To many, all things are relative. In other words, they are only capable of seeing the moment for what it is and without any kind of historic compass in which to gauge the direction of the wind, knows not the direction things are headed. I suppose there is something to be said about the eternal optimist, but then again there is a fine line between having a good outlook and burying your head in the sand.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) emailed an announcement yesterday proclaiming that this coming Saturday, October 29, 2016, is opening day, for residents, of the annual deer hunting season. In that report, MDIFW tells readers that they think this year’s deer harvest might surpass last year’s – all because last winter wasn’t as severe as others – which sounds more like a sales pitch than anything scientific in which to hang your professional hat on. In addition, MDIFW appears to be proudly proclaiming that the average deer harvest for the past 8 years has been 20,900, as though that was something to be proud of. It’s dismal and we can expect to find more of the same, and worse, in coming years and I’ll show you exactly why.
Some hunters ask, what’s wrong with game management these days? This can easily be spelled out in a paragraph written by MDIFW in this press release. Perhaps some of you would like to print out a copy and carry it around with you. When, in the process of discussing why there aren’t any deer left to hunt and why in the past 20 years even spotting a white flag waving as it moves away is rare, you can pull out this statement by MDIFW and it answers all the questions as to why.
“The department manages white-tailed deer through regulated hunting, and controls the deer population in parts of the state to limit vehicle crashes, reduce instances of lyme disease and reduce property damage complaints. In other areas of the state, the department manages the deer population to increase opportunities for hunting and viewing.”
Several years ago a deliberate and planned event took place. It was an effort, by environmentalists, to take over fish and game departments nationwide. That is why “fish and game” in most state’s department titles have disappeared and have become, “fish and wildlife,” “natural resources,” etc. Game is not wanted in any titles as it signifies hunting, which in today’s totalitarian society of environmental fascists and animal rights perverts, is not wanted.
One of the leading culprits in this effort is the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA). What may have begun as an intention to pool resources for the good of state agencies, was soon co-opted by environmentalists who became successful in convincing Congress to give them a share of the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson excise tax money charged to those who purchase certain outdoor equipment, including guns and ammunition. They used this money for programs to end hunting, trapping and fishing. It became the goal of the AFWA to turn all state fish and game departments into managers of giant outdoor pet stores. Departments, complimented by newly brainwashed recruits from our institutes of higher brainwashing, took these environmentalist-trained rookies, and made them mostly view hunting, trapping and fishing as something to be tolerated because it paid their wages and took care of their retirement pensions. Through all of this, for the most part, it was, and still is, the license buyer who foots the bill and invests in a new entity of “natural resource” management, i.e. as is indicated in the paragraph above, everything but hunting, trapping and fishing.
Along with this, the outdoor sportsman has lost any consideration of input into the process of game management. Some believe they still have it, because they are promoters of environmentalism, and become a part of the rigged system actually believing they are contributing to the process of natural resource management and that this will somehow protect hunting, trapping and fishing. They are simply, contributing to the destruction of hunting, trapping and fishing.
I have always advocated for a separation of powers with state departments, including separating game management and administration from conservation. The license buyers will fund game management and the rest of the environmentalist-controlled world can fund “conservation,” thus protecting their piping plovers and ruby-throated cruple-poops anyway they want. This, of course, will never happen. One reason is because of the complete takeover of departments by environmentalists and animal rights perverts. In short, my investment in the process seems to be going everywhere except into deer hunting.
I no longer hold out any hope that this is going to change. There will be many more rounds of lawsuits and ballot initiatives that will result in more a more power granted the environmentalists. With that dismal prospect looming in my future, maybe it’s time for the environmentalists and animal rights perverts to pay up. They demand, and get, pretty much whatever they want, and I have to pay for it. If they don’t get it by directly lobbying our environmentally controlled fish and wildlife departments, because they can easily grab hold of a few million dollars, we (meaning hunters) are forced to spent even more money to fight these insane totalitarians in court or at the ballot box. They pay nothing and yet control fish and game management. I pay everything, and am at a point where there is nothing left for my investment. The price of my license inches upwards, while my opportunity to harvest a deer and fill my freezer continues to drop. And I am supposed to remain quiet and like it?
Nope! Sorry! Ain’t going to happen.
Most cannot, and will not, recognize what is known as incrementalism – that is a diminishing department one tiny bit at a time. They think all is well and good and that people like me are just complainers and should shut up and go away.
I, for one, am sick and tired of footing the bill and paying the way of the animal perverts, preservationists and environmentalists. I know that when the environmentalists are asking to pay up, they will demand more seats on committees and more power to control. They already have that. Recently we saw the MDIFW appoint the person who headed up the effort in Maine to ban bear hunting, to a seat on a committee that makes management decisions. This is insanity! What cost hunters millions of dollars to fight, they were rewarded by watching the leaders of the MDIFW hand over more control to these totalitarians. What’s the point anymore.
I am willing to say that the only reason hunters are tolerated is because they pay the bills. Yes, I know, the wildlife managers certainly don’t act like they know who pays their salaries and pensions, and as long as they don’t care, why should we continue to invest in something that soon will yield no return.
It’s a terrible business proposition with absolutely little future.
