I get ideas everyday & sometimes they are junk. Sometimes they are decent. Throwing things against a wall on any topic known to man. Here’s one that popped into my head today. I’m just gonna say it how it is & ramble out loud off of my head here….
Special interests that want to pimp our state- crossbows, more tags, new seasons, etc. They all hire lobbyists. Good or bad (mostly bad
) that’s how the system works.
I’m gonna put a figure on how many lobbyists work for special interests & against our fragile resource…. Guessing 2 to 8 depending on year & how many special interests want to sell our state out. Like this year- it’s BAD!!!!!! Worst it’s ever been!!!! Ever.
IBA has one lobbyist & that’s our only line of defense in that form. It makes a HUUUGGGGEEEE difference. Immense. Other states didn’t have that and why they went down toilet - period. Our defense with one guy at least is a line of defense that other states didn’t have. Add to it- citizens acting/writing in, it’s the only reason iowa hasn’t been flushed down drain with relentless attempts over last 20+ years. The attacks are getting worse though.
So- here’s my bottom line thought…. What if a “group of guys” pitched in to hire one more? Let’s say it’s about $40k per year. Let’s say 40 guys each through in a grand a year for a 3 or 5 year period to go on offense????! With specific goals in mind. Very loosely…. Off top of head, few goals…..
1) another major defensive lobbyist against the deer pimps that want to sell us out. Another pit bull to be there every day to fight back the “crazy’s”
2) stopping the celebrity tag disaster which is, in today’s #’s- reaching a collective audience of over >20m++ viewers EVERY SINGLE YEAR promoting our state & showcasing top tier managed farms to guys across the country while our draw time is 5 years & increasing in several areas. Give the DNR those tags to auction off (minimum of $20k each) to put towards walk-in land budget. Kills 2 birds - 1 stone.
3) calling for legislation that limits how often & how much legislature can keep pursuing all these crazy changes to regs. Long story on this one but it freezes most regs & seasons for up to 10 years. So we aren’t fighting same stuff over & over.
4) propose some bills counter to any they propose …. That’s a wild long list but fight fire with fire. Long story there. This is a bad example but analogy: crossbow companies continue to pimp us for sales, create a bill that removes them from late season to punch back. Bad example but u get my point.
5) get legislation in place where the GAG ORDER on dnr is lifted!!!! Back to old system where dnr could voice up & also speak out against regulations & management that’s bad for our resource. This needs reversed, DNR needs louder voice than politicians and gag order needs removed.
6) fight for balanced deer herd #’s & bills that aim to keep deer at current levels with a few exceptions. Our state is down 25% in about 10 years & most areas below carrying by a lot. There is some Pockets of high #’s (Se IA is main one) but it’s the vast minority. Also- further limit doe killing in northern areas that are almost void of deer now. We need some common sense back.
7) lot more discussion, bills or public awareness that all this madness of regs is actually to blame for declining new hunter #’s. Educate legislatures on why we are losing new hunters. Why states like MI have lost 1/3rd of their deer hunters in 25 years. More we do this crazy legislation like is happening now… access gone at far faster pace & new hunters will be out/done. Less hunters over time will mean less people to control deer #’s too & less revenue for state & dnr.
8) IBA does archery in school & we can continue to grow stuff like that with youth. But that’s iba’s baby too so just a side mention on more things to engage youth.
9) i would keep ONE BUCK in the cards. For 3 reasons: 1) it may be the right thing to do and any resident can still do a lot of killing with 1 buck. 2) if these crazy regs keep getting worse- we will have to do it because it’s going to degrade our quality, period. 3) it’s us on offense, finally, which we never are!!!!!
Whatever. This list could go on BUT A DEFINED FOCUSED LIST & GOALS WOULD BE CREATED (probably 5-8 goals for example) But fundamentally- have that list & say “guys, we need this accomplished & need the barrage stopped. Let’s hire lobbyist until our state is secure.” & guys- right now iowa is the Ukraine of the deer hunting world. It’s under attack by a much bigger force. Or it’s like our southern border, open season crazy. We need to stop this cold & get a wall up in legislature to stop this for good. My idea is fighting fire with fire & going toe to toe with the deer pimp’s strategy. They are hiring lobbyists. They know how to go on offense. Should we?? I do know guys where u say “can I count on u for $1k for 3 years”. Need “40 of them”. Could be Done. I really think it could be termed “$1k a year for 3 years to defend & secure this state!!” Thinking out loud. I really am. So- sorry on the ramble. Maybe I’m off base. Maybe not. That’s my idea of the evening. We can’t have year after year of attacks like we have this year. Can’t continue. Thoughts?
Special interests that want to pimp our state- crossbows, more tags, new seasons, etc. They all hire lobbyists. Good or bad (mostly bad
) that’s how the system works. I’m gonna put a figure on how many lobbyists work for special interests & against our fragile resource…. Guessing 2 to 8 depending on year & how many special interests want to sell our state out. Like this year- it’s BAD!!!!!! Worst it’s ever been!!!! Ever.
IBA has one lobbyist & that’s our only line of defense in that form. It makes a HUUUGGGGEEEE difference. Immense. Other states didn’t have that and why they went down toilet - period. Our defense with one guy at least is a line of defense that other states didn’t have. Add to it- citizens acting/writing in, it’s the only reason iowa hasn’t been flushed down drain with relentless attempts over last 20+ years. The attacks are getting worse though.
So- here’s my bottom line thought…. What if a “group of guys” pitched in to hire one more? Let’s say it’s about $40k per year. Let’s say 40 guys each through in a grand a year for a 3 or 5 year period to go on offense????! With specific goals in mind. Very loosely…. Off top of head, few goals…..
1) another major defensive lobbyist against the deer pimps that want to sell us out. Another pit bull to be there every day to fight back the “crazy’s”
2) stopping the celebrity tag disaster which is, in today’s #’s- reaching a collective audience of over >20m++ viewers EVERY SINGLE YEAR promoting our state & showcasing top tier managed farms to guys across the country while our draw time is 5 years & increasing in several areas. Give the DNR those tags to auction off (minimum of $20k each) to put towards walk-in land budget. Kills 2 birds - 1 stone.
3) calling for legislation that limits how often & how much legislature can keep pursuing all these crazy changes to regs. Long story on this one but it freezes most regs & seasons for up to 10 years. So we aren’t fighting same stuff over & over.
4) propose some bills counter to any they propose …. That’s a wild long list but fight fire with fire. Long story there. This is a bad example but analogy: crossbow companies continue to pimp us for sales, create a bill that removes them from late season to punch back. Bad example but u get my point.
5) get legislation in place where the GAG ORDER on dnr is lifted!!!! Back to old system where dnr could voice up & also speak out against regulations & management that’s bad for our resource. This needs reversed, DNR needs louder voice than politicians and gag order needs removed.
6) fight for balanced deer herd #’s & bills that aim to keep deer at current levels with a few exceptions. Our state is down 25% in about 10 years & most areas below carrying by a lot. There is some Pockets of high #’s (Se IA is main one) but it’s the vast minority. Also- further limit doe killing in northern areas that are almost void of deer now. We need some common sense back.
7) lot more discussion, bills or public awareness that all this madness of regs is actually to blame for declining new hunter #’s. Educate legislatures on why we are losing new hunters. Why states like MI have lost 1/3rd of their deer hunters in 25 years. More we do this crazy legislation like is happening now… access gone at far faster pace & new hunters will be out/done. Less hunters over time will mean less people to control deer #’s too & less revenue for state & dnr.
8) IBA does archery in school & we can continue to grow stuff like that with youth. But that’s iba’s baby too so just a side mention on more things to engage youth.
9) i would keep ONE BUCK in the cards. For 3 reasons: 1) it may be the right thing to do and any resident can still do a lot of killing with 1 buck. 2) if these crazy regs keep getting worse- we will have to do it because it’s going to degrade our quality, period. 3) it’s us on offense, finally, which we never are!!!!!
Whatever. This list could go on BUT A DEFINED FOCUSED LIST & GOALS WOULD BE CREATED (probably 5-8 goals for example) But fundamentally- have that list & say “guys, we need this accomplished & need the barrage stopped. Let’s hire lobbyist until our state is secure.” & guys- right now iowa is the Ukraine of the deer hunting world. It’s under attack by a much bigger force. Or it’s like our southern border, open season crazy. We need to stop this cold & get a wall up in legislature to stop this for good. My idea is fighting fire with fire & going toe to toe with the deer pimp’s strategy. They are hiring lobbyists. They know how to go on offense. Should we?? I do know guys where u say “can I count on u for $1k for 3 years”. Need “40 of them”. Could be Done. I really think it could be termed “$1k a year for 3 years to defend & secure this state!!” Thinking out loud. I really am. So- sorry on the ramble. Maybe I’m off base. Maybe not. That’s my idea of the evening. We can’t have year after year of attacks like we have this year. Can’t continue. Thoughts?
