LSBA Meets TPWD

[DoubleJ]

Well I'm back home after a long day traveling to Austin and back. Tomme, Bob Wright, Brian and I met with Carter Smith (Executive Director), Clayton Wolf (Big Game Program Director) and several members of the TPW Staff regarding the extended youth season proposal. What was scheduled to be a one hour meeting turned out to be 2 1/2 hours. I felt it was very productive. Mr. Smith wanted us to pass on to the membership that bowhunters have been heard. They have been receiving hundreds of messages and just can't respond to all of them personally due to the sheer volume. That was great news to us!! I believe we have been heard but it's no time to let up. We need to continue to let our concerns be known. The meeting in January will determine if the issue moves forward in the regulatory process. I would like to see a couple hundred bowhunters at that meeting just to emphasize our passion on the issue. We offered several options for TPW to consider in promoting both bowhunting and recruiting new youth hunters. Most of them were received with some interest.

Mr. Smith acknowledged LSBAs committment and contributions to youth shoots and recruiting young bowhunters.

Since 2/3s of the Commission and most of the TPW Staff are new or have come on board since the last time we faced this issue it is believed we need to do some education on the history of bowhunting in Texas and the Archery Stamp etc.. We all agreed.

We agreed that LSBA would designate a person to act as liason with TPW on this and any future issues. I will fill that position until we can get a more formal arrangement made for a committee to work it. Brian will be a major player in this effort as well.

All in all it was a good start. Although you have made a significant impact we still have more work to do but at least I think we better understand each others positions and are willing to work for a win/win solution.

Hopefully some of the other attendees will add their comments.