We are starting a 501c4 group, so we will NOT be focusing on habitat restoration, highway fencing, or any conservation projects. We are in the early stages, still drafting up our official name,, by-laws, and mission. What happened at the WB was troubling to many people, not just what was passed, but HOW it was passed. I, and many others, are concerned about the process and how the majority of hunters/sportsmen along with the biologists are being left out of the decision making processes. Sure, they hold RAC and WB meetings, but when they WB has a printed response to what was passed BEFORE any public comments were taken, then it takes on the appearance that the decision(s) was made long before the meeting even started.
We will NEVER raise funds by auctioning permits that have been taken from the public, it is our view that this ensures skewed priorities for a group. Again, we are NOT a conservation group, we will NOT be getting involved in that end of the spectrum. We will be focusing on the process, the politics involved in the process, and creating avenues for the majority to be heard, as well as having the recommendations of the biologists given greater weight. I was, for some reason, contacted by Brett Prettyman for an article he was writing. He asked questions and I answered them as I saw them. There are some great people involved in this upstart group, I am a small fry that just happened to be the most vocal one. This group was the brain child of others, I just jumped on board when I saw where they were headed.
We will be focusing on the process and on given hunters resources to become more educated on issues/policies/biology. The Utah Wildlife Cooperative is nothing more than a facebook group, we haven't even settled on a name for our 501c4 group, but I will post up more info as it becomes available.
Thank you!