THA4 your last post that DOR quoted seemed to be a little angry and over the top so I did something that I normally wouldn't do. I remembered something recently where you seemed to have a little different view point on this commercialization issue and what the end results could be. I found this post from last June regarding a Web Site for Friends of Iowa regarding NR landownership, and copied it. Here it is.
"it takes a lot of nerve posting these thoughts on here in front of a lot of VERY passionate Iowa hunters, but you did and i will respectfully respond.
thus far this post has maintained rather sound discussion, but the following challenges a response.......
It is very evident FOI has an agenda and lots to gain by their silly little web site and organization of whoever's from where-ever's.
Quote:First, roughly 20% of the Iowa landscape is owned by a non-resident. This means that they control hunting access to 1/5 of the state and likely around 1/5 of the state's deer herd. For the sake of Iowa's deer herd, doesn't it make sense for these non-resident landowners to have access to more deer tags with fewer restrictions?
I am not sure where that number came from, i highly doubt 20% of Iowa is NR owned! If that were the case, our current regulations would not exist, there would be an opponent the same size (or bigger) and same structure of the IBA that would always refute and argue the IBA's standpoints. so im gonna throw the BS flag on that one!
for the sake of Iowa's deer herd, it DOES NOT make sense to lift many of the restrictions Iowa currently has on NR deer hunters. if the state of Iowa were to lessen the restrictions, many more NR land owners would surface and could buy up a majority of the available land here in Iowa, as that would be a "guarantee" tags each year. that in turn would force the currently high prices through the roof making expensive leases the only option for those who hunt under permission only. AND permission only hunters would be come extinct, which is the majority of resident hunters! Not to mention the incredible hunting you seem to enjoy would diminsh as the herd would eventually show signs of more hunters!
Quote:Second, I challenge anyone on this site to name a state east of the Missouri River where it is HARDER for a non-resident to get a deer tag?
you know what, there isnt a state like ours and for good reason! We have one of the nations most coveted tags because of the quality hunting we have, however, like it was said, a Booner doenst live around every tree, Iowa has been blown up bigger than it should be...... its still huntin'. the novelity of the NR Iowa Deer tag is what makes Iowa so special, if you got a tag every year, many more deer would get whacked and the novelity would eventually wear off..... seems to me like Iowa knows that and if they open the flood gates, the long-term affects would be negative....
Quote:Third, if you live in Iowa but own land in any of the surrounding states, you can get a non-resident deer tag for that state much more easily than you can in reverse.
many other states have done what you are proposing and are seeing negative affects because of that, MN for example. and just cause "everyone's doin' it" doesnt make it right.....
Quote:Fourth, I think it would be extremely selfish for me to uproot my family, quit my job, and move back to Iowa so that I can more easily get a deer tag.
it is extremely selfish to buy land in Iowa because you can, and not allow anyone to hunt it in your absence. if you think it is selfish to up-root your family for the purpose of shooting deer because you own land in another state, then bad call on your behalf for buying the land in the first place, ESPECIALLY since you knew the rules in the first place!
Quote:Finally......I strongly believe there is an injustice in the way non-resident tags are now issued and instead of standing around and complaining......
you have a monetary agenda, money to be earned and a trophy wall to be built by the laws being changed to better suit your goals.
again, you knew the rules/laws when you signed the paperwork to become an Iowa NR landowner. now you want to complain about the current regs...... maybe you oughta take a closer look at your investments before signing the checks!
Quote:I am helping to do something about it.
i would hardly call it helping......
You wanna enjoy the rights of Iowa hunters, then i suggest you be "selfish" and move your family up here! i doubt you will find better living conditions, and better people anywhere else in the country! Iowa is a gem, not only for it's hunting, but also for it's people, and im damn proud of it!
I have nothing agains NR landowners and i have nothing agains NR hunters, they are great for the economy and bring lots of GOOD to Iowa...... BUT i do strongly feel that what we have is worth protecting and most certianly worth regulating! I fully stand behind the current system and fully support the IBA!
Edited by THA4 (06/03/08 08:51 PM)
_________________________
Keep your stick on the ice......"
PROUD IBA MEMBER
I am not meaning to insult you or slap you down but it seems to me that you you are expressing many of the same complaints that most of us are now about the commercialization and making a business of the sport of deer hunting. After all isn't it ok as long as it is just business? Are we just jealous of these wealth NR landowners who own more land than we do and who just want to pay their own way and get to hunt their land every year? After all they did earn it because they worked hard for it and would certainly add dollars and business to our sport. We all want to protect what we have but sometimes we have a different view point on just how to do that. Again no disrespect intended but I just wanted to jog your memory?
