SL Tribune trashes the DWR's RAC process

3251 Views 21 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Riverrat77, Apr 22, 2010

HunterGeek

Discussion Starter · Sep 8, 2007

I read an interesting article in the Tribune from Tom Wharton at http://sltrib.com/outdoors/ci_6809767

Here's the first paragraph: "Utah ought to get away from the sham that the public owns wildlife and is a part of its management. If truth in advertising were in effect, the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) would be called the Division of Hunting and Angling."

He goes on to describe how a former non-hunting RAC member says the entire thing was rigged to promote hunting and fishing, and then blames special interest groups like Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife.

Okay, he's right about SFW having way too much say in what should be a public process, but you've got to give them credit for going to bat for us -- like them or not. Am I wrong?

Save

1 - 2 of 22 Posts

wyoming2utah

· #6 · Sep 12, 2007

GaryFish said:
I don't see anything wrong with the concept that fishing and hunting interests are foremost in the management of wildlife in Utah. We ARE! Hunters and fishermen do, and should rule wildlife management. So why is that a fraud? Most other states have "Fish and Game" departments, keeping it clear that hunters and fishermen drive the agenda. I guess that is the misconception with the term "Division of Wildlife Resources."

Second - I think the public has TOO big of a role in wildlife management. I really believe that we would have healthier herds and fish populations if the populations could be scientifically managed instead of politically.

+1

I, too, believe that the RAC process and wildlife board is a joke...afterall, these people are not professional game managers. Once this process was created by the our former governor Leavitt, we opened up the door of game management to political fraud and lobbying. This, in turn, has led to the rise of special interest groups who are more powerful than the DWR. I don't believe that wildlife management should ever have been turned into a public process...

Save

wyoming2utah

· #13 · Sep 13, 2007

wileywapati said:
Less than 10% of society hunt.

This is why I am adamantly against the elimination of general season hunting (if it is biologically not going to hurt herds/game populations) and am a proponent of youth hunting tags...as hunters we need to do what we can to recruit new hunters who will keep the hunting tradition alive. If we don't keep recruiting new hunters, our hunting priveleges will slowly fade away!

Save

1 - 2 of 22 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month