NRA vs West Virginia Bowhunters Rant
02-04-2009 | 01:18 PM
#51
Fork Horn
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
From: WV
RE: NRA vs West Virginia Bowhunters Rant
I agree with ya on that bigcountry. Its all about the deer numbers and letting them recover and it is a little selfish only letting bowhunting, but thats what the DNR thought was best for the situation. I bow and gun hunt, ive gun hunted for a long time. If someone would of told be a few years ago i wasnt aloud to gun hunt in my county anymore i would be outraged. Ur right it isnt fair.
02-04-2009 | 06:48 PM
#52
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
RE: NRA vs West Virginia Bowhunters Rant
Living in one of those 4 counties (Logan) I love the fact that it's bow only. I havent yet received anything from the NRA but if/when I do, I'll definately give them a piece of my mind on the subject.
02-05-2009 | 06:17 AM
#53
Fork Horn
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
RE: NRA vs West Virginia Bowhunters Rant
As a 62 yr. old native West Virginian and a life-long hunter of the stateI may not always agree with what the legislature and the DNR decide regarding our natural resources. But, I'd much rather have them decide the fate of hunting in WV than an outside organization with no knowledge of wildlife conservation. The open hunting of those counties should be based upon sound biological practices. Many of our counties still do not have fall turkey season because spring harvest numbers do not show turkeys in sufficient numbers. What's next shall PETA and the like also have a voice in our state's conservation practices?
Jim
Jim
02-05-2009 | 06:33 AM
#54
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: NRA vs West Virginia Bowhunters Rant
ORIGINAL: redmag
As a 62 yr. old native West Virginian and a life-long hunter of the stateI may not always agree with what the legislature and the DNR decide regarding our natural resources. But, I'd much rather have them decide the fate of hunting in WV than an outside organization with no knowledge of wildlife conservation. The open hunting of those counties should be based upon sound biological practices. Many of our counties still do not have fall turkey season because spring harvest numbers do not show turkeys in sufficient numbers. What's next shall PETA and the like also have a voice in our state's conservation practices?
Jim
As a 62 yr. old native West Virginian and a life-long hunter of the stateI may not always agree with what the legislature and the DNR decide regarding our natural resources. But, I'd much rather have them decide the fate of hunting in WV than an outside organization with no knowledge of wildlife conservation. The open hunting of those counties should be based upon sound biological practices. Many of our counties still do not have fall turkey season because spring harvest numbers do not show turkeys in sufficient numbers. What's next shall PETA and the like also have a voice in our state's conservation practices?
Jim
02-05-2009 | 06:47 AM
#55
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,679
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin/Michigan
RE: NRA vs West Virginia Bowhunters Rant
ORIGINAL: bigcountry
What I don't understand is why everyone is thinking NRA is deciding anything for you. They are not. They are just pushing for something or campaigning if you will on behalf of thier members in those counties. Its really that simple. WV DNR has not once said they will do what the NRA tells them to do. Its fairly rediculus to think otherwise.
ORIGINAL: redmag
As a 62 yr. old native West Virginian and a life-long hunter of the state I may not always agree with what the legislature and the DNR decide regarding our natural resources. But, I'd much rather have them decide the fate of hunting in WV than an outside organization with no knowledge of wildlife conservation. The open hunting of those counties should be based upon sound biological practices. Many of our counties still do not have fall turkey season because spring harvest numbers do not show turkeys in sufficient numbers. What's next shall PETA and the like also have a voice in our state's conservation practices?
Jim
As a 62 yr. old native West Virginian and a life-long hunter of the state I may not always agree with what the legislature and the DNR decide regarding our natural resources. But, I'd much rather have them decide the fate of hunting in WV than an outside organization with no knowledge of wildlife conservation. The open hunting of those counties should be based upon sound biological practices. Many of our counties still do not have fall turkey season because spring harvest numbers do not show turkeys in sufficient numbers. What's next shall PETA and the like also have a voice in our state's conservation practices?
Jim
What I don't understand is why everyone is thinking NRA is deciding anything for you. They are not. They are just pushing for something or campaigning if you will on behalf of thier members in those counties. Its really that simple. WV DNR has not once said they will do what the NRA tells them to do. Its fairly rediculus to think otherwise.
I hear ya BC....
The NRA is not trying to manage any wildlife in WV. They are trying to get gun hunting in counties where it's bow only, more power to them!
02-05-2009 | 08:29 AM
#56
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,195
Likes: 0
From: PA.
RE: NRA vs West Virginia Bowhunters Rant
ORIGINAL: madvilledoc
Although not a member of the NRA (why I have no idea), I've always supported what they do. Like most hunters, I am very pro gun. But the recent actions of the NRA in southern West Virginia is leaving me shocked and if I am honest, somewhat angry.
In southern West Virginia, there are four counties that have been archery-only for deer since the mid 70's. At the time, the whitetail deer population had nearly been wiped out. Due to the archery only status and a one buck limit, the population has slowly recovered although it is still no where near the population of most counties in West Virginia. Also due to the archery-only status and one-buck limit, the age structure is much higher than what is found elsewhere in the state. In these counties bucks have a great chance to reach their true potential. It is no surprise that 80-90% of the P&Y bucks taken in the state are from these 4 counties. You will find that most hunters in these counties allow small bucks to walk as a rule which is the opposite of what you find elsewhere in the state.
Most of the hunters that are from these areas wouldn't trade the situation that is found in these 4 counties for nothing. Why would they? It is a treasure trove of trophy bucks. You can go almost anywhere in this four-county area, put out a little corn and a camera, and have a very good chance to have a P&Y buck appear on camera within a few days. Unfortunately, it seems the setup is not loved by everyone. Evidently a small number of NRA members from this area notified the higher ups in the NRA and complained that they aren't able to gun hunt in these four counties. The NRA responded by sending out a questionnaire to all of their members from these counties to ask their opinion on the matter.
I have heard through various sources that the NRA plans to lobby the West Virginia legislature to allow some form of gun season in these counties. The NRA is a powerful lobby group, but I think they are setting a dangerous precedent here. They are getting away from gun rights and toying with game management, which in my opinion they have no business being involved with. The job of game management belongs to the Department of Natural Resourses for each state. Besides it isn't like the state is restricting gun use in these counties. You can still gun hunt small game, coyote, bear, birds, etc. The only species that is archery-only is whitetail.
One can only hope that nothing comes from this. I do know that the West Virginia Bowhunters Association is fighting it.
But I am from the area and probably biased. What do you guys think? Thoughts?
Although not a member of the NRA (why I have no idea), I've always supported what they do. Like most hunters, I am very pro gun. But the recent actions of the NRA in southern West Virginia is leaving me shocked and if I am honest, somewhat angry.
In southern West Virginia, there are four counties that have been archery-only for deer since the mid 70's. At the time, the whitetail deer population had nearly been wiped out. Due to the archery only status and a one buck limit, the population has slowly recovered although it is still no where near the population of most counties in West Virginia. Also due to the archery-only status and one-buck limit, the age structure is much higher than what is found elsewhere in the state. In these counties bucks have a great chance to reach their true potential. It is no surprise that 80-90% of the P&Y bucks taken in the state are from these 4 counties. You will find that most hunters in these counties allow small bucks to walk as a rule which is the opposite of what you find elsewhere in the state.
Most of the hunters that are from these areas wouldn't trade the situation that is found in these 4 counties for nothing. Why would they? It is a treasure trove of trophy bucks. You can go almost anywhere in this four-county area, put out a little corn and a camera, and have a very good chance to have a P&Y buck appear on camera within a few days. Unfortunately, it seems the setup is not loved by everyone. Evidently a small number of NRA members from this area notified the higher ups in the NRA and complained that they aren't able to gun hunt in these four counties. The NRA responded by sending out a questionnaire to all of their members from these counties to ask their opinion on the matter.
I have heard through various sources that the NRA plans to lobby the West Virginia legislature to allow some form of gun season in these counties. The NRA is a powerful lobby group, but I think they are setting a dangerous precedent here. They are getting away from gun rights and toying with game management, which in my opinion they have no business being involved with. The job of game management belongs to the Department of Natural Resourses for each state. Besides it isn't like the state is restricting gun use in these counties. You can still gun hunt small game, coyote, bear, birds, etc. The only species that is archery-only is whitetail.
One can only hope that nothing comes from this. I do know that the West Virginia Bowhunters Association is fighting it.
But I am from the area and probably biased. What do you guys think? Thoughts?
they took a position with PGC to allow crossbows in our ARCHERY SEASON in areas like you said where we have very few doe left..
i will not ever be member of NRA again.[:@]
02-05-2009 | 11:42 AM
#58
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,195
Likes: 0
From: PA.
RE: NRA vs West Virginia Bowhunters Rant
ORIGINAL: BowHuntingFool
Sproulman, if I'm not mistaken can't you PA guys bowhunt all thru all the gun seasons?
Sproulman, if I'm not mistaken can't you PA guys bowhunt all thru all the gun seasons?
problem started when pgc/nra wanted crossbows for early season.
this season was for recurve/compound archery hunters and the DISABLED with crossbow.
no one objected too that.
you can read at the[ UBP] SITE ON GOOGLE IT AND CAN TELL YOU MUCH MORE THAN ME WHY IT WAS NOT WANTED.
02-05-2009 | 12:34 PM
#59
Fork Horn
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 437
Likes: 0
RE: NRA vs West Virginia Bowhunters Rant
Bigcountry & Bowhuntingfool,
You are exactly right the NRA is not directly controlling the DNR or WV Legislature with regards to hunting in any part of our state. But with the leverage that the NRA exerts nationally on the political scene with candidate and part endorsements they sure have a say in what transpires. That same influencenow focused on the WV legislatures will probably have an impact on each of them for sure. According to Sproulman's comments it made a difference in PA. I can only hope that the WVDNR stands by sound game management practices when deciding the fate of the subject counties. I have no interest in hunting down there but I only hope that outside forces don't decide our state's wildlife mangement policies.
You are exactly right the NRA is not directly controlling the DNR or WV Legislature with regards to hunting in any part of our state. But with the leverage that the NRA exerts nationally on the political scene with candidate and part endorsements they sure have a say in what transpires. That same influencenow focused on the WV legislatures will probably have an impact on each of them for sure. According to Sproulman's comments it made a difference in PA. I can only hope that the WVDNR stands by sound game management practices when deciding the fate of the subject counties. I have no interest in hunting down there but I only hope that outside forces don't decide our state's wildlife mangement policies.
02-05-2009 | 02:35 PM
#60
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,679
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin/Michigan
RE: NRA vs West Virginia Bowhunters Rant
ORIGINAL: sproulman
yes, the crossbows were legal in every season but EARLY ARCHERY.
problem started when pgc/nra wanted crossbows for early season.
this season was for recurve/compound archery hunters and the DISABLED with crossbow.
no one objected too that.
you can read at the[ UBP] SITE ON GOOGLE IT AND CAN TELL YOU MUCH MORE THAN ME WHY IT WAS NOT WANTED.
ORIGINAL: BowHuntingFool
Sproulman, if I'm not mistaken can't you PA guys bowhunt all thru all the gun seasons?
Sproulman, if I'm not mistaken can't you PA guys bowhunt all thru all the gun seasons?
problem started when pgc/nra wanted crossbows for early season.
this season was for recurve/compound archery hunters and the DISABLED with crossbow.
no one objected too that.
you can read at the[ UBP] SITE ON GOOGLE IT AND CAN TELL YOU MUCH MORE THAN ME WHY IT WAS NOT WANTED.