I wanted to give a different perspective on Governor Tags in its entirety & why I believe they are a far bigger threat than anyone will admit. Just saw HF 2329 was not taken up by Senate (bill to give 40 of the 75 Celebrity Tags to Disabled Vets) so it's toast. I will put details about HF 2329 at bottom. I "SUSPECT" the Senator that's responsible for Gov Tags is responsible for not allowing this bill to be debated in Senate- NOT EVEN DEBATED!
A different perspective why Gov Tags are such a huge threat to Iowa AND why the argument "the secret is out anyways, Iowa has big bucks" doesn't hold water to not want to remove the program:
I'll 1st, address why "the secret is already out" doesn't hold water....
1) Iowa knows Marketing & is very effective at it. They know having celebrities in millions of households thru videos, TV, etc that are constantly slamming folks with "Iowa, land of the giants, look at all these monsters we shot on our 2,000 acre trophy farm" will make folks want to come to iowa. Advertising works, proportional to the amount of it we put out.
2) So, "the secret is out" on Iowa hunting. Is the secret out that Wal-mart has low prices? Is the secret out that McDonalds has a dollar menu & good french fries? Is the secret out that Florida has nice beaches & great tourist areas? Is the secret out on SD pheasant hunting? OF COURSE you say. Why does everyone of these entities and a million more examples keep pumping millions into advertising for something everyone "already knows"????? Because, folks in marketing know that folks need constant reinforcement in our busy lives, we need constant reminders to keep things front and center, we need to keep a notch above the competition (say Illinois or Kansas), we have new generations joining the market every day and every year and every generation. Advertising and marketing work and need to stay constant to keep demand at a peak.
3) Why has the Iowa tag draw gone from 1, maybe 2 years to 3+ years wait in just 6-7 year timeframe???? Because of all the marketing, all the demand we've created, the great & famous celebrities over-promoting to millions of folks. Take away HALF of the promotion to the TV's & DVD's (just half) and watch the demand trickle down over a few years. Personally, I feel my NR buddies have gotten the shaft because of this Gov Tag deal with the wait AND the fact that it's fundamentally unfair for the celebs to cut in line to get a tag every year while everyday guys have to wait their turn & wait years.
4) NEW HUNTERS are coming to age & to the scene of "out-of-state" travels every year. They are new & hungry for knowledge & information. What do they see on TV & videos all day? A whole lot of Gov Tag celebrities mixed in with some residents. Our new crop will change by a huge dynamic over the next 10 years, you wanna keep pushing more & new demand for Iowa? Is that what our state needs?
5) Let's say Kansas, WI, ILLINOIS, WHATEVER said, "hey, our demand for tags is XYZ, what can we do to increase this demand"? Kansas, IL, whatever are already "known" for big bucks. They put together some incentive to get 2,000,000 new viewers a look at the giant bucks in their state. That would be my #1 avenue for driving up demand, marketing. and it would work, even in states where "the secret is out".
Couple all this with our previous knowledge that the program is:
-Fundamentally unfair & flawed
-Favors celebs to the everyday guy
-The program cannot justify itself
-The wait for tags & demand is 3x what is available.
-Vets need a reward
-Etc, etc, etc-
This program needs to go away like a tumor on your face.
I am sure my post won't change this program BUT if YOU ALL don't change this program, you're in for a rude awakening as this will eventually be one of the biggest threats to Iowa deer management, laws and hunting.
IS THIS A FIGHT WORTH HAVING?
- In very short, well "The senator that created/supports Gov Tags is on the side of not increasing NR tags, so we don't want to upset him and we need to pick our battles". Sorry folks, IN VERY SHORT- as the year's progress with HUGE PROMOTION from the Celebs & Gov Tags, our wait for a draw will continue to rise. Just like it went from 1 year wait to 2-3+ in just 6-8 year timeframe. We very easily could get to a 5 year wait for tags, especially when economy comes back. When we have a 5 year wait (due to all the demand created) - there's going to be a backlash and "that Senator" is going to get steamrolled into drastic changes in laws & regulations. It's going to happen. You keep marketing, increasing demand and couple with economy, MARK THESE WORDS- The LAWS & REGS will be changed and that battle to keep things "how they are now" will be lost. Mark my words.
Here's what the Senate wouldn't even have a debate on after the House passed it:
HF 2329, SPECIAL NONRESIDENT DISABLED VETERAN HUNTING LICENSES. Requires the NRC to issue special deer & turkey licenses for non-resident disabled veterans who are hunting in Iowa through a non-profit organization that helps such veterans hunt. License fees are to be the same as a resident. Requires the NRC to make 40 of the 75 special “celebrity” licenses currently available for the vets. Increases the number of special turkey licenses to 75 and makes 40 of these available for vets. Requires the non-resident vet to have a 30% service disability and to have been awarded the Purple Heart. Requires a hunter safety course. Allows disabled active service personnel to qualify for the licenses
Vets are worthy of this and a huge part of that conversation is about vets. It also helps a big problem, by changing almost half of a flawed and irresponsible program. Getting this vet bill passed should be a priority & it could be at least a big chunk of the battle. I sure hope folks understand above though. I fundamentally disagree with the majority's mindset and they are not seeing the writing on the wall. Personally, won't effect me much (and ya, I've got buddies who get Gov Tags) but I know how critical it is to our state and future of hunting. You've got a window to get this changed and change course & you all are the ones to do it.
A different perspective why Gov Tags are such a huge threat to Iowa AND why the argument "the secret is out anyways, Iowa has big bucks" doesn't hold water to not want to remove the program:
I'll 1st, address why "the secret is already out" doesn't hold water....
1) Iowa knows Marketing & is very effective at it. They know having celebrities in millions of households thru videos, TV, etc that are constantly slamming folks with "Iowa, land of the giants, look at all these monsters we shot on our 2,000 acre trophy farm" will make folks want to come to iowa. Advertising works, proportional to the amount of it we put out.
2) So, "the secret is out" on Iowa hunting. Is the secret out that Wal-mart has low prices? Is the secret out that McDonalds has a dollar menu & good french fries? Is the secret out that Florida has nice beaches & great tourist areas? Is the secret out on SD pheasant hunting? OF COURSE you say. Why does everyone of these entities and a million more examples keep pumping millions into advertising for something everyone "already knows"????? Because, folks in marketing know that folks need constant reinforcement in our busy lives, we need constant reminders to keep things front and center, we need to keep a notch above the competition (say Illinois or Kansas), we have new generations joining the market every day and every year and every generation. Advertising and marketing work and need to stay constant to keep demand at a peak.
3) Why has the Iowa tag draw gone from 1, maybe 2 years to 3+ years wait in just 6-7 year timeframe???? Because of all the marketing, all the demand we've created, the great & famous celebrities over-promoting to millions of folks. Take away HALF of the promotion to the TV's & DVD's (just half) and watch the demand trickle down over a few years. Personally, I feel my NR buddies have gotten the shaft because of this Gov Tag deal with the wait AND the fact that it's fundamentally unfair for the celebs to cut in line to get a tag every year while everyday guys have to wait their turn & wait years.
4) NEW HUNTERS are coming to age & to the scene of "out-of-state" travels every year. They are new & hungry for knowledge & information. What do they see on TV & videos all day? A whole lot of Gov Tag celebrities mixed in with some residents. Our new crop will change by a huge dynamic over the next 10 years, you wanna keep pushing more & new demand for Iowa? Is that what our state needs?
5) Let's say Kansas, WI, ILLINOIS, WHATEVER said, "hey, our demand for tags is XYZ, what can we do to increase this demand"? Kansas, IL, whatever are already "known" for big bucks. They put together some incentive to get 2,000,000 new viewers a look at the giant bucks in their state. That would be my #1 avenue for driving up demand, marketing. and it would work, even in states where "the secret is out".
Couple all this with our previous knowledge that the program is:
-Fundamentally unfair & flawed
-Favors celebs to the everyday guy
-The program cannot justify itself
-The wait for tags & demand is 3x what is available.
-Vets need a reward
-Etc, etc, etc-
This program needs to go away like a tumor on your face.
I am sure my post won't change this program BUT if YOU ALL don't change this program, you're in for a rude awakening as this will eventually be one of the biggest threats to Iowa deer management, laws and hunting.
IS THIS A FIGHT WORTH HAVING?
- In very short, well "The senator that created/supports Gov Tags is on the side of not increasing NR tags, so we don't want to upset him and we need to pick our battles". Sorry folks, IN VERY SHORT- as the year's progress with HUGE PROMOTION from the Celebs & Gov Tags, our wait for a draw will continue to rise. Just like it went from 1 year wait to 2-3+ in just 6-8 year timeframe. We very easily could get to a 5 year wait for tags, especially when economy comes back. When we have a 5 year wait (due to all the demand created) - there's going to be a backlash and "that Senator" is going to get steamrolled into drastic changes in laws & regulations. It's going to happen. You keep marketing, increasing demand and couple with economy, MARK THESE WORDS- The LAWS & REGS will be changed and that battle to keep things "how they are now" will be lost. Mark my words.
Here's what the Senate wouldn't even have a debate on after the House passed it:
HF 2329, SPECIAL NONRESIDENT DISABLED VETERAN HUNTING LICENSES. Requires the NRC to issue special deer & turkey licenses for non-resident disabled veterans who are hunting in Iowa through a non-profit organization that helps such veterans hunt. License fees are to be the same as a resident. Requires the NRC to make 40 of the 75 special “celebrity” licenses currently available for the vets. Increases the number of special turkey licenses to 75 and makes 40 of these available for vets. Requires the non-resident vet to have a 30% service disability and to have been awarded the Purple Heart. Requires a hunter safety course. Allows disabled active service personnel to qualify for the licenses
Vets are worthy of this and a huge part of that conversation is about vets. It also helps a big problem, by changing almost half of a flawed and irresponsible program. Getting this vet bill passed should be a priority & it could be at least a big chunk of the battle. I sure hope folks understand above though. I fundamentally disagree with the majority's mindset and they are not seeing the writing on the wall. Personally, won't effect me much (and ya, I've got buddies who get Gov Tags) but I know how critical it is to our state and future of hunting. You've got a window to get this changed and change course & you all are the ones to do it.
