never seen it enforced. I have had a guy set up his decoys less than 100 yds away and then hunt on my side of his decoys. We had a talk with him and persuaded him to leave. He tried to start something but decided that he didn't want to. We did have a game warden check us after he had left, wish he would have been there earlier, could have given that idiot a ticket.

I don't like the idea of a draw system, have seen it ruin some areas. I prefer to hunt public areas that are hard to get to and I get there early enough that I can hunt where I would like to. If someone is all ready there then I will hunt some where else. I have had guys there were hunting by themselves ask me if I would like to join them and have not had a problem. That is not to say that I won't have a problem in the future.

Good Luck,

Haymaker