Mississppi has been bashed by WATERFOWLER.COM

[SoftCall]

MS Duck Hunters get a load of this! Has anyone recently visited waterfowler.com. I suggest that you do to see the trash that has been posted about our state. Look at the article "Hijacked by Power Politics". After you visit it - never go there again! I wrote an email to the editor and received the most innapropriate reply...He compares our desire to get an extended season to terrorism???!! Yes - terrorism. I don't see the similarities and frankly i am p--sed off about it. I urge you to read the article and express your opinions to editor@waterfowler.com.

Here what he sent me after I sent him the message at the bottom of the string. I have replied again. Take up for your representatives in Washington.

SoftCall

-----Original Message-----
From: JMoline Waterfowler.com [mailto:editor@waterfowler.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2001 11:37 AM
To: Will Gowan
Subject: Re: Feedback - Hijacked by Power Politics


Dear Mr. Gowan,

Thank you for letter. I do, however, strongly disagree with your assessment
of the issue.

Mississippi was given an opportunity to do and provide research as to the
effect of a January 31 closing back in the 80's. The state took the later
date and went about the business of killing ducks. The state did not,
however, go about the business of biology and do or submit the research to
support their position that a later closing would not unduly effect the
resource.

As to the choice of the word "hijacked." I believe the term is not only
appropriate but perfect when you consider that the letter from the
Mississippi delegation was sent on September 12th and is, as you point out,
a direct attempt to, "if you don't get what you need - escalate the issue."
Your statement is pretty much a quote from the hijackers handbook.

As to the disadvantage of Mississippi due to weather, take a look at the
kill numbers for Mississippi, then explain the disadvantage.

Take care,
John Moline
Waterfowler.com


On Wednesday, October 31, 2001 8:07 AM, SoftCall wrote:
>
>Dear Sir,
>
>I recently visited your web site and noticed the article
>titled, "Hijacked by High Power Politics". There are a couple
>of points that should be noted. First and foremost, your
>article is distasteful in the fact that the term hijacked is
>used. Given the recent events of 9/11, the term is harsh and
>inappropriate. In addition to the inappropriate title, I am
>surprised to see that Waterfowler.com places such merit on the
>rumors that Trent Lott has threatened to hold up an appointment
>in the event that Mississippi doesn't get the desired outcome
>of the requests in the letter. I consider Mississippi's
>request to be fair and reasonable. Additionally, the protocol
>followed seems to be appropriate. If you don't get what you
>need - escalate the issue. That's why Mississippians elected these
leaders.
>
>The bottom line is that Mississippi's request is reasonable.
>The fact is that Mississippians haven't received the same
>quality of hunting that Arkansas. Missouri, Tennessee,
>Kentucky, Illinois, and Ohio have in recent years due to the
>frame work of the season. In years with average weather
>conditions, Mississippi has been at a disadvantage due to late
>migration patterns. I would like to see the biologists quantify a rebuttal
to that.
>
>If you disagree with what has been proposed - don't go
>there after your season closes. Many out-of-staters benefited
>from the extension last year and were as happy as the locals
>with the outcome. Mississippians buy as many shotgun shells,
>hunting licenses, and stamps with respect to population as any
>other state. They should enjoy the same benefits as anyone else.
>
>Your site has served as a puppet for the USFWS and you should
>feel foolish about printing articles lacking the integrity that your
readers expect.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>W. Gowan

[Greenhead22]

Yep, they'll b*tch about it now, but they will love it when we get the 60-day season, can't keep them out of MS public waters.

[no angel]

let jack asses be jack asses !!!! i hate these type of people that think we out to kill all the ducks!!!!!! they will be here after the freeze up north and try to hunt your hole on public land

[booger]

They've been squalling like a mule hung in a fence for a couple of weeks or more. I've tried to post a couple of things but whose got enough time to fudge with 'em? [img]images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img]

Thanks for the heads up and welcome to the board.

[4-EYED GADWALL]

Hey booger I just sent the publisher an e-mail and showed them that not only do we have a 60 day season but we also have some angry yankee hating rednecks

thats right I showed my ass

[blacklab101]

ya'll just sit back Anat will be on in a while and I'm sure he'll have them about a 5 page report of what they can go do [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] But ya'll are absolutley right about it, once their little hole freezes solid, they'll be mixing right on in here. I don't mind out-of-staters, but I don't appreciate them crying about our time length on our(Mississippi) season then come down here to hunt the last couple of weeks
[img]images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img] My .02 worth

[ November 01, 2001: Message edited by: blacklab101 ]

[Delta Duck]

I will not even go to the site. I'm going to be nice. Who gives a rats ass what they think. They can blow me!!

[MSDuckmen]

Don't think for a minute that I won't remind our northern brothers just what jerks they are when they show up down here to hunt.
Bet a buck everyone of them will say I was for the extra days, Don't know why my neigbors thought it was a bad idea.
Then I'll ask them if they heard the phrase TURN COAT. hehe [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[jebster]

For those of you who expressed concern about the politicizing of the duck season, please take note on this issue. What you are witnessing is a clear manifestation of the politics which have kept us from having an equal waterfowling opportunity to our Northern cohearts. It has been their politcal posturing which has resulted in us getting slighted for many years. At least we had the political clout to undo this unfairness.

And they talk about "biology studies" for us to defend our equal opportunity. For sure, they have not done any such studies to justify their seasons and they don't intend to.

I, for one, will dance with joy when we receive the good news of a fair season length !

[Meeka]

Have you decided yet?

[damnyankee]

First off your welcome to come up North and see the quality hunts you seem to think we enjoy up there.
You know the whole thing is just a guessing game. If they start it early and if the weather cooperates great if it doesn't then everyone is a SOB for screwing it up.
The Yanks bitch about the southern hunters, the southern hunters bitch about the yankees back and forth blah blah blah.
At the end of the day I just want to hunt ducks and have some fun.
Look up in the sky some day when your bitching and you see those private jets going back and forth you know who's in em?
It's the Yankee and Southern politicians flying back and forth on duck hunting trips into each others states laughing there ass off at the sorry asses hunting below.

[Anatidae]

I'm not gonna waste my time trying to smooth-out some differences with anyone who clearly, has stereotyped us. [img]images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]

I expressed my concerns to Gale Norton......she'll have more bearing on the out-come of this issue, than our irrate neighbors. [img]images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img]

Keep in mind, fellas.....anything we say in our defense will just add fuel to the fire. [img]images/smiles/icon_sad.gif[/img] What I try to focus on, is doing what's best for the ducks! Power politics isn't necessarily in the best interest of the resource or the 'sport' of duck hunting, in general.......and I am just as upset as some of our neighbors because it appears that the scientific process for setting regulatory policy has been undermined by power politics.
If that proves to be the case, then I can't subscribe to it any more than I can, anything else I strongly oppose.

What WILL help resolve these differences is a collective 'willingness' among resource managers, policy regulators, and the sportsmen to address the issues that may have a significant impact on this dynamic resource. If we scwander opportunities to work together on critical issues, that's only going to hurt the 'sport'. If we loose the scientific process for establishing regulatory policies, that won't be good for the ducks. Let's try to keep in mind that if there is a mistake to be made.....for the ducks' sake, let's make it on the side of caution.

Even though we may feel like Mississippi has gotten the "short end o' the stick" in the past, I don't condone mud slingin' (in this case) 'cause that clearly negates efforts by Sam Polles, MSU researchers, MDWF&P and any other agency that have approached the issue from a biologically sound science (as best as we know it). It's not honorable and shows a lack of integrity.....and it's virtually impossible to negotiate differences with those lacking either.

We might discover.....this issue (harvest) may not be as significant as we might 'think' it is......if we get the days and it doesn't significantly impact the resource......then I'm all for it! But why take a chance, if we're not sure? Good points, everyone! [img]images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img] Be cool [img]images/smiles/icon_cool.gif[/img]....not to make a fool. [img]images/smiles/icon_sad.gif[/img]

[Dutch Dog]

It's the same old song and dance. Yeah, the birds to breed and raise their young up north, BUT they don't stay there year round so the ducks are NOT and I repeat NOT the property of the "north". They spend as much, if not MORE time down here than they do up north. The northerners will be jealous of us because while they are all snowbound freezing their nads off with absolutely nothing to do, we'll be down here hunting ducks. Well, all I have to say to them is that it's time they realized that we are finally going to get a FAIR season and it is well deserved. I agree with someone's post earlier (gh22 I believe) about this, and that I bet that they won't be complaining when they are down here utilizing these extra days. I challenge each and every one of those "northerners" who don't like these extra days/extended season to stay up north if they are so against it. If they don't, then they are nothing but a bunch of crybaby HYPOCRITES!!!!

[goosebruce]

Boils down the the fact folks think the grass is always greener.... The yanks freak on how many ducks we kill. Think about it. Ducks stage up north in 'certain' spots. Duck pass through up north. Ducks come south, and stay. Of course you gonna kill more ducks if you hunt where they 'stay' instead of where they pass through. Doesn't take even a smart yank to figure that out. Now, this is where its gets wild. In their opinon, we kill too many ducks, because we kill MORE than them. Mind you, the total isnt too many, its just the more part. Once again, simple logical thought explains why we kill more. Perhaps other things come into play, we duck hunt all season, they duck hunt one weekend, then go watch green bay games with those stupid cheese hats on. We duck hunt on out vacation, they come to the du show in june on their vacation, with their white legs and sweaty bellies showing. Ask one of them why they get to icefish, when we don't. Ever hear a ms good ole boy complaining about how many more walleye they catch icefishing than we do? Hell no, cause we don't care what they do.
One of those yank cryers tried to prove to me the danger of the resource by southern states the other day on duckboats.net. He compared the seasons of the late70's/early eightes, to the late 90's seasons, and it showed 100% increase of kill for Arkieland, MS, 90% for TN, 85% for MO, but the same numbers for northern states. He tried to prove to me this was bad. Doesnt take a genus to figger out, take the shortest seasons & lowest bags we've ever had, and compare them to a season almost twice as long, with twice the limit, and hell yeah you gonna kill more ducks. We did, they didn't. If you hunted 5 days and averaged 2 ducks a hunt, you kill 10 ducks right? If you hunt 10 days and keep the same average, you killed 20 ducks. How hard is that to understand? Apprently, those cheese hats are on too tight, they can't get it.
If the resource is in danger, cut back hard and fast. fact is, 5 of 6 years of record rains have made record ducks, and record harvests. If you kill more ducks than ever before one year, and follow it up with more ducks than ever before, why should anyone be concearned that we kill MORE than they do. Make hay while the suns shines, cause darker days will return. Until then, I plan to stack em up, and laugh about MS senators cornholing the Minnesota Waterfowl Association, and the worrisome likes of waterfowler.com. travis

[SoftCall]

All good points fellas and thanks for the lively exchange. Regardless of the opinions of those who lobby against our efforts to get a fair shake - we are gonna have a banner season. I've been getting reports that they are on the way...get ready! Thanks again for the warm welcome! [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]