Well folks. Looks like there is bigger money in the picture now. SCI is sending out fear-mongering letters in support of Non-residents getting up to 50% of the tags, as well as being a bargaining unit on how states will run there tag quota programs. They are trying to roust up support by saying that non-resident tag fees will escalate.
My thought on this is that if they raise the $$ on game tags, well, outfitters like USO don't care. They can buy them and sell them. Profit margins rise for them. Outfitters benefit, because the tips will be better if wealthier people hunt. Its a ruse to scare non-resident hunters.
To wit, they are trying to use a scare tactic, that would benefit them in the long run. Ultimately, whether a F&G entity raises fees is an aside, but for them, its a tool
Below is the letter being sent around by one Randall Bush, an SCI affiliate.
**Subject: URGENTLY needed help for the future of hunting:
In late 2004 a bill was introduced (S 2978) in the U.S. Senate to totally end nonresident hunting and fishing rights in all the states of the United States of America. The purpose is to authorize states to exclude nonresident hunters and anglers at will and to permit states to charge nonresidents any price whatsoever with absolutely no limit. Some states will raise the license prices so high that only the very wealthy can hunt when and if they can get a license at all. Fourteen (14%) percent of licensed hunters (two million) hunt out-of-state each year and twenty-six (26%) percent of anglers (nine million) fish out-of-state. The bill would be unfair to more Americans than it favors and it seriously impacts the right of use of federal land managed by the U.S. Government which is half the land in the United States. This bill will terminate any and all nonresident rights of hunting and fishing access on those public lands as well as state and private lands - all lands! NOW it is imperative that nonresidents let their Senators and Representatives (Companion bill expected) know that they want their rights protected, not abolished. At this time only United States Outfitters, Conservation Force, Dallas Safari Club and African Safari Club have had the guts to try and stop the discrimination against us, the nonresident hunter. Conservation Force has created the Non-Resident Rights Defense Fund to oppose the legislation. Tax deductible donations can be sent to "Conservation Force's NR Rights Defense Fund". Mail to "Conservation Force" 3900 N Causeway Blvd, Suite 1045, Metairie, LA 70002. Take a few moments to contact our Senators and urge them to oppose this bill. Their information is as follows:
Jeff Sessions 335 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-4124
Richard Shelby 110 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-5744 E-mail: [email protected]
This is another step in trying to deprive us of our hunting rights. Take the effort to let your voice be heard. We have everything to loose.
Thanks,
Randall Bush Regional Representative Region 22 Safari Club International 7059 Pineview Lake McCalla, AL 35111-4042 (205) 491-4464**
Contact the above senators and SUPPORT 2978. Contact R. Bush and tell him if he wants to hunt in the west, buy a landowner tag, he's rich enough, and it can be an expense write off. But don't be using fear tactics to pull the common hunter to your side, so greedy pieces of trash like Taulman can dictate policy in your state.
My thought on this is that if they raise the $$ on game tags, well, outfitters like USO don't care. They can buy them and sell them. Profit margins rise for them. Outfitters benefit, because the tips will be better if wealthier people hunt. Its a ruse to scare non-resident hunters.
To wit, they are trying to use a scare tactic, that would benefit them in the long run. Ultimately, whether a F&G entity raises fees is an aside, but for them, its a tool
Below is the letter being sent around by one Randall Bush, an SCI affiliate.
**Subject: URGENTLY needed help for the future of hunting:
In late 2004 a bill was introduced (S 2978) in the U.S. Senate to totally end nonresident hunting and fishing rights in all the states of the United States of America. The purpose is to authorize states to exclude nonresident hunters and anglers at will and to permit states to charge nonresidents any price whatsoever with absolutely no limit. Some states will raise the license prices so high that only the very wealthy can hunt when and if they can get a license at all. Fourteen (14%) percent of licensed hunters (two million) hunt out-of-state each year and twenty-six (26%) percent of anglers (nine million) fish out-of-state. The bill would be unfair to more Americans than it favors and it seriously impacts the right of use of federal land managed by the U.S. Government which is half the land in the United States. This bill will terminate any and all nonresident rights of hunting and fishing access on those public lands as well as state and private lands - all lands! NOW it is imperative that nonresidents let their Senators and Representatives (Companion bill expected) know that they want their rights protected, not abolished. At this time only United States Outfitters, Conservation Force, Dallas Safari Club and African Safari Club have had the guts to try and stop the discrimination against us, the nonresident hunter. Conservation Force has created the Non-Resident Rights Defense Fund to oppose the legislation. Tax deductible donations can be sent to "Conservation Force's NR Rights Defense Fund". Mail to "Conservation Force" 3900 N Causeway Blvd, Suite 1045, Metairie, LA 70002. Take a few moments to contact our Senators and urge them to oppose this bill. Their information is as follows:
Jeff Sessions 335 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-4124
Richard Shelby 110 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-5744 E-mail: [email protected]
This is another step in trying to deprive us of our hunting rights. Take the effort to let your voice be heard. We have everything to loose.
Thanks,
Randall Bush Regional Representative Region 22 Safari Club International 7059 Pineview Lake McCalla, AL 35111-4042 (205) 491-4464**
Contact the above senators and SUPPORT 2978. Contact R. Bush and tell him if he wants to hunt in the west, buy a landowner tag, he's rich enough, and it can be an expense write off. But don't be using fear tactics to pull the common hunter to your side, so greedy pieces of trash like Taulman can dictate policy in your state.