Mightyhunter - You are correct in your assessment of the climate on this blog. The bickering, rancor and greed are very disgusting to me as well. I am certain that some of the guys flinging mud around about SFW have some justification; however, I am proud of what WY SFW has accomplished. SFW has a similar foundation in every state but with various priorities and objectives. All of those priorities and objectives are set by each states respective leadership. Everyone on this site can critique the position WY SFW took to stabilize Wyoming's Outfitting Industry. No one has all of the facts the decision was based upon, nor does anyone know what WY SFW had hoped to achieve. I know that there are areas in Wyoming where too many outfitters are taking too many hunters but there is no one to blame except the process we currently have today. It is a very complicated problem and there are no easy answers or solutions. However, we should all understand that problems usually do not fix themselves. If cooler heads would have prevailed, I believe we could of had some gains that helped everyone protect our hunting heritage. Like it or not, Outfitting has played a huge role in Wyoming's history. Hopefully, Sportsmen can understand that the State of Wyoming assesses the highest license fee on Outfitters. It costs less to be licensed as a doctor, a lawyer, etc. While that may not matter to many of you that do not outfit, it is the only recognized industry sportsmen have. We can set back and allow our Outfitting Industry to be destroyed just like many did with the Timber Industry. I happen to believe that the Outfitting Industry is under attack. Once they are destroyed, it will be much easier to defeat hunting, fishing and trapping. We have a common enemy, and it isn't outfitters. Yes there are both good & bad outfitters; just as there are both good and bad sportsmen. Utah400Elk was able to locate past post which describe what the Outfitters were seeking. All you have is our position statement which stated that we supported stabilizing the Outfitting Industry. Would the outfitters have gotten everything they wanted? Probably not, but for all the condemnation WY SFW has received based on our position statement, no one knows what it was that we would have sought as well, for sportsmen in general. That opportunity is now lost and may never present itself again.
TOPGUN - What pledges has WY SFW not fulfilled? Hopefully, you get my point. You and everyone else on this site can be mad at Utah for not fulfilling their pledge but please do not hang that around any other SFW state. Mighthyhunter seems to think highly of you and I will defer to his assessment. I apologize for feeding the rancor. This post was not intended to digress the way it did, and I share some of the blame for that happening. Hopefully, you have read all of this post as I attempted to further explain that you are judging WY SFW will only part of the facts in regards to our position to stabilize the Outfitting Industry. If you want to discuss it further, let me know.
PleaseDear - I don't really know what big power point presentation you are referring to but I assume it was the Expo. WY SFW did have a both to demonstrate support of the event. I was there until Friday afternoon but then I headed home as I had a banquet/fundraiser in Gillette, WY on Saturday. Several of the SFW states were in attendance. I asked you to call me about discussions around the Expo but you never responded. Just to make it absolutely clear, WY SFW has seen no direct funds from the Expo. The only exception would be if we were fortunate enough to have something placed in one of the auctions or raffles on the floor of the Expo hall. To the best of my knowledge none of the other SFW states have received anything either. The Expo is clearly Utah SFW's baby. They took all of the risks and they reap all of the benefits. There has been no conference calls between WY SFW and Utah. Although, I hope that changes, it is up to more people than just me. All SFW states get painted with the same broad brush. I would prefer to differentiate between the states and want no part in another national organization. I have already played to smaller part of the greater whole. I believe the SFW model is the best out there; however, too many continue to assume that Utah is over all of the SFW states. Simply not true. The Foundation of each state organization is similar but that is about it. You state that you now live in Wyoming. Maybe you should get involved with WY SFW and help make us even better and stronger than we are today? A lot of WY SFW's critics are not even members and assume the worst without ever trying to find out what we are truly doing. Oh, Robb, I already have the addresses for the resident hunters. WY SFW purchased the 2009 list from the WY G&F
Department. I had them clean it up so that only one letter per household will receive the letter we are sending out. Just wanted to stretch our budget as best we can.
Longun - You are indeed fortunate. I have been living in Wyoming now for over 11 years. It really is an amazing place to live. My family wasn't as you were but we still drew three buck antelope tags. This will be my 15 year old daughters first big game hunt. She was actually excited about getting to go hunting with her Dad and brother. We do have problems looming in our state though. I am very concerned about events taking place in the Cody region. I am fearful that if it all goes to a quota system, the dominoes will begin to fall. Wyoming could in the very near future be forced to go quota statewide for bull elk. That will certainly have an impact on us all; residents & non-residents alike. Congratulations on what appears to be a full hunting season, just within Wyoming.
Once again, Mightyhunter, I apologize for helping this thread digress from its intended purpose. Hopefully, others will follow suit. I do strongly believe you lead by example.