Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] Hunting Season

Count the money. Hunters and fisherpeople contribute a significant 
quantifiable revenue source. In some, if not most states that's what funds 
the administration of public lands. (At least the state lands.) Efforts to 
determine the economic impact of other users has been fuzzy at best. In 
Missouri, part of the state sales tax goes to the Department of 
Conservation. Earlier this summer they sent out surveys to horse owners to 
determine their economic impact. The questionaire focused on things like 
"how many acres do you own", "How many acres are devoted to horse use", and 
on buildings and their use. Not one question about how we used our horses, 
whether we rode public land, how far we traveled to use public lands, how 
much money we spent on our horse activities.
Monte has long contended that if horsepeople want to have the same public 
land use rights as hunters & fishermen, we need to have bridle tag charges 
like a hunters license. Something that could be accounted for. If we raise 
more revenue than the hunting licenses we'll get more benefits, such as 
protected trails.

Monte & Nancy Mitts






> Besides, I believe the whole point of considering the influence of human 
> hunters on the deer and other population was started because of the notion 
> that they have more "rights" to public lands than other recreational users 
> because they're doing a "necessary job".  I believe that only if they were 
> culling the worst of the prey population would they be doing that.  
> Therefore it seems to me that there should be more and extremely severe 
> repercussions for shooters who masquerade as hunters and cause damage, and 
> that public lands should be made safe from hunting accidents so other 
> recreational users can use those lands at *all* times without fear.  I 
> think it's a sign of a big problem in our society that riders, hikers and 
> others to have to retreat from a war zone occurring on public lands a 
> significant portion of the year.
>
>        _________________________________________________
>            Lif Strand * Quemado NM USA * www.fasterhorses.com
>                                ** You speak, I listen, We talk  **
>
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
> Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
> Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
>
> If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the Director at Large and By 
> Laws Elections.
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


_________________________________________________________________
Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. 
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the Director at Large 
and By Laws Elections.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=