two minutes that Could change bowhunting forever

[BUFF]

I never dreamed it could be done by so few so easily
Please take two minutes to listen to how much Archery season means to Commissioner Parker :chatterbox:

http://buffsblackwidow.com/videos/bowseason.wmv

[bustedassranch]

Wow.. Not too impressed.

[tinman]

I "copy/pasted" this info from another site, looks like a good place to start letting our voices be heard...

Contact Information Governor Rick Perry Office of the Governor P.O. Box 12428 Austin, Texas 78711-2428 Citizen's Opinion Hotline: (800) 252-9600 Main Switchboard: (512) 463-2000 Fax: (512) 463-1849

Mr. Carter Smith Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Road Austin, TX 78744 Telephone No.: (512) 389-4802 FAX: (512) 389-4900 carter.smith@tpwd.state.tx.us (carter.smith@tpwd.state.tx.us)

The Honorable Peter M. Holt Chairman Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission 3302 South W.W. White Road San Antonio, TX 78222 Phone No.: (210) 648-8928 FAX: (210) 648-0078

The Honorable T. Dan Friedkin Vice-Chairman Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission 109 N. Post Oak Lane, Suite 600 Houston, TX 77024 Phone No.: (713) 580-3220 FAX: (713) 580-5220

The Honorable Mark E. Bivins Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission 414 S. Polk Street Amarillo, TX 90101 Phone No.: (806) 376-7279 FAX: (806) 373-3557

The Honorable J. Robert Brown Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Brownco Capital, LLC 414 Executive Center Blvd., Suite 210 El Paso, TX 79902 Phone No.: (915) 772-4246 FAX: (915) 532-8398

The Honorable Ralph H. Duggins Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission 2100 Burnett Plaza 801 Cherry Street, #2 Fort Worth, TX 76102 Phone No.: (817) 877-2824 FAX: (817) 877-2807 Email: rduggins@canteyhanger.com (rduggins@canteyhanger.com)

The Honorable Antonio Falcon, M.D. Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission 2768 Pharmacy Road Rio Grande City, TX 78582 Phone No.: (956) 487-5621 FAX: (956) 487-5862 Email: tony_kathy@hotmail.com (tony_kathy@hotmail.com)

The Honorable Karen J. Hixon Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission 111 West Lynwood San Antonio, TX 78212 Phone No.: (210) 225-3053 FAX: (210) 225-5910

The Honorable Margaret Martin Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission 215 West Bandera Road, Suite 114-619 Boerne, TX 78006

The Honorable John D. Parker Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission 1407 Woodland Drive Lufkin, TX 75904 Phone No.: (936) 632-4663 FAX: (936) 632-4663

The Honorable Lee Marshall Bass Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission 201 Main Street Fort Worth, TX 76102 Phone No.: (817) 390-8400 FAX: (817) 390-8408

Mike Berger Director of Wildlife Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Road Austin, TX 78744 Telephone No.: (512) 389-8092 mike.berger@tpwd.state.tx.us (mike.berger@tpwd.state.tx.us)

Clayton Wolf Big Game Program Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 1646 North Jefferson La Grange, Tx. 78945 Telephone No.: (979) 966-0388 clayton.wolf@tpwd.state.tx.us (clayton.wolf@tpwd.state.tx.us)

[BearOmni]

Buff, or others, what is the origin of this recording? Was this said in an open meeting?

I would assume the commission has to follow the Texas Open Meeting act. If so ALL of this info is public and there should be a written transcript.

[BearOmni]

I found the transcripts to all their meetings Here.... http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/meetings/

But I dont know when the recording was made. If I had a date it would be helpful.

[Hot4huntin]

This is from the November 5, 2008 meeting. It usually takes transcripts up to 8 weeks to be posted.

[bustedassranch]

I will enjoy writing them. I will be sure not to associate myself with LSBA because I am not too politically correct.

[LostHawg]

Sign this petition...

http://www.petitiononline.com/bow2008/petition.html

[tinman]

Got a reply to one of my e-mails already (on a Sunday, no less) from Mr. Carter Smith, Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department...



Joey,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the concept of extending the youth rifle season throughout the month of October. The perspective of you and other Texas bowhunters is important to the Commission, and we will make sure they are apprised of your sentiments when they meet again in January to further discuss our hunting regulations and what changes they wish to consider.

Best,

C. Smith

[traildust]

Who is Comm. Parker's boss? I already sent Perry a letter last week.

[bustedassranch]

I just got off the phone with Mr Smith. I know I said I would not say anything about LSBA & myself..oops. I voiced my opinion in a polite way. He told me that he thought his e-mail address has made the rounds because his in box is blowing up. The next meeting is on the 21 & 22 of Jan. He did say that I made some good points & that everyone that has contacted him by e-mail has been very polite on this matter. He did say he planned on getting with the LSBA on this matter in the near future.
On a side note he told me there was a bear that was a hit & run victim close to my ranch. 150# young male

[Bill M]

I have emailed those with addresses this evening and have printed letters to fax in the morning to the others. I used some of Bob Wright's words and also points made by others in my letter.

Here it is.

Dear Mr. ****:

I felt it my duty as a hunter in the State of Texas to voice my concerns over adding youth hunting for the entire month of October that has been archery only since 1975. As I’m sure you are aware, bow hunters basically placed a tax on themselves through the archery stamp to help accomplish this. I have hunted in Texas since 1962 when my Dad took me afield as an 8 year old boy and only began bow hunting in 2002. Quite honestly if I had not discovered hunting with a bow, my hunting would have probably ended as I was no longer challenged using a firearm. I know this is not uncommon. One thing that attracted me to continue was the October archery only season and hunting with a bow.

I understand the need to attempt to recruit new young hunters as that is our future but in my opinion an October youth season is not really an option to accomplish this for several reasons.
It is my opinion that hunter numbers are dropping not because of a lack of recruitment of youth but because of decreased opportunity for hunters of all ages due to cost, distance from home, lack of availability of private lands to hunt and crowding on public lands.
Young hunters that don’t have parents that will continue taking them hunting will not continue to hunt due to lack of opportunity and resources, be it time or money.
Youth that do have parents that hunt will go hunting with them through out the current seasons if the parents truly want them involved in hunting. They can even participate in the archery only season with the removal of minimum draw weights.
Many leases now do not allow family or children as guests. With the high dollar amounts now involved in hunting in Texas I can see this becoming even more common as many adults would not want the youth to have a head start at deer they themselves have been paying to hunt and scouting prior to season. While this is not the case on my tract of land, I believe this could actually reduce youth hunting opportunities.
The youth in the State of Texas can already hunt deer beginning in October using archery equipment and hunt through to February in some areas of the state. Also they can hunt many other species of animals through out the remainder of the year in Texas. With all this opportunity, the hunter numbers shouldn’t be falling if we truly believe our youth are the save all of hunting in our great state. I am opposed to October becoming a youth season and remaining archery only for the following reasons.
My first concern is safety of bow hunters, both young and old, in the field. While many young can shoot, they still lack the experience of good judgment. With the state lowering the age to 9 years old for the hunters safety course, this gives the potential of very young hunters being on the stand alone. While I continue to bow hunt during the general season I choose my stand locations and days afield very carefully at that point. I myself will no longer carry my grandchildren with me to the blind during October for safety concerns if firearms become common place.
That this would restrict or limit hunting opportunities for many hunters in the state who hunt on small acreages. Again a safety issue.
Bow hunting is done at short ranges and can be experienced safely on smaller acreage even in urban settings. TPWD should be doing all it can to encourage bow hunting as a way to increase hunter numbers. Bow hunting may even be a way to keep gun hunters buying licenses that have been priced out of the lease market. The archery only season is a great asset to TPWD, not a liability or the province of “special interests”.
As stated above with many leases not allowing children, I believe this will actually reduce youth hunting opportunities for the reasons stated above.
The removal of the minimum draw weight requirement is new in Texas. This should be given the opportunity to attract new, young bow hunters in the state.
An October youth season would for all intents and purposes end the archery season in Texas. I would ask that you carefully consider the damage this could actually do to hunting in our great state and ask that the archery only season be left as it is currently. Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,
William Morris
North Zulch Texas

[BOBSTER]

Very nice Bill, Bob

[tinman]

Good job, everyone.

[Bill M]

I received this reply from Mr. Smith. I'm posting to show other dates he mentions.

Mr. Morris, Many thanks for your thoughtful letter. I very much appreciate your taking the time to share your specific concerns with this proposal. I also enjoyed learning of your initiation as a hunter and your long term participation in the sport. As you well know, we face very significant challenges in recruiting and retaining hunters. The aging of our population, the lack of leisure time, increased competition for recreational pursuits, lack of a family mentor, and access challenges are all impacting our ability to attract and keep hunters. It is not only affecting the sport of hunting, but all other forms of outdoor recreation as well, from hiking to camping to fishing etc.... We need your help and all our other hunters out there to help us address these declining trends in outdoor participation.

In the interim, I want you to know that this idea right now is just that- an idea discussed by the Commission in order to help facilitate more youth participation in the out of doors. At the Commission's meeting in January, they will discuss this concept further, along with a host of other deer related regulation proposals. Ultimately, no decision on this specific idea will be made until their March meeting. At the January meeting, however, we will ensure that the Commission is well apprised of the sentiments held by bowhunters such as yourself. Our job as staff will be to advise them of the biological ramifications of any of the proposals that they are considering. The social, cultural, economic, and political considerations are important also to the Commission, and I have no doubt they will be assessing those considerations as well as they further contemplate how to get more youth into the out of doors.

Thanks for writing. Your perspective and input matters and is always welcome at this Department. Hope your hunting season is a rewarding one this year.

Best, C. Smith

[LostHawg]

Well done Bill.

[txhunter]

Good stuff there Bill.

[Tomme]

Just relistened to this twice.

One of the Commissioners (Parker ?) at the end said that the increase in hunting would not come from "special interest groups" but rather the age 21 population.

That's funny in some ways. First of all the person age 21 will have gone through five years when he/she is no longer eligible to youth hunt. Even if they built up some interest because of the season, they might well stand to lose it before the 21 age he refers to.

Second, it's the very "Special Interest Group" of archery which has been on the increase in many states. Dr. David Samuel in His book, Know Hunting: Truth, Lies and Myths, noted that WHILE THERE HAS BEEN A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HUNTERS NATIONWIDE, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF BOWHUNTERS. If the honorable commissioner is really interested in recruitment of future hunters then he might want to examine ways to promote bowhunting opportunities in Texas.