MS/Arkansas River Hunters

[one more pass]

Have any of you heard about this?

Dear Editor
Did you know that the US Fish and Wtldlife Service is pro­ posing to expand the White River National Wildlife Refuge? Most people don't. Why should they? It isn't like the White River is in Mississippi. Well, the fact is that part of the p ­ posed expansion boundary includes some Bolivar County
land. Now that we know, why did you hear it from a man who
lives in Tennessee instead of at a public meeting held by the USFWS? The truth is the USFWS didn't hold one in Mississippi for the Proposed Refuge expansion. I want the
people of Bolivar County- to know THIS DOES AFFECT .
I
YOU.
If you view the proposed eJ[pansion boundary, available on
. the USFWS White River website (http://www.fws.gov/whi­ teriver/expansionl) you will see that the proposed expansion will cover every piece of land on e Arkansas side of the river from just south of the mouth of the Arkansas River to just north of the mouth of the White river. Ever been to a sandbar picnic or• party leaving from the Port of Rosedale? You most likely crossed the river to the Arkansas side to an area locruly known as "Middle Bar". If the expansion is approved, you will need a Refuge Permit to do that ever again. Ever duck hunt on the Arkansas River, or in the adjoining waters around "Middle Bar" or "Montgomery Chute" when both state's sea­ sons are open? Not only will you need a Refuge Permit, yQu will only be allowed to hunt Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and
Thursday until Noon and you will have to have everything packed up and gone by IPM.
The fact .is that people in Rosedale use these areas all the •
time, and have for their entire lives. There is a large number of people in Cleveland and the rest of the Delta that use it also. Myself, being from Rosedale, and niany others come back home for the sole purpose of h ting, fishing, or just let
ting kids play on •this sand b. TbiJ.expansion affects many
people in Bolivar County. Please take.the time to read about it, and send your comments to whiteriverexpansion@fws.gov. Even if you have never used the area, or plan to in the future, please take the time to let the USFWS know that not holding a public meeting in Brlivar Countr win ppropriate and care­ less. The USFWS if taking comnt'ents in August, and will compile a fmal repclrt to their director in September for a deci­ sion during this wi+er. NOW is the last chance you will get for your voice to be heard. Please don't let the USFWS
change years of tralution in hunting, fishing, and re reation

without your input!
• Marty Couey

[COONDOG]

I heard it was gonna take part of Merigold Hunting Club. Anybody else heard anything about this? Like I said I found out by word
of mouth so not sure whether to believe it or not.

[COONDOG]

Read this also: http://www.fws.gov/dahomey/

[YazooValley]

Why shouldn't willing landowners be allowed to transfer property to the feds if they want?

[TODO]

I heard it was gonna take part of Merigold Hunting Club. Anybody else heard anything about this? Like I said I found out by word
of mouth so not sure whether to believe it or not.

That was in the Dahomey expansion plans. They want to take it all the way to river. Catch is that this is a volunteer deal at fair market value, meaning they will buy it if the landowner is willing to sell, and only at appraised value. They cant eminent domain the land. So the odds of them acquiring much of anything are low. And the odds of them acquiring Merigold are zero.

I think Anderson Tully still owns a good bit of the ground that the White River Refuge wants up the Arkansas river. So there is likely a feasible chance that they could get some of that in Arkansas, if they would go along with ATCO's timber requirements. I would be surprised if much, if anything, actually becomes of this.

[swamprooter]

i would think a river club with some $$ issues may sell to the Feds. Not suggesting Merigold would sell a chunk to help their books because i have no clue about their books, but i bet there will be some takers. Key words...is "landowners willing to sell"......

heres the kicker. Will they allow entrance to refuge from Ms Side?

[Deltaquack]

I heard it was gonna take part of Merigold Hunting Club. Anybody else heard anything about this? Like I said I found out by word
of mouth so not sure whether to believe it or not.

That was in the Dahomey expansion plans. They want to take it all the way to river. Catch is that this is a volunteer deal at fair market value, meaning they will buy it if the landowner is willing to sell, and only at appraised value. They cant eminent domain the land. So the odds of them acquiring much of anything are low. And the odds of them acquiring Merigold are zero.

I think Anderson Tully still owns a good bit of the ground that the White River Refuge wants up the Arkansas river. So there is likely a feasible chance that they could get some of that in Arkansas, if they would go along with ATCO's timber requirements. I would be surprised if much, if anything, actually becomes of this.

Poole has always been a member of a club in Arkansas straight across from Port of Rosedale that is owned by ATCO. He was telling me about this the other day. Pretty much, ATCO gave all of the leaseholders the first right to buy the land for a specified amount per acre. We're hearing $1,500/acre. If the leaseholder chooses not to buy, ATCO is going to sell to gov't.

[TODO]

[Poole has always been a member of a club in Arkansas straight across from Port of Rosedale that is owned by ATCO. He was telling me about this the other day. Pretty much, ATCO gave all of the leaseholders the first right to buy the land for a specified amount per acre. We're hearing $1,500/acre. If the leaseholder chooses not to buy, ATCO is going to sell to gov't.[/quote]


This is what I heard too. Those ATCO club members better get there money together or it will be gone, speaking from experience here. And in my humble opinion, hell would freeze over before any club on the MS side sold an acre to the feds.

[stang67]

What is the estimated appraised value, compared to that $1500 figure? I'm curious what dollar figure they are attributing to the timber rights they keep (I'm guessing it's the 30-year rights they've retained elsewhere??).

[swamprooter]

ATC kept our timber for 18 or 20 years. we didnt get off for $1500 an acre either



Does ATC own Scrubbgrass dirt?

[stang67]

?? Edit

[Deltaquack]

What is the estimated appraised value, compared to that $1500 figure? I'm curious what dollar figure they are attributing to the timber rights they keep (I'm guessing it's the 30-year rights they've retained elsewhere??).

I wonder how that works? I know if they sell to the gov't they won't retain the timber rights. You think the gov't is paying 2K or 2500/acre?

[stang67]

There are members that know more about this than me (so feel free to correct me), but I think the gov't could potentially pay that. These opportunities are often supplemented by conservation organizations with money waiting for such acquisitions. Maybe there are additional tax goodies that could make it more attractive for ATCo at a lower selling price.

[litlhitch]

Have any of you heard about this?

Dear Editor
Did you know that the US Fish and Wtldlife Service is pro­ posing to expand the White River National Wildlife Refuge? Most people don't. Why should they? It isn't like the White River is in Mississippi. Well, the fact is that part of the p ­ posed expansion boundary includes some Bolivar County
land. Now that we know, why did you hear it from a man who
lives in Tennessee instead of at a public meeting held by the USFWS? The truth is the USFWS didn't hold one in Mississippi for the Proposed Refuge expansion. I want the
people of Bolivar County- to know THIS DOES AFFECT .
I
YOU.
If you view the proposed eJ[pansion boundary, available on
. the USFWS White River website (http://www.fws.gov/whi­ teriver/expansionl) you will see that the proposed expansion will cover every piece of land on e Arkansas side of the river from just south of the mouth of the Arkansas River to just north of the mouth of the White river. Ever been to a sandbar picnic or• party leaving from the Port of Rosedale? You most likely crossed the river to the Arkansas side to an area locruly known as "Middle Bar". If the expansion is approved, you will need a Refuge Permit to do that ever again. Ever duck hunt on the Arkansas River, or in the adjoining waters around "Middle Bar" or "Montgomery Chute" when both state's sea­ sons are open? Not only will you need a Refuge Permit, yQu will only be allowed to hunt Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and
Thursday until Noon and you will have to have everything packed up and gone by IPM.
The fact .is that people in Rosedale use these areas all the •
time, and have for their entire lives. There is a large number of people in Cleveland and the rest of the Delta that use it also. Myself, being from Rosedale, and niany others come back home for the sole purpose of h ting, fishing, or just let
ting kids play on •this sand b. TbiJ.expansion affects many
people in Bolivar County. Please take.the time to read about it, and send your comments to whiteriverexpansion@fws.gov. Even if you have never used the area, or plan to in the future, please take the time to let the USFWS know that not holding a public meeting in Brlivar Countr win ppropriate and care­ less. The USFWS if taking comnt'ents in August, and will compile a fmal repclrt to their director in September for a deci­ sion during this wi+er. NOW is the last chance you will get for your voice to be heard. Please don't let the USFWS
change years of tralution in hunting, fishing, and re reation

without your input!
• Marty Couey

This whole post is false and people shouldn't be spreading stuff they don't know anything about. For one, the river channel and its associated sandbar is owned by the state and the refuge has no intentions of gaining ownership of that. They are only interested in the land adjacent to the channel. Therefore they will not be able to restrict any uses on the river channel. Two, this isn't a PROPOSED EXPANSION..it is a proposed acquisition boundary..meaning if approved they would be able to purchase land in this area IF THERE IS A WILLING SELLER. This proposed boundary doesn't mean this land will instantly become USFWS property. Three, there has been absolutely ZERO talk about hunting regulations that would be in place if ATCO land was ever bought by USFWS. So how can someone say you will only be able to duck hunt it on tues,Thursday,sat,and sun? They are absolutely making crap up with that...trust me! Four, if the USFWS doesn't get this land, it will be bought by a millionaire and you can forget about ever getting to hunt any of it..I would think most of us agree that the government wastes a lot of money and considering how much they waste, this would be a drop in the bucket and would benefit many of us. I think it's much better use of our money than Obama phones!

I encourage you to respond to the email address in the initial post and show your support for the proposed acquisition expansion because people posting stuff like this guy are going to drum up plenty of opposition without knowing the facts.

[novacaine]

ATC kept our timber for 18 or 20 years. we didnt get off for $1500 an acre either



Does ATC own Scrubbgrass dirt?

I don't know who............but i know someone does, and it ain't me!