Antelope Island Shed Fiasco!!!!

A

akah2o

Member
Messages
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Last Saturday I was in line at the Antelope Island Causway at 5:50am Waiting for the gates to open at 7:00am. To insure me that I had plenty of time to get on the island. Only to find out that the State Parks Dept. had alreday let 2 guys (possibly More) in TWO DAYS Early. There Names are Tony Abbot General Manager of Mule Deer Foundation, Ryan Hatch, Owner of Muley Crazy Magazine! When we called the Parks Dept. they said that because they had organized the Shed Hunt that they Got "Special Privaliges" to go out early! I paid my $10 to go out and come to find out it was not for the average Joe, It was for Tony and he Buddies, Thanks Tony for Looking out the the average Joe!"

If your as pissed as I am call The Utah State Parks Dept. (801) 538-7220 and let them know!
 
You mean they opened up shed hunting on Antelope Island and I wasn't informed about it? Thats BS, I'am going to call my congressman about this. It's not fair that you knew about it and I didn't. This average Joe never received any info about it. The gov't should have advertised in our local newspaper or at least sent out letters to every licensed hunter in the United States. I'am madder than hell and I'am not going to take it anymore!
 
I also found out about this after I spent the night on the Island with camping fees Not to mention the eight trips I made up on weekends to pattern a few bucks that I found from the road with a spotting scope, Hoping to get a fair chance at there sheds when it opened to the PUBLIC on SATURDAY.......Lets see about $120.00 in gas, $72.00 in park entrance fees, And many hours spent only to find out later that these guys went in early on thursday and picked up some big browns. Because why? Oh I forget must be MDF company benefits, Stupid Me, I should have known better.......Priceless
 
I was told that the hunt was on the island was Sat. March 4th. Is there a limited number of people who can pay $10 and look for antlers?
 
That is why I have been asking him how shed hunting went. Of course he has chosen not to answer. I am sure we will get some line about how this is all part of helping mule deer and they wanted to make casts to sell. But wouldn't one person involved already have big sheds to cast and sell for the MDF? I am sure we will see an article in the "new and improved" MDF publication on how great this excursion was for mule deer.

I imagine that all our posts will be deleted because names were used, but how else are people to find out about the questionable things that happen?. Please don't delete these posts. Rather call the Antelope Island Park and ask them if it is true. The answeer will be Yes.
 
I don't generally make posts but I do on occasion enjoy looking at this site. It is a site that a person can really get an idea of a vast number of peoples ideas and opinion and sometimes a guy can pick up something useful here. Plus it is entertaining.When I saw a post about the "Island" it really made me smile. I am a person who is more familure with the "ways" of the Island than most.There isn't many people who have traveled the Island on foot more than I have, especially South of the ranch house. That is where historically the majority of the deer live. Let me say this. The sheds have a funny way of disapearing out there. There has always been a special few who pick them up. When the deer start to shed these few individuals watch and they gather them up. There is no place on earth like the Island, believe me on that one. The only reason that the public has got to go out there as of late is because of the pressure that has come down on the managers of the Island. Too many questions have finally started to surface about the "ways" of the Island. So the way they decided to fix this problem was to let a share of the public out there (to make it fair) to do what these special few have been doing for years and years. But we only get one day to do it and it is a little late besides. I'll bet anything that most of the sheds picked up out there this last Saturday where white. There may have been a couple of great brown antlers picked-up but I'll guarantee it wasn't many and the few that were found were found because they came off a deer that had shed only a couple of days prior to the day the parks service let the public on the Island. In short they were just missed by the guys who get to have free access on the Island. So getting back to your post, these guys letting Tony and friends on the Island a day or two early is just the tip of the iceberg. Believe me! I have got to hand it to them...they have been real good at keeping it a quiet secret for a long long time and it isn't going to stop any time soon.
Some years back when I use to care I decided that enough was enough. I had hard evidence of what was going on out there and I decided to do something about it. I did this because I was given a ticket for doing the same thing that the guy who gave me the ticket was doing. It wasn't right any way you looked at it.My first trip out on the Island I found a old five point shed. It was garbage and I don't even know why I packed it around that day but I did. When I was leaving a officer by the name of Kevin Sherman gave me a ticket for having the shed. I told him I didn't know I was breaking the law and offered to take it back to the exact spot I found it in. It didn't work and Kevin became very abusive with his words and generally made an ass of himself. I paid the ticket but questioned the judge of exactly what it was I was being charged with. The judge told me it fell under the vandalisim code. He explained that one can't remove, deface, or otherwise take anything from a State Park. He went on to say it was no different that removing a load of wood, or removing a indian artifact or destroying a petroglyph. I got the point and again told him I didn't know I was doing something wrong and I appoligized and paid the fine.
Over the next couple of years I traveled the Island as much as time would allow. I will have memories about the things I saw out there for the rest of my life.I truley mean it when I say there is no place like the Island. As I traveled about every inch of the place I noticed one thing. "Where are all of the sheds of these giant bucks that I see daily"?? I estimated that there was a heard of about 200-300 deer and a great buck to doe ratio. The sheds have got to be somplace right? I knew what was happening and I knew who was doing it. So I wrote the top dog of the parks service as well as the top dog of the DWR. I was really detailed with my letter and said if I don't get some sort of an explanation I would go further. Through my friends I have a lot of conections that are high up in the government sections of Utah. I went on to say I didn't want to push it but I would if they forced it. About a month later I got a call from a fellow Named Bill Woody. Bill was a guy that you could tell does his job and takes it seriously. Bill's job title was head of internal affairs of the Parks or it might have been the DWR. I can't remember. We talked and looked at video. Over the next couple of weeks I worked with him as he put his investigation together. To make a long story short an investigation started and later it led to Kevin and an other parks person loosing thier jobs. It lead to the finding a poached deer on the Island too that one of those two did. Kevin was also selling Buffalo illegally out of state. All in all it was serious.I did feel bad about a guy loosing his job but I remembered how he acted the day he ticketed me so I got over it.
I thought that after this the Island and how it was being ran might change and it might have done, but for only a very small time. All it really did was make the players a little bit smarter and a little bit more careful.
I hope that because of people getting more and more of an idea of what really goes on out there that it might change down the road. I think that there are a lot of things they could do out there to make it fair. But I will never feel good about it as long as a selected few get a first crack at those sheds and the general public is left to pick up the scraps of the ones they didn't want. Anyway for what it is worth that is my dealing with the place. I also want to say I am sure that there are a lot of great workers out there on the island and I am totally syre many of them have no idea of what is going on. It is going on right under thier nose. I remember tralking to one parks person and he said and I quote, " I don't know what your talking about. There hasn't been any deer out here since the seventies. Still, if there were some and they lived on the South end I wouldn't know it because I am not allowed down there". Funny Huh.

Old_Tracks
 
Ok guys, I got a call about this thread knowing that it could turn into something bad. So, I called Tony Abbott myself and he confirmed that he and Ryan Hatch were granted special permission to shed hunt Antelope Island 3 days prior to everyone else.

Tony stated to me that he was invited by the Parks Department to take a friend (he invited Ryan Hatch) and go look for a special set of sheds for the island visitor center or something. They did not find them, but did find two other sheds.

Tony says that they asked him to do this special early shed hunt because he was the one who put it all together.

That being said, I tell you my opinion, just as I stated it to Tony. The Parks Department did wrong. It's not fair for them to have invited special people for a job that so many of us would have probably paid money to do. Heck, I would have paid to go out there early to look for sheds and would have let the Park keep whatever I found. The reward was the shed hunt itself.

Also, Ryan Hatch was invited because he wanted to do a story on the island sheds and deer. Well, again, another unfair deal the Parks Department negotiated. Trophy Hunter Magazine and MonsterMuleys.com would have also liked to have done such a story, however, we were not contacted by the Parks Department about the project.
Government agencies should NOT be giving any business special treatment!!!

As I told Tony on the phone, I think as the MDF general manager and the preacher of a system that does not give preference to anyone, he should have let boy scouts or other youth do this special project rather than he. It should not have been something he should have excepted.

As far as Ryan Hatch, I don't blame him one bit for taking Tony up on the offer. I probably would have also, although it would have still been unfair for a government agency to play favorites.

The bottomline is, what a crooked deal. Most of us weren't even aware of this shed hunt, let alone that certain people would get to go ahead of everyone else.

Ask yourself, why should Tony and Ryan be given special treatment by our Parks Department? Why not you?

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
 
Geez I thought we had a few problems in Montana, Utah is one messed up state.
hunterrunningfrombearlgclr5ju.gif
 
The part about those guys looking for a set to put in the Parks office really makes me laugh. Believe me if they wanted a set or two or three or four to put in the office they could go to the "evidence room as they call it" and get one. Tell the truth Tony. I would think that a guy in your position would be a little careful on this one. How many other times have you been out there looking for a set to put in the parks office? The whole way Antelope Island is worked is a total slap in the face to the general public. However, if you put yourself in the shoes of those few who get to "enjoy the bennifts" of the place you might find that you would be doing the same thing. I have wished many times that it was me who gets to haul all those 200"ers off the place. But if I were a guy that went public like Tony does so often I sure wouldn't risk something that would make me look like I was above it all. I have never met Tony. However,anyone that is fighting for our future with mule deer is O.K. in my book and I believe that there is no sure fire way to do things but I know if you are going to be in the publics eye you better have your act together or be ready to loose the faith of the public if you step out of the boundrys that the rest of us have to follow. I would be curious to find out how many other times Tony has been out on the Island looking for office decorations. Exactly what kind of a permit is required for hunting sheds on the Island other than the general public day?? Or is it if you know a certain biologist or something like that is it O.K. I am just curious how it is done these days?

Old_Tracks
 
I agree with what Founder said!

Oh well look on the brght side. Maybe Tony will auction off the sheds. Maybe they could be called "conservation sheds"????
 
All that glory..........
Hatch I don't blame because that just the way he is!
However MDF is just brain dead and I can't ever see
what happend to its focus...
Alot of people could have a better time with out that happing
I would want my money back!
Rackmaster
 
Hey Old Tracks I think you should show up more often here, I like your validity on this matter. I can see this post going on for quite some time..yes the plot is thickening...
Jeff
 
Another example of a few "select" people getting opportunities the "Average Joe" just isnt getting......

Sounds familiar.....i wonder why!?!??!

SCOTT
 
1 Thing I want clarified up front is this. Ryan Hatch was invited by me to take pictures and footage of the island to do a story on it in the MDF publication. He needs to be left out of any blame or bashing.

Now the facts of the story.

I also do not expect any of you to like what I am going to say but know that it is the truth coming from the horses mouth.

For over 2 years I have been promoting the parks service and Antelope island on MY radio show.

I have promoted activities, changes, and opportunities for the Island as well as for the parks service in all of Utah. They have been on MY radio program free of charge everytime. Over the course of the last 2 years I have been suggesting and questioning the dept. about a shed hunting opportunity. This of course came on the heels of the whole hunting proposal on the island.

I told them it would be a great pr move and that lots of people would be interested. I also told them I would help promote it and promote what the parks dept is trying to do. Mind you this has gone on for 2 years now.

If I remember right last year they had a shed hunt in the summer or fall so it had already been done. 1 week before the scheduled shed hunt this year I was contacted and ask if I wanted to come find a matching pair of sheds that I could mount and promote the island with. Mind you I have not been on the island for 10+ years. (this is the truth, you are getting it from the source)

I of coarse said that would be great and that I wanted to bring the editor of my magazine so we could do a story on it for publicity for the island. They agreed and that is when I called Ryan, I believe it was 2 or 3 days before we were to go. He of course said he would go just like all of you would of said you would go.

The goal was simple, to find a large pair of matching sheds that I could have mounted to give publicity to the Island and help promote it. The would be displayed to show people what the island has to offer.

Myself and Ryan got to the island at about noon on Wednesday. We met Ron Taylor (park manager) for the 1st time and he and us headed out. That night we found 2 sheds, 1 that was about a 75" shed and 1 that was about a 95" shed. We did not even find any other sheds that day.

Thursday we went back at about 9 am and looked some more, we found some crusty old sheds in a few different places so we returned to the spot that we found the 95" shed in. We spent the whole afternoon looking for the matching side and never found it. That afternoon we found about 5 more sheds all of which we left on the mountain.

The only 2 sheds that came off the mountain where the one 95" shed and 1 other shed that I brought of for my 11 year old son that is just a shed, nothing special.

I of coarse have been taking calls and emails as to what we found. You just heard what it was we found, and now you know that that was the 1st time in 10 years that I have been on the island.

Did I get special treatment? you could say that I did? Was it under special circumstances? You can say that it was. Did it have anything to do with me being with MDF? Not much or none at all.

I will not make excuses for what I got to do. It was for a purpose and was approved by the Dept. I am also sure each and everyone of you would of taken the same offer had it been offered to you. Me and Ryan being on island did not change the main hunt other then 2 sheds. We did not even scratch the island as far as covering it goes. We simply went looking for 1 big pair of sheds and came up 1 side short.

Hopefully someone else found it and we can hook up and get accomplished what we set out to do.

I guess the question for all of you is could you of gone on the island and found a pair of sheds and given them up? Or would you of found the sheds and then stashed them somewhere and came back on Saturday to claim them for your own?

Remember, last year there was already a shed hunt on the island and this year there will be another one. People have taken sheds off that mountain long before I got there illegally.

I had no moral obligation to turn down the opportunity just because I am with MDF. Ryan it blameless in all this. He simply went as my assistant.

Many people get many special privledges because of who they are or what they do. I did not get this because of MDF, I got this chance because I helped put it together and it was going to benfit the island. I know no other way to explain it.

Antlepoe Island and the parks dept. are great people. They are trying to do things for the public. They have a wonderful resource they manage, and believe it or not I helped open up the shed huntinh opportunity that you all now have. The MDF did not help make that opportunity and neither did Ryan Hatch. Tony Abbott of The Big Outdoors Radio Show helped create this opportunity and now all of you get to enjoy it a couple times a year.

Antelope Island was a neat experience, I hope all of you will take the time to go there and see what they are trying to accomplish. Whether I am allowed to do it again or not does not matter, I will continue to give FREE publicity to the Parks dept. and the island.

This never was about me, this was about publicity for the island. Don't turn this into something it wasn't.Remember this, I was there and I did it, do not believe any rumors you may hear. I am the only one besides Ryan and the Parks manager that was there.

tony
 
Wow! You are a fast one Tony. Made it back from Beaver already?

Speaking of free. Where was my free MDF magazine you were handing out to everyone?

You crack me up Tony. Is this more opportunity?
 
Tony, first of all as I looked through these post I don't see anyone bashing Ryan. Your right about one thing and that is anyone would have gone out there with you except you asked Ryan and that served a purpose.
You mention that they had a hunt out there last year. The truth is they have one hell of a hunt out there every year except the public isn't allowed until the last couple of years. Did you get the hunt out there last year going? You say that you have been at this for two years now so I was wondering if you get the credit for last year like you do this year? I am still wondering if it is really the presure they are feeling that has got this hunt going.

You talk about promoting the Island. What do you mean by that? You mention that you want to show the public what the Island has to offer. That's a hoot. Tell me how the Island is going to be promoted from what you have done as far as mule deer are concerned. The second you get the place opened up to how it needs to be so the general public can get back there to even see these deer I'll be the first one in line to appoligize and shake your hand.

Last years shed hunt you mentioned was done during the summer or the fall. Tony either way it is the same old story . The fact of the matter is this. The public never gets on the Island until the vast majority is already picked up and stored away. And I totally bet that you know this. Right? There are others besides the parks people who are doing it and I believe you know that.

I hope that there are people out there who can relate thier stories of this years "hunt". I have no doubt that there will be a few very happy people but it will be few. Most of the guys will report finding old white crap. Those old white ones will be found in places that would be mostly hard to get at and over the years have just got missed.

You mention how you helped get it open to the public. That is a start but if you really want to do something how about getting it opened up when we actually have a good chance at getting the good stuff. To do that these special few are going to have to stop picking them up before others get a fair chance at them and I doubt even you can do that. This stuff about being out there to locate that special buck and mounting those sheds so you can promote the Island really cracks me up. I promise you if they need to have a buck mounted they have the sheds to do it right now. Would something in the 240" range be good enough I wonder? You may have been out there looking for the biggest buck on the Island. I don't doubt that a bit but for you to say that is the sole reason you were out there is not true so quit trying to make yourself out to be something your not.

One last thing and then I am going to try and leave this alone. You mention to us that "we should all ask ourselfs the question could we go on the Island and find a pair and then give them up"?
What is that all about? Remember we were not the ones out there three days early. Why should we ask ourself that? I'll ask myself that if you ask yourself why were you really out there three days early.

Old-Tracks
 
Tony your falling apart.

It is sad to see it happening, but your falling apart and you are back in the SFW-bigmouth/spin king status....from years gone by...

Sad deal for sure.....

Robb
 
CRAP OH CRAP,
When did they close the Island?I hope it wasnt closed this year cause we have some singles to match up.I was wondering where everyone else was.Most of the time its just been myself on the ground with my bro inlaw in the air with his radio and GPS.Im to fat to ride in the para plane with him,atleast thats what he said when we tried and the plane didnt leave the ground.Later we found if we ditched our guns and got rid of the cattle prods for hearding the buffalo around that we could get my fat but in the air.But that was the one and only time I went cause he said he rather have the room back for his beers. MULEYZ
 
Shed Horn Hunting On Antelope Island What A Joke,


We waited in line for 45 minutes and finally we made through the gate. We had scouted the area from the road prior to going up and we knew where we needed to be.
We started 1 mile north of the ranch and spread out, there was 15 of us togehter spread out in a big line, We had not made it not more than 100 yards when we came across one old white horn it was small, so we did not look for the other side.
Then about 30 minutes into it we started to cross foot prints that looked to be a few days old,we was told that nobody had been out recently before Saturday looking for drops what a LIE!!
Well to make long story short we went the rest of the day hiking south about to the water on the south end.
We picked 3 browns and 2 white drops, I guess casper the ghost wears a size 11 boot.
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-15-06 AT 06:23AM (MST)[p]This topic is CORRUPTION at its best! Are we going to have to pay to see what you did find? I vow to never be a part of the MDF.

Thanks Tony

PATHETIC!!
 
Well, I might as well put my 2 cents worth in the hat. First of all Brian, Rusty could have had a great story as he knew about the shed hunt. All he had to do was show up at the ranch at the end of the day and watch the antlers roll in. There were several great sheds and sets picked up. He could have had some great pictures for the mag. I know of 3 sets that go well over 220. Lots of guys had fun seeing parts of the island.

The first shed hunt was last Sept 17th and it was expected by the island personal that a lot of sheds would be picked up. There were some great sheds found but the numbers were low. Many thought the grass was too tall and made finding them difficult. Others believed that the people involved with the horse concessions have been gathering them up. And then you have the normal hikers and and horse riders. Truth is, sheds leave the island all year long. Its a big place and with few personal to patrol it.

That said, Its a great place for mule deer and the island staff is making great strides to open it up for the public use. I spend 30-45 days a year there and enjoy what I see.

What Tony and Ryan did was not much different than what Don Peay and Garth Carter got to do the year before. They got access to the island that most don't get. Too bad they spooked all the bucks out of my shed spot. :)

The fact remains that the island is being opened up and we should appreciate the efforts made by the Parks dept. As mentioned before, most of the sheds picked up were white. Thats true just about anywhere you shed hunt. Any shed hunter knows how easy it is to miss a brown shed and have somebody else find it. My family went out on the hunt and hiked around and found very little but I watched guys picking up sheds all around us. I had several friends that picked up double digits and couldn't carry anymore, while others went home skunked. Thats shed hunting.

Tony, I have one piece of advice for you. If you are going to make a statement, tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Cause the smallest act to decieve with bite you in the arse. I've talked to Ron and know for a fact they have access to several big racks that can be mounted. Unless you were looking for that 250+ buck. You might have to give it a few more year.

This shed hunt was a learning tool for the park. They'll make it better as time goes on. Can't wait for the next one, which is in a month, in case anybody is wondering. Too bad the passes are sold out.

Larry
 
You are all a bunch of hipocrits, who the hell wouldnt of jumped on the opportunity to shed hunt that place earlier than the masses, your a bunch of liars if you say you wouldnt. I would have in a heart beat, you cant tell me you give that much of a hoot about your fellow shed hunters, It is shed hunting after all and it there has always been a little bit of competition for those that are serious about it. Just because Tony went early you are blaming the MDF, what gives? There are a whole lot of hard working people out their that make up the MDF, not just Tony and Ryan. By the way Tony can I go next year? And is their a auction tag for the Island, cuz I want to buy it. Oh yeah just in case Tony doesnt invite me next year, now that you boys were so gung ho to make this public, when is next years shed hunt, cuz I know a whole lot of hardcore shed hunters up here in Montana that will be on their way down next year, especially if there is 220" sheds floating around. And believe me you boys better be in shape and not worry about that long grass. Heck I think we will just bring an RV full of us or better yet a BUS! Pitiful is right, hipocrasy is always pitiful. Seriously would someone let me know when next years hunt is or how to contact the park service cuz I am coming.
hunterrunningfrombearlgclr5ju.gif
 
Good post Larry.


"I guess the question for all of you is could you of gone on the island and found a pair of sheds and given them up? Or would you of found the sheds and then stashed them somewhere and came back on Saturday to claim them for your own?"

GIVE ME A BREAK.

Priceless is right.


I am going to make a prediction right now. Since the parks is not above letting a select "few" on to the island, who's to say there wont be "conservation" shed hunt tags auctioned off to the highest bidder to hunt the island early? This falls back to finalshots post and it makes perfect since.

Here is to special people in special positions taking advantage of the average joe. This post serious leaves me sick to my stomach.

buck1.gif


Later, Brandon
 
Sheepeater,

What are you saying?

Don't get me wrong. If the Feds told me I had permission to shedhunt in the Madison or the Elkhorns or Yellowstone National Park and no one else could at the time, I would jump on it. Is it right? NO! I know, I am a hipocrit, but I'm not the GM of any organization either. It looks really bad that way.
 
Just thought I'd also mention that with an estimated 200 head of deer on the island, and IF there was a 50-50 ratio of buck to does. And IF there were 20 yearlings bucks, then that would leave about 80 bucks 3 point or better on the island. That would mean only 160 big browns each year. Not exactly easy pickens.

Larry
 
Ya, this ended up being a little longer than I planned. :)

Don't start reading unless you have a minute, or 10!

I was one of the few that went out for "the first" public shed hunt last year and I'll tell you what, for about 2 weeks leading up to the hunt my buddies and I could hardly sleep. We were told that the island had not been shed hunted at all for 10 years and my good buddy Larry Mower knew the place very well! He spends tons of time out there and knows other people that have as well. Seeing many monster buck pictures he and others had taken while out there just fueled the fire! I also like to video and photograph BIG BUCKS but after going half nuts trying to decide what to do I figured it would be best to leave my camecorder and tri-pod behind so I would have more room to carry sheds in my pack. I just took my camera for the as they lay pictures so I could share them with Larry later on. I honestly don't think I've ever been that excited and pumped up about anything in my whole life (except when my boys were born :) )! I beleive there were only about 75 of us that bought tags in advance and we knew that not many others would know about it because of the lack of advertising. They ended up selling only 105 total out of the 300 permits available! I could only imagine the sheds we were going to pick up... After one very long Friday night of laying in bed staring at the ceiling it was finally time to go! Saturday morning I made the 1hr drive up and met my buddies. I had tags for both days and a camping permit for Saturday night. What could possibly be better!!! We all parked out by the gate about 45 minutes before light and waited for them to open the place up. As soon as they allowed us to head out we hit the ground running and headed straight for the South end where all the Big Boys were said to have been hanging out. As the day went by I kept wondering if I was in the wrong spot. I'd move up a little higher and then back down a little lower scouring the place and glassing all over wondering how I could possibly be missing 10 years worth of antlers! I should have been tripping on the things. After hiking the majority of the south end and some of the middle of the island (about 12 hours total) I was able to scratch up only 5 older antlers. Nothing big at all and each of the ones I found was hardly visible unless I nearly stepped on it. Most were stuck in a bush or hidden by rocks. It was easy to see that the place had been hammered by shed hunters long before we got out there. Nothing laying out in the open what so ever. Needless to say I didn't end up spending the night and I turned my pass for Sunday back in and got a refund...

This year when I heard they were having another shed hunt out there I couldn't decide what to do. Stay home and wash my truck or go out to the island and look for sheds... I ended up with a nice clean truck! :) Normally I would consider myself one very sick and dedicated shed hunter. I've honestly done some stupid and crazy things for an antler. From frost bit on both ankles to driving 300+ miles just to go back and pick up 1 single antler I had spotted the day before right at dark... I'm not trying to brag, my point is I didn't stay home because I don't really care much about finding sheds. It was more because the place is picked over before we get there and once you do get there you definitely won't be alone for a nice walk out through the sage brush... Shed hunting to me isn't about trying to beat some jack @$$ up the hill so I can get them before he does (been there and done that too and it $uck$!). If you enjoy racing and fighting for antlers then the island is definitely the place for you. One more thing to keep in mind, if you do decide to go out to the island DON'T plan on picking up arm loads of 200" bucks. You never know what you might find, there are big bucks out there for sure but I personally wouldn't set my sights too high... Especially now that the place has been combed of all the whites. The way I see it is there are only about 250 deer or so on the island (I know I'm close). If they have 100 bucks out there I'd be amazed. That's 40 bucks per 100 does! Even if there are that many that is only 200 brown antlers to pick up total and now you have 300 people out there trying to find them! Good luck at matching up any singles you happen to come across. You'll be right where Tony is at this point. Wishing you knew who had the other side. Once you find out who has it you'll be wheeling and dealing and you'll probably have to settle on making replicas for $500 so that you can each have your own set. Thank the lord I haven't been so lucky! :)

Personally I'd rather go out and pick up a few mediocre sized antlers and maybe some day stumble onto a BIG one. At least I'd enjoy myself.

Hopefully the island manager can keep from letting people in early in the future. That was just plain STUPID! Maybe with all the extra funds raised by selling these shed permits they can afford more islands trail patrol and will be able to keep people from packing everything out before you get there. If they could do that and also cut back the tags to say 100 people max it wouldn't be such a bad deal. 300 is too many! Even if they had to raise the price on the tags a bit to make it work I'm sure they wouldn't have any problem getting rid of them. Especially now! :)

Until they do get a handle on it I don't plan to make the trip again anytime soon.

Alright, I'm done now. FREAK! Sorry for rambling on so long.

Good luck with the rest of the shed season.

NvrEnuf
 
wow, and to think that I was just concerning myslef with the antlers attached to a deer. Mr. abbott's post sounds a lot like the Abromoff hearings - well, I was just, well you know, it was all in the interest of the public good. . . .

Very telling, looks to me like there's a lot of room for reform, starting with a good house cleaning. . .

Take care,
 
Just would like to say that this whole fiasco seems like it is Par for the Course for Utah. However, the attitude of tony is really surprising! The "if it benefits me, then it is ok" and "You would have done it too" is quite surprising. I also find it interesting that he is trying to distance himself from his position with MDF. Unfortunately, Tony you cannot do that in these situations. Yes I know Bill Clinton tried the same tactic, But us simple folk just don't buy it. You've soiled your reputation and unfortunately hurt the reputation of the MDF all in one fell swoop. I would bring in some political advisors on this one and start the spin doctors engines.

Good luck

T
 
As I said before, this opportunity I had was gained by my radio show, not by MDF. I simply was going to help promote it through the magazine.

This is a case where you are all trying to put blame on MDF when it had nothing to do with it. Infact when I started the campaign to hunt sheds on the island I did not even work for MDF.

Yes I went and I enjoyed it, but as you all now know I was not the 1st or will I be the last to go, and yes I was looking for 1 big pair sheds. Nothing more.

Atleast a couple of you admitted you would of gone had you been invited. I guess the rest of you would of turned it down, right?

Why don't you guys get mad over the people who got to go on the island 2 weeks before I went and help capture Bighorn. That was a special treatment.

Why don't you guys get mad at the many who have illegally taken sheds of the island for years?

Why don't you guys get mad at the couple guys that went on the island early and stashed sheds and then came back and picked them up that Saturday morning?

Again, this has nothing to do with MDF and everything to do with TONY ABBOTT helped open up shed hunting to the public.

By the way, I will be at every rac meeting this round if any of you want to discuss this in person. I was in Beaver last night and noone mentioned it.

Thanks

tony
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-15-06 AT 11:23AM (MST)[p]-Why don't you guys get mad over the people who got to go on the island 2 weeks before I went and help capture Bighorn. That was a special treatment.

Why don't you guys get mad at the many who have illegally taken sheds of the island for years?

Why don't you guys get mad at the couple guys that went on the island early and stashed sheds and then came back and picked them up that Saturday morning?-

fishon,
Because none of those other people have the Title of
GM of the MDF after their name. You must understand how this looks to many of your members? Whether or not you want want to admit it or not, anything you do in the public eye is connected to the MDF. This one just doesn't pass the smell test. Sorry. Whether anyone else would take this chance doesn't really matter again because of who you are you should have declined. Rank has it's privileges but it also has it's responsibilities.

Nemont
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-15-06 AT 11:15AM (MST)[p]Nice reply Mr. Abbot, but I can assure you I will sleep good at night knowing that I would not have done what you did while in your position. Sure, easy for me to say, but many people, including me, have turned down great opportunities because they have taken an oath that does affect what they do, even in their ?off-time.? You have taken that oath and now you need to respect the position.

Perhaps you need to get a public service conscious Mr. Abbott. As many have said before, there were alternatives other than the one you selected. No one really cares if it's you, or you and the MDF, you are one in the same; you're trying to separate yourself from a non-profit organization that you represent. The standards for representing a non-profit are very high. The expectation is that you use your publicly subsidized status not for personal gain, but for the public good. The non-profit status of the MDF means that you are subsidized by the public. Therefore, we are essentially paying your wages!

A person in your position has to rise above self-interest and thus far, it is looking more and more to me, like you are unable to follow the basic tenants of public service and therefore your dedication and commitment to our public resources must be questioned. If you want to do other things, you should consider developing an endowment or another means of funding your position, or lose the non-profit status, then you can separate yourself from the public welfare system that you like to begrudge. Remember, proffits come in many forms!
 
Tony Abbot = Bill Clinton! That's the best part of this whole post... "I did not have relations with those shed horns"
Love it!

I am very surprised nobody has brought this concern to the table yet. Step one, a public shed hunt...Step two, a limited entry shed hunt...Step three, a special invitation Buck hunt...

It has been proposed and I'm sure considered. My question is why does the Island need this much publicity? Why do you want to promote the Island so Tony. Is it cause of your love of Mule deer and you want to share that with everyone? Hmmm, curious.


'It's all about the gut pile'
 
To sum it up IMO-

Harmless or not, a PR nightmare for MDF

Plain and simple, intentional or not. Perception is reality. Simple as that.
 
fishon-i have to say that whether or not your privileges were related to your radio show or MDF, due to your title, MDF is guilty by association. that is just the way it is. i know nothing of the island, i am not a member of the MDF and i am just reading, not having an opinion because i don't know enough about the situation.it is unfortunate for the MDF, but thats the way it is. if those other people who illegally took sheds, stashed sheds, etc. were named or in the public eye, then i am sure the heavy hitters on this site would rip them apart too. i am just someone reading the post with an outside opinion and that is the way i see it.
 
Interesting.

Nice to see where Brian stands on the issue.
Good points made.

Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"
 
Face up to it. You got caught with your hand in the cookie jar. You preach equality and fairness for everyone but we can see what you preach and what you do are different things.

In truth its becoming apparent that "equality" really only extends to yourself and people with the money. You might as well just come right out and say "screw the common man", because your actions certainly reflect that type of attitude.

I couuld never, ever concider supporting such an obviously screwed up in the priorities group like the MDF that is clearly benefiting such a small subset of people.

MDF... just say NO.


-DallanC
 
As an outsider looking in on this post I can't believe you guys. It seems to me that everyone needs to think about what is best for our dwindling Mule Deer resource instead of bickering about every little thing. I don't see anything here about someone not wanting to help Mule Deer. That is what is important! As long as a person is trying to help the deer,I may not agree with their method but I'm not going to berate them or try to derail them. Let's try to be more positive. Mule Deer need us to cooperate.
 
i'm a little ignernter than most folks, but ain't public land like, for the public? if there is a set antler finding season, it sounds to me like some folks were allowed to hunt a little early. oh well, it's in utah.
 
Well this is about enough of the MDF game for me. I am a member and not from utah so I have no beef here. That being said I believed in the MDF mission. That also being said they have some great people involved with the organization some great people.

But tony what you are doing and what you did is a total crock of BS. Your doing things for yourself not for the organization. I know you got all of this power at MDF and are one of the biggest guys in the Mule Deer game. BUT YOU ARE REPRESENTING A NATIONAL CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION NOT WHAT TONY ABBOT WANTS. Who are you representing, me along with anyone and everyone who is a MDF member or a possible member.

Remember this statement it is from business 101 "take care of the ones who took you to the show." The members took you to the position you are in. The members were not represented by your getting into antelope Island early if the Parks department wanted a specific set of sheds they should have put a reward on them not let you and a buddy go. I think what Ryan did was right he was doing what is best for him. But what you did was hamstring all of the MDF members and possible MDF members who went on this shed hunt or who wanted to go on this shed hunt.

All of that being said what is the best way to get results from your blatant missuse of your position. Big Radio star and all. Do we the members start calling Pat Juhl, Dr, Glidden and anyone else on the board??? come on Tony your choices here were crap and there should be some type of reprecussion for you misuse of power. Sanctioning or something.

I was asked by a former MDF Board member to donate a hunt this year and I did not do that for one reason. I told him that reason and here it is. I wanted to see what transpired this year with MDF with you at the helm. I read alot last year and had my reservations about where the organization is going.

My reservations were confirmed.

Good Luck Tony I think you pissed off quite a few people with this stunt.
 
T-dog,

Yeah we would have done it too, but don't act like they needed you to find a set for them. You were looking out for number 1 plain and simple. Where was the invite to monstermuleys members? If shania Twain showed up at my door in a teddy with a permission slip from my wife I would probably partake, but that doesn't make it right. It's all about the principle of things bud.

Andy
 
Andyman....if she showed up at your door WITHOUT a permission slip would you partake?? }> That's the real question! :)
 
now why does andyman get to be with miss twain and not me!? i want a turn before everyone else!

back to topic...is anyone pissed at the Park Service!? Seems like they catered to a guy with some strings attached to some Fund money for them. I think they are the ones that should get alot of heat!
ProHunter
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
 
No, the real question is, whould he post it first on monstermuleys and invite us over for a little before he got his? That's the question!
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-15-06 AT 03:34PM (MST)[p]>now why does andyman get to
>be with miss twain and
>not me!? i want a
>turn before everyone else!

I'm sure he could make time for both of you if you asked real nice...;-)
 
Tony,
This is why people such as myself immediately question your true intention for posting things like the "Henry Mountains - Utah's Wasted Opportunity" question.

hmmmmm....I wonder why MDF's ideas are always suspect to having ulterior motives.....
 
jealousy?

This is all it can be. Who cares if Tony got to go before you. Last fall 75 people got to go before you but noone cared. Tony arranged it and didn't go himself.

3 weeks ago Don Peay (sfw) and his buddies were on the island catching sheep and none of us were. Where is the hate there? People get privledges all the time that I don't get, so what.

Everyone of you would of gone had the opportunity presented itself. Infact had Tony Called any one of you instead of Ryan you would of gone and thought "how lucky am I"? And you would of all gone.

This is not about MDF this is about all of you being BUTT HURT. Tony got this and now you think he should be lynched. I would bet his boss knows he went and why he went. I'll bet that all of us have had some privledge that noone else had and didn't take $hit for it.

Leave it alone. Maybe you should all say thanks Tony for helping open up the island to shed hunting. Or maybe you should say, thanks for promoting Utahs parks for free on your show.

Instead all of you want to hold Tony to a hire standard yet you do not want him to get any benefit for being held to a hire standard. What Hypocrits.

I will be that some island employee's get to go places on the island that we don't. Should they be hung for it? I will bet the Governor gets some privledges that we don't because his is the Governor. I will bet that timp cave employee's get to hike places in the caves that we don't.

My point is that you are all being childish. Grow up and do something with your lives. Atleast Tony does not hide behind a screen. Take him up on his offer, go do your own thing or better yet have the nuts to talk to him at one of the rac meetings he says he will be at.

And so you know I called the State parks office and they confirmend that Tony was instrumental in getting the shed hunt pushed through. How about a thanks.

Just quit being babies.

Todd G.
 
>And so you know I called
>the State parks office and
>they confirmend that Tony was
>instrumental in getting the shed
>hunt pushed through. How about
>a thanks.
>
>Just quit being babies.
>
>Todd G.

Dude what are you smoking? Thank "him" for getting a new system in place that benefited "him" directly and screwed over the honest guys waiting their fair turn at the gate?

Thats some wacky thinking there man.


-DallanC
 
I guess that's the good ole American way huh runner, "if you cant beat-um, join-um."

What surprises me is all the talk, by some, about what others may have done if given the chance. I'm not so sure as many of these guys on this site would do what Mr. Abbott did. In fact, I'm sure there are many of them that would have smelled it and said ahhhh, that stinks and I'm not going to step in it.

Moreover, if this were the only issue at hand, it likely would not have gotten so much interest. I think people are pointing out that they see a pattern emerging and they don't like it. Finally, as the saying goes, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it's probably a duck.

One last thing, if your posting on this site, you are hiding behind the screen. I'm sure, given the means, a lot of these guys would look you, or Abbott in the eye and tell you exatly what they think. Dont try to take down honorable people with your twisted positions on this subject.
 
People again you are missing the point

we should be critical of those doing the deeds ( Tony Don and
whoever else is apparently above the law that the average joe lives by ) WE NEED TO GET CONTROL OF WILDLIFE IN UTAH OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE SELECT FEW AND THE CONSERVATION GROUPS AND BACK WHERE IT BELONGS. Let me clue all of you in Don, Bill and Tony pretty much run wildlife decisions in Utah. The DWR will not make a decision without consulting these guy's. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SACK SWINGING TO OPPOSE DON OR TONY WHEN IT MATTERS AND THAT IS WRONG. Who is the Division catering to?? The Utah taxpaying resident and non-resident hunters or the CONSERVATION GROUPS.

Are all of you aware that the 200 tags that are being pulled from the draw for the " CONVENTION " next year have no freaking guarantee whatsoever of putting a certain percentage of money on the ground for wildlife or habitat?? Thats right these groups will pay their fees at the venue and and any other overhead before a freaking cent makes it back to wildlife!!
Don Peay said at the RAC/WILDLIFE BOARD JUST TRUST US!!!
are you freaking kidding me.

I would suggest that all concerned sportsmen and women in utah take back what is ours
 
Runner,

Obviously Mr. Abbott wanted to get a jump on EVERYONE else or he would have waited for the gate to open like the average Joe. Mr. Abbott should have waited in line like everyone else and interviewed people as they exited the gate with their finds. That would have made him a hero instead. Now look at the situation. Just a case of poor judgement.
 
Zigga-Wasnt really aimed at you, but your right black eyes are never pretty.

Im still waiting on that phone number to the Park service, talked to a couple of guys today, and we are going to make a trip out of it next year, we dont get alot of chances at piggy muleys up here so we are going to hit some Utah Turf and then Maybe over to Browns Park or up to Idaho. I think this thread was great, anybody have anything else to share on big muley horn porn grounds.
hunterrunningfrombearlgclr5ju.gif
 
WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT WAS PICKED UP EARLY.......
For the kids ya right!
(maybe a smaller 1 or 3)
RM
 
This is all to funny. I can't imagine the sight of all you whiners on the Island fighting over sheds.(Poor mans UFC) It reminds me of women shopping the day after Thanksgiving and finding out the manager of the store was the first one to go shopping and he bought the only toy they were looking for. BIG DEAL! Do you think Tony is going to mount his secret sheds and hang them in his living room? Mabye so but I don't care. I think there are alot of jealous unhappy people in the world. It pisses me off George Bush flies around on an airplane we pay for and I never get to go. Who does he think he is the President. BENIFITS ARE ONLY GREAT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE THEM.
 
Tony I do not think that you should be taking all the blunt of this but you were the one who let your name out on what you did. You definatly are not the only one who is a little bit questionable on this issue. Someone mentioned the guy that runs the concessions (the horse ride guy) picking them up before the public got there. They are right. He does. The parks people (just a few) do it too. You say to the public why are we not mad at them, the truth is we are.
Antelope Island is a State Park that has its own special rules that are totally designed to make it so the deer and thier sheds will be there for them to get first crack at. If you really want to work hard on something then work on geting the Island to put a price tag on a permit that allows the general public to be on the Island when these great bucks are FIRST starting to shed. That way these guys that have had all the fun for all the years will have to start looking when a certain number of the public first starts to look. Get us in when the seven or eight real giants first start to shed not weeks later when the majority of the real good stuff is already stored away. Do that and then I will think you have done something. As it is now it is a total slap in the face to all the people who spent a lot of dollars and had hopes of getting a fair chance at all of the bucks sheds not just the small stuff or the old stuff that was either too hard to locate or were too small and didn't catch the interest of these guys that get free access to the place. Work hard for us Tony on doing that. There are dozens of ways it could be worked out to make it so. It just takes the Parks people to quit being above it all and make it fair.
I am curiuos about the two guys that you mention got to go out two weeks early and stashed away sheds and came back and got them on Saturday. What is that about? Seems to me if a person in your shoes who holds everyone to a standard and preaches legal issues with wildlife knows something about an illegal activity as you have mentioned should report that illegal activity or once again be prepaired to loose faith with the public. Tony let me give you a bit of advice. The truth ALWAYS comes out and you need to quit trying to have it both ways all the time.

Old_Tracks
 
I have never seen so much crying in one post since I've been a member here. What a joke! The guy gets shed hunting opened up to the public via a radio show, MDF, or whatever and you guys cry because he was in there a couple of days earlier than you? UNREAL! He does the work and gets you guys an opportunity to do something you have always wanted to do and your miffed at him? What gives? Its obvious that the sheds have been picked up for years off the place, why blame all of that on Tony? I swear, some of you guys would blame Tony Abbott if you walked out to your car and had a flat tire.

Whats funny is that some of you are actually talking about not sponsoring the MDF because of this! Thats rediculous!

Drummond
 
Yea Drummond, spoken like a true good ol boy.
I can care less if Tony went out there 2 days or 2 weeks early. BFD. Whats got me going is that he says he went out there looking for sheds the park can mount to promote the island. The park already has sheds they can mount if they really wanted to mount one. Some that are a lot bigger than the 190 set he says he was looking for. The only one or thing that I'am mad at is the state park service selling shed hunting permits on the island that they down right know the vast mojarty of the sheds have already been poached. Some by their own employees. Thats boarded line fraud.

Yea Sheepeater, I'll keep you informed when next years Antalope Island shed hunting permits go on sale, so you and your buddies from Mt. can make the 15 hr. drive to Utah, buy your permits and walk around looking for sheds that have already been poached before your arrival.
 
Interesting to look thru and see the missing posts. The posts disappeared about the time the last moderator made a post.

You know what they say "Birds of a feather......"
 
Great post,from people that are informed. I don't support MDF
any more we were a chapter in CA. We split off & formed Ca. Deer Assoc. Money that is raised stays in CA. You need to form
Utah Deer Association, then the money stays in Utah 100%. Elect your leaders, form chapters & get it on. Our future is our kids, promote a shed hunt for kids only on the island, what a great way to spend time with your kids. If you don't have any kids,find one, show them a great time. Write the park about you concerns, about employees removing the sheds. Raise hell, make it fair for everybody. The excitement for me, is the look in
a youth's expression. Tony, don't know you, if you are the leader, you have to stand above all others, you are in the spotlight. And if, I say if, you don't stand for all members,
& what they stand for, as a leader,then you will be job searching. No leader will last, if the direction of members
is going down a different path. Mike
 
I have a question....people had to buy permits to shed hunt out there correct? Did TOny have to obtain the permit as well, or was his special permission, enough to bypass the permits that everyone else had to purchase to shed hunt there legally? Just curious....if he did purchase a permit, then at least he did one thing right in this situation....

SCOTT


I have seen a few people defending Tony's actions, and suprisingly its people who arent from Utah. I guess its easier for you guys to defend him when it doesnt hit so close to home. Its just like the conservation tags, Utah is the one taking it in the rear, not the other states.
 
I was a member of MDF. I am not now.....and never will be.

"One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
 
I see now, when someone makes a post, & its hit close to home, they delete it.Posted late last night gone today. Thats are right. Good idea? Why doesn't the lsland, have a youth shed hunt only, it would great for the kids, keep them invovled, & it would be a blast.If you don't have a kid, find one, that likes hunting, where the parents are't invovled, take him or her along.The expression on kids faces when they find one, would be worth it.Make a push to were Park employees are not aloud to hunt sheds, unless they stand in line like every body eles.If they are caught,they get fired. But then again, Tony
would be first in line. Mike
 
ShotgunJim-Thanks but someone already emailed me the number, and it is only 7 hours down their, heck it takes me longer to go to hunt Antelope in eastern Montana than it does for us to come down there. We are going to come for next years shed opener on the Island, sounds like some guys found good bone anyway. I think a couple of my buddies from Eagle Colorado are going to join us as well. For what its worth the staff on the Island were very helpful when I called them, and even said they would email out the date for next year, and gave some great advice on where to look for them. And then one of the few gracious guys here on the board traded us some sweet muley hotspots in exchange for our monster bull hunting grounds up here. So we are just going to make a week out of it. Makes for some good hunting scouting if nothing else.

hunterrunningfrombearlgclr5ju.gif
 
Drum, I TOTALLY disagree with your perseption. What is ridicules is the fact that once again the average joe gets crapped on. I have never met you in person, however, I know from some of your previous posts that if it were you buying the vehicle entry permit, off trail/back country permit/ and waiting @ the gate at 5am (Not to mention its almost a 2 hours drive for me)... You would be as pissed as the rest of us. I would bet the farm Tony didnt even have to by a permitt to get on the island let alone a back country pass like the rest of us. The meer fact that he would accept a gratuity when others would feel like this, in his position, doesnt sit well with me.. Let alone the fact that I feel like I was screwed because of him.

This is NO different to me then a guide killing a buck before the season when you went on your hunt in TX. You were absolutly beside yourself.. Granted the island bucks were not poached. Its simply the same pricipal that you said "I wanted the same opportunity".. even if you argue that, I know you know exactly where I am coming from if you admitt it or not.


buck1.gif


Later, Brandon
 
My thoughts exactly Brandon. I just don't think Drum has all the details. If he did he may not rip on the guy but he probably wouldn't stick up for him either...

NvrEnuf
 
In reference to your analogy, if a guy were to help me gain access to ground that I had always wanted to hunt or guide on and it was previously thought that I would probably never be able to hunt there then I would NOT be upset if he went in before me to hunt for one particular animal. If it were not for him I would not be there anyway. You scratch my back and I scratch your back. Whats really disturbing to me is that you guys are getting this riled up over a freaking shed antler. Your talking about never supporting the MDF because the gut that goes to bat and gets you permission to shed hunt an amazingly beautiful island that is home to some giant mule deer goes in and picks up 2 antlers before you guys. Disgusting!

Drummond
 
your right, it is disgusting. I AM TRUELY SICK OVER IT. And if you think its because of a "shed antler", thats to bad.
buck1.gif


Later, Brandon
 
Drum, you said, "In reference to your analogy, if a guy were to help me gain access to ground that I had always wanted to hunt or guide on and it was previously thought that I would probably never be able to hunt there then I would NOT be upset if he went in before me to hunt for one particular animal. If it were not for him I would not be there anyway. You scratch my back and I scratch your back."

I never wanted access to the island in the first place. Personally, I'd just as soon see all the sheds sit out there and rot. There are very, very few places in UT that are not mollested by people daily. I for one wouldn't mind knowing that at least 1 place was still like that. He11 Wyoming has Jackson Hole and I could go on and on about other states. UT doesn't have much that isn't being pounded already. Personally I'd say shut down the shed hunt and step up the security out there. It was illegal to pick up sheds there before. Now it's legal. It is still illegal to hunt deer out there but I wonder for how long? I can see it now... One day I'll be telling my grand kids about how there used to be a bunch of big old bucks out on the island.

You also said, "Whats really disturbing to me is that you guys are getting this riled up over a freaking shed antler. Your talking about never supporting the MDF because the gut that goes to bat and gets you permission to shed hunt an amazingly beautiful island that is home to some giant mule deer goes in and picks up 2 antlers before you guys. Disgusting!"

I honestly don't think this has much, if anything to do with the sheds. I know it doesn't for me personally. I honestly couldn't care less about the 2 or 3 antlers Tony hauled off. Was it a stupid move to accept the offer, probably. But just because Tony made a mistake doesn't mean that he or the MDF is the devil. I'm sure he'll learn from it just like all the rest of us do when we screw up every day. I just hope he gets it figured out pretty QUICK for his sake! I also didn't say anything about not supporting the MDF. I have supported the MDF in the past and been to the banquets. I might go again, I might not, but I definitely won't be basing my decision to support them or not on a freaking shed antler!

NvrEnuf
 
Brandon,
I completely agree with you on this matter. I think the best part is that Tony claims that this has nothing to do with the MDF, I guess his charming voice on the radio and his stunning good looks is what got him a chance to go out before everyone else, but certainly not his status with the MDF (sarcasm here). I feel quite let down by all of this and in fact almost turned off by the hunting world in general lately.

Jared Teter, Ph.D.
www.teterhorn.com
 
Antler envy...bone envy...p%n)s envy...I have had enough of this stuff.

Everybody has to be better than the next guy, heck teterhorn feels the need to tell us all that he has a Ph.D.!

Why does everything have to be a competition? They would be better off burning all the sheds on the island and putting an end to this madness.
 
Muley62, "Why does everything have to be a competition?" you asked. well, let us let the MDF take a crack at that. I think your question gets right to the important aspect. Historically, none of it was a competition. But when you increase the value of a resource (as the MDF now is doing, it is setting the bar through their auctions), and then glamorize it with lots of great sounding rhetoric, complete with videos and photos of people with huge bucks, you get competition. Soon after you get a privatized system where only the noble elite get access to a once public resources.
 
I do not blame anyone that is mad about this.
Heck I do not live in Utah and after reading this it made me sick as well.
Telling anyone that it is no big deal and they should feel good about this is just trying to pull wool over your eyes and ((guaranteed)) are close to the people involved.
Sure they will tell you it opened shed hunting to the public but these sheds have been picked up by others from what I hear for many years.
To me it sounds like an idea to let others look for mediocre sheds that are left over and making you pay to do it. $$$$$

If you feel sick about this let it be known and heard loudly since all of us are setting up our future rights by voicing our opinions.

MM is an incredbile resource to all of us and it informs us of things like this that many would not have a clue about otherwise.
Thanks for keeping this post up since it shows not everyone is concerned with the big money and is actually looking out for average Joe's rights.

What I have seen over the years proves that the almighty dollar is joining those in the "IN" crowd to see how far they can go to enjoy rights you and I will never have.
I have voiced this many times and it is the reason you or I will never be looked at as "One of the Boys". If we join the bandwagon and throw out our own ethics we may have a shot.
No thanks I say....I will enjoy my own film, pictures and hunting without needing to be glorified by others that are looked upon as Gods in the hunting world.
I may never get special access or treatment or shoot the biggest bucks in the country each year.
I can live with that....How about you?
Many of you can read between the lines and know exactly what I am saying....After all we are not ignorant or as stupid as some would think.
We are the majority and never forget it.
Best,
Jerry
 
Lets cut Tony some slack, hes a straight shooter on and off the mountain. I actually joined the MDF because of him, I would like to take a minute and personally thank Tony Abbot for all of his hard work and dedication to Mule Deer over the past year.

The real crook here is Don Peay with SFW. I heard he just built a 7,200 sq.ft., $1.1 million dollar home on Eaglewood Golfcourse in North Salt Lake and has not had a real job in three years (goes to show where those memership fees are really going). He would screw my grandma if given the opportunity, we all need to watch our asses around Mr. Peay. However, Mr. Abbot I feel is a standup guy.


Thanks Tony keep up the good work.
 
Now the MDF is to blame for the inflated value of big deer? You have got to be kidding me!

I wonder who we will try to destroy tomorrow? We could start a thread like the photography section and each week pick a person or an organization to destroy. What do you think?
 
I could care less about sheds, they don't do it for me and maybe it's because I'm from Washington and not Utah. However, it's clear this has nothing to do with sheds given the responses (reasons for the behavior) of those parties involved. People were cheated and that never sits well with anyone and should never sit well with anyone. Yeah life ain't fair but does that mean we shouldn't try to make things fair when we have the opportunity? I'm in the dark when it comes to MDF and after reading the GM's responses I think I'll keep it that way. It's like Cheney's hunting accident, had nothing to do with his Vice Presidency but look at what that caused; this is no different and for the GM of MDF to say that his radio program and the MDF are seperate issues is BS and if that is the mentality that is leading an organization like MDF then....well, where's there's smoke there is fire.
 
"Now the MDF is to blame for the inflated value of big deer? You have got to be kidding me!
I wonder who we will try to destroy tomorrow? We could start a thread like the photography section and each week pick a person or an organization to destroy. What do you think?"

Muley62- If your replying to my post show me where I bashed MDF?
I actually have supported MDF for many years and the majority of the members are great guy's with nothing but good will towards our future hunting.
Having such a high ranking member of MDF contribute to all this nonsense does create a huge concern to those that joined and should.
I would never say to anyone to stop supporting a bonafide organization that spends the funds raised to do exactly as advertised.
Best,
Jerry
 
"Ryan Hatch was invited by me to take pictures and footage of the island to do a story on it in the MDF publication."

In my opinion, the story was on Saturday when everyone was there. Why would someone want a story with two guys hiking on an island showing off the sheds they picked up?
I would think the story would be on the sheds that everyone had a chance to pick up on Saturday, promoting what huge sheds were found on the island. I would also think that the best story I could possibly hope for,is a chance to get a picture of some young first time shed hunter with a 90" shed in his or her hand. This is my experience, in fifteen years of working in the media. Just my opinion. Fstop
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-16-06 AT 11:13AM (MST)[p]

muley, do what you like, but you do not grasp the depth or the extent of the problem if you think the MDF is not, in large part, responsible for the inflating prices of a mule deer, dead or alive. I'm not trying to destroy the Foundation, as I have said on may occasions, I agree with and support the mission of the MDF, it's the means to that end that I question. Moreover, the MDF is a public organization subsidized by our taxes, until that changes, I and others have all the rights we need to be concerned, even hyper-critical, if we choose, of its activities and the activities of the people who represent them.

This still is the USA and you can, if you like, take on whom ever you want. I have no vendetta against the MDF or it's representatives, but after digging around a bit and even trying to start my own chapter, I felt compelled to do other things... So, I'm open to your insults or your scrutiny, just bring the facts and a lunch.

Take care,
 
Theknack, no my response was not to your post it was to TFinalShot.

Tony made an error in judgement, that is a given. I am sure that he never dreamed it would create this kind of uproar and would not have done it if he did.

What drives me crazey is that the MDF is doing so many positive things and everyone wants to quit because Tony picked up a shed before they did.

I totally aggree that special treatment is wrong but if you have a problem with Tony then call him. Instead we all bash the person and the organization in a public forum. Is anyone volunteering to take Tony's place at MDF or do half the work he does?
 
In light of all the negative opinions that this has caused, Tony should step down from his position. Tony,if you care about the future of the MDF, be a man and step down. Stop trying to defend yourself, this is not about you, it is about the good of the group. Sorry, but you are not acting like a true leader. All who agree, please voice your opinions to MDF so that the group can put this behind them.

And just so you know, I dont know Tony, but I am sure he is fine person that is very dedicated, but frankly this is going to seriously undermine MDF if he remains in leadership.
 
ANTLER GATE!!!

This is a nightmare...there are days I really hate the internet. Al Gore did not invent the internet an anti hunter did.
 
Antler Gate, that's a good name, it will go down in history for all MM's as Antler-gate! That's perfect. . . . LOL

muley, you trash talk about responsibility and then you blame the internet, now that does take the cake. The internet has nothing to do with this, it's about the MDF. The internet is a tool of communication and commerce. With your logic one would blame cars for killing people instead of people.
 

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