greater minds than mine ?s

[blazingsaddle]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-08 AT 01:08PM (MST)[p]Could someone tell me how/why the state manages their animals/ hunts? I mean, is it for money, or quality, or certain organizations. Is it for the loudest people? Or what the majority of the public want, or for the health of the herds, or for preservation of hunting? If the majority of the common utah hunters wanted something passed, or even stopped, would it happen? How is the Wildlife Board influenced? Are the WB members voted on or nominated?
I know its a lot of questions but I want to know how/where the DNR gets their direction. I just want a better understanding of how the system works. And why things are the way they are. Any help would be great. Sorry I meant to post this in the general area.

 

[bragabit]

Blazingsaddles,
I would sure like to know the answer myself. Some of the things that pass just baffle me. The way I understand it the DWR and their biologist make their recomendations. Then the RACS meet take public input and make thier recomendations. Then the wildlife board meets, takes the recomendations from the DWR,RACS and the lobbist groups. Seem as of late they follow the recomendations of the lobbyist groups. I looked the other day in the Utah proclamation and it list the wildlife board members in it. I belive they are all members of the 5 differant RACs. The only name I remember in the Chairman--Paul Neimeyer.

 

[Packout]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-08 AT 03:08PM (MST)[p]Not a greater mind, but this is what little I know.

Members of the Wildlife Board in Utah are recommended by a panel of public citizens, appointed by the Governor, and voted in by the Legislature. Most have no degree in biology, no experience running the DWR. They are public citizens, who have "stick".

The system works somewhat like this:
A proposal is made (by the DWR Biologists or Public) at one of 5 the Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) (Made up of individuals representing a variety of interests from hunting to anti, from farm to BLM). It is best the idea get presented at a majority of the RACs so it can be voted on. (Important, but not required) The public at large can voice their opinion. The RAC then votes on how they feel concerning the issue. After public input process, the Wildlife Board then hears the proposal, listens to the results of the RACs and then they use that to finalize the proposal and accept or reject it.

There have been numerous occasions where the public input was resoundingly against an item and the Board accepted it. The Board is where the decisions are made. The most puzzling decisions are made, when proof from biologists is given and the Board votes against the paid DWR biologists. That is where lobbying comes into play.

 

[blazingsaddle]

Packout
Can you explain lobbying?

 

[Packout]

In the life of Public Administration, certain people are paid by special interest groups to work for regulations and laws in the favor of said groups. Some lobbyists do this out of the goodness-of-their-heart, but most are paid. The paid lobbyist can dedicate all his time to getting the regulations and legislation which benefit his group. He has time to shmoozzee the decision makers and rub shoulders with them. Gaining trust and providing prestige (either thru $$$, food, celebrity, etc) allows the decision makers to listen more to the proposals of the lobbyist. This occurs at the level of the Wildlife Board, but some Board members are lobbied more than others. That doesn't mean to suggest they take bribes or other illegal activities, just that they are lobbied.

The most interesting lobbying I have seen came when the MDF lobbyist lobbied for decreases in bull elk tags. Then, in an issue of the MDF's magazine later that year, there was an article on how elk out-compete deer. Very interesting......

 

[bragabit]

I have heard a biologist for the state of Utah say that the wildlife board follows the recomedations of Don Peay more closely than theirs.

 

[blazingsaddle]

I'm still learning here, but thanks for the info. The process sounds like quite the dance.

So in all honesty, how many people think the common hunter has a voice, that is heard and listened to? (if its valid)

 

[rock5150]

Blazingsaddle

The bottom line is money. What as been said is all true. Now think on this. The DWR's budget is not funded. 95% + of it comes from tag sales. I would think this limits what can be done. The big game board tells them what they have to do but, gives them no money to do it.

Rock5150