Dana,

No I do not have the totals for the previous two years, but I know that they did NOT have as many applicants as available tags the first two years. I was shocked to hear that bit of info. This year, word has gotten out about the way they sell on E-Bay, and how much in demand they were last year, and all available t-tags were applied for. I am not sure about SB568 in 2000, was not as deeply involved then but I will look it up. I am only aware that they have introduced plans to up the percentage of tags available to NR hunters in the next few years, but read into that it will also increase the number of t-tags(still 50% of the tags available) if they are continued.

My take on crop damage claims is simple, politics and a lobbying technic used to get what you want. Most of the guys crying to the Topeka group about crop damage receive large amounts of subsidy money. The money they get each year is broke down into several categories, two of which concern wildlife. The first dictates that they must plant nature grasses etc to return the ground to a natural state, hence wildlife habitat. The other addresses damages caused by natural occuring events such as storms and damage by WILDLIFE. Simply put, they are compensated now. Go to the EWG website and click on the facts links, there is alot more info on there that I am sure some wish wasnt there. One of the Farmers pushing for more tags is very high on the subsidy $$$$ list, but he is claiming the most damage of all.