04-12-2011, 05:55 AM
The special trout stamp is an interesting idea, I'm sure it looked good on the drawing board. I could see it working if there were specially stocked ponds that were free for people with a trout stamp, but people with a normal license would have to pay. But it sounds like they were working off the honor system, I'm sure there were lots of complex arguments in court. What happened if you accidentally caught a trout without the stamp?
I've been fishing and smoking fish a lot lately so I've had lots of time to think of ways to give us fisherman a break. One of my ideas is a cheaper, lets say half price, Catch and Release License. Some bugs would have to be worked out to make it work. Maybe a one time class to train people to properly catch and handle fish to be released healthy, no barbs, wet hands, appropriate nets and lure's. Also if the fish is damaged and would die some sort of system to pay-per fish, or a good way to donate them to homeless shelters. This could lead to more special catch and release water and more trophy size fish. Somehow it must be feasible. I know I've become more harvest oriented as the prices increased, but gas prices, inflation and food prices also contribute to that.
I found an interesting article recently about how they proposed merging the DOW with the parks system, this sounds like it would supply the DOW with some funds outside the sportsman pockets, but really its another way for the government stop supplying the parks. Here's a quote.
[#bf0000]"[/#bf0000][#800000][url "http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2011/03/09/sportsmen-nervous-about-proposed-dow-merger-with-colorado-state-parks/24837/"] If these 2 agencies were combined, it is inevitable for the politicians to eventually place both agencies under the umbrella of the license revenues and to eliminate the funding from the legislature that paid for the state parks[/url]"
[#000000]OK, another thing that occurred to me recently was while its nice to allow children to fish for free, it doesn't make much sense. At my favorite fishing spot I noticed the regulars are mostly below the license age, and they often use two rods and keep they're fish. Most of the people I encounter while fishing are extremely respectful and some of the nicest people I know. Some are loud, intrusive or disrespectful to the fish and property. I don't want to start stereotypes but about 75% of the latter group in my experience have been children. I would also mention that this is the most littered area I fish, but I really mostly blame the younger of the license holders for[#800000] [#000000]this. My solution would be to lower the age requirement to twelve years old and children without licenses must be accompanied by an adult with or without a fishing license. And halve they're limits. This has no negative effect I can see.
This brings me to my favorite idea. Use a portion of the existing funds to fine people breaking laws, mainly littering. I have broken the law before, sometimes intentionally and sometimes not. And once involving a non-existent alligator! I had to go to court for that one..
Its tempting because it seems so easy to get away with it. I've came close to getting ticketed a couple times for very petty reasons. I can't say I'd be happy to get a ticket three times the cost of a license for not having one, but that's why I get a license.
If the money from tickets went to the DOW and directly back to alleviate sportsman by lowering fee's, even if only on state wildlife areas, I'm sure every law abiding hunter and fisherman would agree that officers should pursue all violations, especially litterers, the hardest violators to ticket and the people who impact wildlife the most.
Some petty littering, like an inch of line should even be brought to attention and even a warned, but not ticketed. Lets say you loose your lure and most of your line and a rock on the lake bed or a tree, isn't that littering even if its inevitable, unintentional and very frustrating? That shouldn't be worthy of being ticketed but maybe if you can't remove it you should be able to report the location so could be removed by wildlife personnel if it poses some problem.
Then of course there are the indubitable situations where its obviously a criminal offense, in such cases it would prudent for the individual to be ticketed by whatever maximum fine as well as the loss of their fishing rights for that year as well as community service cleaning state wildlife areas. If that's not already a common punishment.
The point is if it was made clear, and some examples were made, I'm sure there would be less litter. Just make a point to see how much trash is at your favorite spot the next time your fishing, hunting or just enjoying nature.
One final thought on the law issue involves the habitat stamp fiasco. Sure the stamp must be doing some good, hopefully, but the idea of making everyone using the state wildlife area purchase one did not work and its not being pursued in the areas I've been to. I read one account of someone getting warned in Colorado.
Most of the state is open for you people who want to bird watch, walk dogs, ride bikes, hike, jog, smell posies, right poetry about how butterflies make you feel. And also for you other group of people who frequent the SWA's that like do they're illegal activities with nice scenery.
One of my frequented SWA's has very heavy traffic for how out of the way it is. I'd roughly estimate 60% sportsman, 40% other. Biking and dog walking is not allowed and the stamp is required as clearly posted. Lately I've seen every other person with a dog and several bike riders a day, as well as one involved in a very tragic accident which I was fated to discover.
The point I'm slowly reaching is even these seemingly stupid laws are possibly for your own good, or have been made for some reason. If the DOW forces the sportsman to have the stamp they should have less reason to pick on them and more money to pay officers to enforce their own laws.
Sorry for the lengthy babbling, but it needed venting.
Yeah, thats the origin of the akroyd signature. I waited several hours in a huge line at a liquor store to get a bottle of booze signed by "a not ready for primetime player"!
The magic hootch is filtered through genuine fake diamonds and gives one the power slur ones speech and think highly ones self.
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I've been fishing and smoking fish a lot lately so I've had lots of time to think of ways to give us fisherman a break. One of my ideas is a cheaper, lets say half price, Catch and Release License. Some bugs would have to be worked out to make it work. Maybe a one time class to train people to properly catch and handle fish to be released healthy, no barbs, wet hands, appropriate nets and lure's. Also if the fish is damaged and would die some sort of system to pay-per fish, or a good way to donate them to homeless shelters. This could lead to more special catch and release water and more trophy size fish. Somehow it must be feasible. I know I've become more harvest oriented as the prices increased, but gas prices, inflation and food prices also contribute to that.
I found an interesting article recently about how they proposed merging the DOW with the parks system, this sounds like it would supply the DOW with some funds outside the sportsman pockets, but really its another way for the government stop supplying the parks. Here's a quote.
[#bf0000]"[/#bf0000][#800000][url "http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2011/03/09/sportsmen-nervous-about-proposed-dow-merger-with-colorado-state-parks/24837/"] If these 2 agencies were combined, it is inevitable for the politicians to eventually place both agencies under the umbrella of the license revenues and to eliminate the funding from the legislature that paid for the state parks[/url]"
[#000000]OK, another thing that occurred to me recently was while its nice to allow children to fish for free, it doesn't make much sense. At my favorite fishing spot I noticed the regulars are mostly below the license age, and they often use two rods and keep they're fish. Most of the people I encounter while fishing are extremely respectful and some of the nicest people I know. Some are loud, intrusive or disrespectful to the fish and property. I don't want to start stereotypes but about 75% of the latter group in my experience have been children. I would also mention that this is the most littered area I fish, but I really mostly blame the younger of the license holders for[#800000] [#000000]this. My solution would be to lower the age requirement to twelve years old and children without licenses must be accompanied by an adult with or without a fishing license. And halve they're limits. This has no negative effect I can see.
This brings me to my favorite idea. Use a portion of the existing funds to fine people breaking laws, mainly littering. I have broken the law before, sometimes intentionally and sometimes not. And once involving a non-existent alligator! I had to go to court for that one..
Its tempting because it seems so easy to get away with it. I've came close to getting ticketed a couple times for very petty reasons. I can't say I'd be happy to get a ticket three times the cost of a license for not having one, but that's why I get a license.
If the money from tickets went to the DOW and directly back to alleviate sportsman by lowering fee's, even if only on state wildlife areas, I'm sure every law abiding hunter and fisherman would agree that officers should pursue all violations, especially litterers, the hardest violators to ticket and the people who impact wildlife the most.
Some petty littering, like an inch of line should even be brought to attention and even a warned, but not ticketed. Lets say you loose your lure and most of your line and a rock on the lake bed or a tree, isn't that littering even if its inevitable, unintentional and very frustrating? That shouldn't be worthy of being ticketed but maybe if you can't remove it you should be able to report the location so could be removed by wildlife personnel if it poses some problem.
Then of course there are the indubitable situations where its obviously a criminal offense, in such cases it would prudent for the individual to be ticketed by whatever maximum fine as well as the loss of their fishing rights for that year as well as community service cleaning state wildlife areas. If that's not already a common punishment.
The point is if it was made clear, and some examples were made, I'm sure there would be less litter. Just make a point to see how much trash is at your favorite spot the next time your fishing, hunting or just enjoying nature.
One final thought on the law issue involves the habitat stamp fiasco. Sure the stamp must be doing some good, hopefully, but the idea of making everyone using the state wildlife area purchase one did not work and its not being pursued in the areas I've been to. I read one account of someone getting warned in Colorado.
Most of the state is open for you people who want to bird watch, walk dogs, ride bikes, hike, jog, smell posies, right poetry about how butterflies make you feel. And also for you other group of people who frequent the SWA's that like do they're illegal activities with nice scenery.
One of my frequented SWA's has very heavy traffic for how out of the way it is. I'd roughly estimate 60% sportsman, 40% other. Biking and dog walking is not allowed and the stamp is required as clearly posted. Lately I've seen every other person with a dog and several bike riders a day, as well as one involved in a very tragic accident which I was fated to discover.
The point I'm slowly reaching is even these seemingly stupid laws are possibly for your own good, or have been made for some reason. If the DOW forces the sportsman to have the stamp they should have less reason to pick on them and more money to pay officers to enforce their own laws.
Sorry for the lengthy babbling, but it needed venting.
Yeah, thats the origin of the akroyd signature. I waited several hours in a huge line at a liquor store to get a bottle of booze signed by "a not ready for primetime player"!
The magic hootch is filtered through genuine fake diamonds and gives one the power slur ones speech and think highly ones self.
[/#000000][/#800000][/#000000][/#800000][#800000][#000000][#800000][#000000]
[/#000000][/#800000][/#000000]
[/#800000]
[signature]