The Conservation Permit program actually generated about $2.5 million this year, and with matching dollars, over $11.6 million went on the ground to fix 150,000 acres of public land, on almost every deer and elk unit in Utah, including the San Juan. So, the money is a catalyst to do much larger projects that benefits everyone who some day wants to hunt in Utah - residents and non residents alike.
How many other states can factually say, "in 2006 we put $11.6 million on the ground to make better habitat for deer, elk, bison, bighorn, and other wildlife species ? How many states can actually say $2 million from game and fish went on the ground ?
As far as the big hitters doing things for other people, some of these guys have helped raise another $110,000 to award ten dream hunts for heros - our fellow combat vets who served in Iraq. Two of these young men now have purple hearts, and stayed in the fight, as their buddies went home in a pine box.
One young soldiers who just got out of the worst of bagdahd, will be spending New Years sitting on a white sandy beach, with turquose blue waters of the Carribean with his young bride. The donors are completely anonomous. In ten minutes, SFW members donated $45,000 for a scholarship fund for two children whose father died in Iraq serving our country. so, lots and lots of great things are done, many never say a word.
I know it can be easy to be cynicle, but there are truly some wonerful people who do HUGE things every day for the average guy, and no body knows about it.
If the average guy would quite bitching about this, more people with means might step up.
Conversly, if i was king for the day, those with means who don't do good things with it would be taxed very highly, as there are some really selfish jerks with money as well.
Don peay