[Hot4huntin]

Below is a letter sent to TPWD.

March 30, 2011

VIA FACSIMILE NUMBER (512) 389-4814

The Honorable Carter Smith
Executive Director
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, Texas 78744

The Honorable Peter M. Holt
Chairman
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
3302 W.W. White Road
San Antonio, Texas 78222

The Honorable T. Dan Friedkin
Vice-Chairman
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
109 North Post Oak, Lane Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77024

The Honorable Mark E. Bivins
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
414 South Polk Street
Amarillo, Texas 79101

The Honorable Ralph H. Duggis
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
600 West Sixth, Suite 300
Fort Worth, Texas 76102

The Honorable Antonio Falcon, M.D.
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
2768 Pharmacy Road
Rio Grande City, Texas 78582

The Honorable Karen J. Hixon
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
111 West Lynwood
San Antonio, Texas 78212

The Honorable Dan Allen Hughes, Jr.
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
Post Office Box 14
Beeville, Texas 78104

The Honorable Margaret Martin
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
215 West Bandera Road, Suite 114-619
Boerne, Texas 78006

The Honorable S. Reed Morian
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
300 Jackson Hill
Houston, Texas 77007

The Honorable Lee Marshall Bass
Chairman-Emeritus
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
201 Main Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102

RE: Revenue from the Archery Stamp Endorsement

Dear Executive Director Smith and the Honorable Commissioners

Pursuant to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s recent request for public comment concerning the Super Combination License Packet proposal, the Lone Star Bowhunters Association’s would like to offer the following:

The Lone Star Bowhunters Association is in agreement with the changes to the frequency of the surveys as proposed. However, the LSBA is the State bowhunting association which originally approached TPWD approximately 36 years ago and asked that the bowhunters of Texas be taxed in the form of a revenue stamp for a special archery only season in the majority of the counties of Texas. The Archery Stamp was enacted by the 64th Texas Legislature leading the way to the Special Archery Only


Season. In 2003, the LSBA on behalf of the bowhunters of Texas fought to keep the Archery Stamp when TPWD has proposed doing away with same; thus providing TPWD further revenue. For 36 years, the revenue generated by the Archery Stamp and/or its inclusion in the Super Combo Licenses has gone directly into Fund 9 to be utilized at TPWD’s discretion. I applaud the fine job TPWD has done with these funds to date.

With urban sprawl and the growing popularity of bowhunting in Texas, the Lone Star Bowhunters Association is requesting that a portion of future revenue collected from the Archery Stamp be utilized in a manner which is directly related to preserving and promoting bowhunting and/or archery, as does the revenue from the other endorsement stamps directly benefits their purpose. Currently, TPWD offers and/or supports several archery and bowhunting related projects in which the funds can be utilized, including, but not limited to National Archery in Schools Programs, Becoming an Outdoors Woman and Texas Outdoor Family archery instruction, urban bowhunting,
archery only public land hunts, etc. The LSBA would like to see these programs continue despite the current State budget cuts.

The Lone Star Bowhunters Association respectfully requests that TPWD and its Commission consider utilizing a portion of the revenue generated from the Archery Stamp and/or its inclusion with the Super Combo license packet in a manner which is directly related to preserving and promoting bowhunting and/or archery in the great State of Texas. The LSBA recognizes and appreciates the general benefits provided to both hunters and fishermen, both directly and indirectly, from the funding of the Game, Fish and Water Safety Account. Accordingly, we ask that the remainder of the revenue from the Archery Stamp and/or the inclusion of the endorsement in the Super Combo License, not going directly to archery, continue to be utilized to preserve and promote the heritage of hunting and fishing in Texas, while preserving the natural resources of the State through education, enforcement and conservation.

Your consideration in this matter is appreciated. If you have any questions, comments or would like to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact me.


Yours in bowhunting,


DENA KANA
President
Lone Star Bowhunters Assn.
denakana@gmail.com
(409) 739-2630