>Cade,
>
>I respect your opinion on the
>subject. I have visited
>with Ryan...just today, in fact.
> I agree with your
>assessment that both Ryan and
>Nate are first class guys
>that are trying to promote
>the sport the right way.
> I have heard nothing
>damning about either guy.
>
>Where our opinions probably differ is
>who is ultimately profiting from
>the message of the "common
>man" that is being delivered.
>
>
>Floyd Green was a board member
>of AZSFW last year when
>they tried to get HB
>2072 passed. He made
>financial donations to Rep. Weiers
>and tried hard to get
>the legislation passed. Mr.
>Green stood to profit handsomely
>from this legislation, which would
>have taken 100?s of tags
>out of the drawing, and
>which would have made a
>vast majority of the ?premium?
>tags available to those who
>bid the highest. Luckily,
>Mr. Green and his partners
>were defeated in this attempt.
>
>
>Floyd Green also owns Outdoorsman's, Western
>Hunter magazine, Elk Hunter magazine,
>Wilderness Athlete, and The Western
>Hunter television show. I
>find it highly ironic that
>Mr. Green is now trying
>to profit by selling the
>message of the ?common man,?
>when he tried so hard
>to throw those same hunters
>under the bus a year
>ago for his own profit.
> For that reason, I
>choose to not support his
>businesses. That is my
>opinion?.your opinion may vary.
>
>I have nothing against Ryan, Nate,
>or the other good guys
>I know who are associated
>with the magazines and television
>show. But I can't
>and won't knowingly support Floyd
>Green.
>
>I did take a look at
>the Hunt Forever West website
>and noticed that your sponsors
>include Elk Hunter magazine, Western
>Hunter magazine, Outdoorsman's, and Wilderness
>Athlete. I understand your
>loyalty to the brand.
Sounds good and I understand completely. It seems like a pretty fine line that we walk as hunters/conservationists. Thankfully, some people are as passionate about their hunting heritage as they are.
We all have our personal boundaries that we won't cross. Sounds like yours is with Mr. Green. I can see the good that is coming from having folks like Ryan, Nate and others associated with the magazine and the show. I have no idea what the magazine and show will become, but I sure know what it will never be with them involved. If it puts a few more bucks in Floyd's pocket, I'm willing to sacrifice that to have people like Ryan and Nate out there promoting and defending the 'common man' like you and I. If not them, who else is going to do it for us?? I'm certainly not in a position to do as much good for the 'common man' as they are. Are you?
Why fall on the sword and try to throw them under the bus when they have the BEST opportunity to educate and perpetuate what we love? To discredit Floyd Green? Seems mighty inconsequential to me.
I dislike Uncle Ted. He's been caught poaching on numerous occasions. Am I going to throw him under the bus every time he opens his mouth to defend our 2nd Amendment rights?
I don't drink alcohol. Am I going boycott Pheasants Forever or Elk Foundation projects because they have 'Beer Companies' as sponsors?
Am I going to discredit EVERYTHING that FNAWS, MDF or Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society says or does because they raffle and auction tags that I will never draw?
How bout the NRA? You agree with EVERYTHING they're pushing and want to legislate? I don't, but I will support them on the issues near and dear to me and keep my mouth shut the rest the time - because they're doing more good than harm. Not because they're perfect.
What would the RMBS do if Floyd Green walked into the Banquet and started bidding on a Colorado Sheep tag? Turn down his money and send him packing or take his money and put it into the ground for the best possible return on investment they could get? I think we both know the answer to that one............
Not trying to cause a stir or debate where your morals lie, I just think we should think about 'Cutting off our nose (Ryan, Nate, WH, EH, WHTV) to spite our face (Floyd). Right now they're the best spokesmen we have fighting for this wonderful way of life!
I won't make it to ISE in Denver in 2 weeks. Will you make it to EXPO in SLC? You can join me in not buying any raffle tickets! I'd love to sit down with you to see what solutions are available to help the common man get our message out there to more of the masses.
Thanks,
Cade
www.HuntForeverWest.com