WMA meeting in Jackson--THE REST OF THE STORY

[JimAire]

At last weeks meeting I proposed the shell limit on WMAs and the banning of spinning wing decoys. I also stated that it would NOT BE FAIR to ban them on a WMA and not also ban them on private land that joins a WMA.
At the meeting of the Comissioners yesterday, the MDWFP biologists disagreed stating thet it would be too hard to enforce. Instead, they recommend placing a poster at WMA check-in stations to educate us duck hunters. The poster is well designed and professionly done, but simply stated, IT WILL NOT WORK where regulations are needed.
I believe that every one of the MDWFP personal are there because they have a love for wildlife and conservation. They are well intentiond but I just happen to have a different opinion of what will work and what won't.
I duck hunt, they don't (at least as much as they should) I am there, in the mud and water, they are in an office in Jackson.
SO, HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. If you want shell limits, or spinners banned, then post on the sticky that Micah will be placing on this forum. I talked to one of the Commissioners today and he told me that is was rare that the commission would go against a biologists recommendations but if we would write a letter they would listen to us. Most of the time the commission hears from only one side. It's time they heard from the waterfowl hunters.
I am willing to work on this and Dan as well as others have already offered their help. I need your help now to get this done.

[Double R 2]

Good move Jim Aire! Will this method be as effective as a written letter?

[MSDuckmen]

Well here's your chance. Voice your opinion and let it be known how you feel.
If you really want to make a difference then write the commission and let them know where you stand on the issue. I will be helping Jimmy gather the support on this issue and will be driving the letter writing committee to get as many letters together as possible on this issue. If we as a group are half the people we claim to be then speak your mind.
Ramrod if this is something you feel strong about the gathering you are putting on would be a great place to pass out form letters for people to mail and a good start on a petition to send in.

Everyone on here knows how I feel about a spinner. However if you feel different then it's time to speak out. I believe in the mojority rules concept.
Be honest in your opinion and know the facts.

Thanks Jimmy,
I'll be in touch.

[ducman77]

Well if they ban them on public land, and the people who are hunting private land 500 yaards away have 4 of them going; and you watch them shoot all day and you not fire your gun. You paid 50 bucks to get out there early and watch the hunters on private land kill all the ducks.

[JimAire]

Ducman77, Althouth banning spinners would most likely be at least a two year process, I agree with you and made that a part of the written record last week.

[JimAire]

I also want to add that if enough of us stick together to make this happen, a 60 day public comment period would be in place for people who are in opposition to voice their objections also. The Commission is interested in hearing from all of us regardless which side we are on in order to make an informed and fair decision.

[JimAire]

Double R 2,
Written letters are always the best. However, for those who will not write a letter they can sign a petetion but must include real name, address and phone number.
WE NEED THIS TO BE DONE WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, WHETHER WRITING A LETTER OR SIGNING A PETITION.
ADDRESS YOUR LETTER TO ATTN: BILLY DEVINEY, COMMISSION CHAIRMAN.

[MSDuckmen]

Well if they ban them on public land, and the people who are hunting private land 500 yaards away have 4 of them going; and you watch them shoot all day and you not fire your gun.

I thought all the spinners users said that they don't work like they use to and that most of the time they have to cut them off to keep from flaring birds.

I don't use a spinner and I have hunted near boys that do. Difference is that I learned the art of hunting and fair chase and do not need a crutch to succeed at something I studied and mastered.

hehehe

[bigwater]

this is a trick.. this is another attempt to get a rise out of the masses??? bwabwaaa!!!

Seriously!!!

in the event that this is real and isn't some made up b.s .... i want to make sure that while we are pleading our case to the powers that be, that in addition to the above-mentioned ideas...

lets make sure that we get the $$$$ amount to hunt our wma's raised to like $100 for out of staters... whatever the fee is for residents the fee for non- residents should be considerably more..

hell this $$ fee increase for out of staters is essentially the one aspect of this that we all agree upon.. in other words some may be for spinners some amy be against it.. some may be for shell limits and some against it...

[Birdroost]

To me spinning decoys are not the problem,the ducks are going where they want to go. It is all the sky blasting that is causing all the fuss. 16 shell limit is what we need.

[mudsucker]

Well here's your chance. Voice your opinion and let it be known how you feel.
I believe in the mojority rules concept.

MOJOrity! Is that a Freuidan slip? I knew you liked the MOJOrity all the while!
O.K. Let's get the petition about spinners going. Can we do it as an internet petition if some one knows how to set it up? Keep it specific to one topic. ie: Banning spinning wing decoys on WMA's. I am for the ban and I am;
J.M. Mitchell Jr.
Mudsucker Extrodinare!

[Seymore]

Ban the spinners, 15 shell limit, and up the fee for OOS. I'm all for it.

[Wingman]

Not to be duped again (like I was by Dan), but I am for a shell limit in duck hunting only areas but not for goose areas. There probably are only a handful of Delta WMA's that have flooded fields for goose hunting, but limiting snow goose hunters to 15 shells is not going to jeehaw.

I would be interested in a shell limit in greentrees, flooded timber etc, but not necessarily for open fields.

On the other hand, I would like to see a shell limit for open fields because of those duck hunters who set up in the middle of the fields and shoot 4 boxes at passing ducks on oxygen.

I'm torn on this matter. The only two Delta WMA's I can think of where this would apply would be O'Keefe and Mahanna.

Better yet, and I think I may have just solved my own problem, why not take the shell restriction off during conservation order, but have a x shell limit the rest of the waterfowl season?

[JimAire]

You've got the right verbage there Wingman. We will do each item seperately and not lump things together. Micah is preparing an online petition but individual letters(hundreds of them) to the commissioners is best. I will soon have a letter written that anyone can print, sign and send as their own. I think shell limits is the most important thing to address first, with spinners being phased out similar to what Arkansas did.

[JimAire]

By the way Wingman and anyone else that might be wondering if this is the real thing or just a forum joke, I can assure you it is very real and everything I say on this subject can be verified by Micah if you wish to PM him and ask.