Hunters need to make a Statement

[Humptulips]

It is very easy to get discouraged on the political front, damn Insley and all democrats. That is really counterproductive though. Stop looking at the big picture and concentrate on key races. Everybody's eyes are on the Commission now. If we had a sportsmen friendly Chair in the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Parks Committee, any bad appointees would be gone. And do not think if we put the effort into putting the skids to Van de Wege other politicians wouldn't notice.
This idea the Ds are all against us may be true broadly but if a Legislator is with us on issues, it shouldn't matter what their party.
FYI the vote of one Democrat this session killed animal rights bills I was working against and probably the visual that she was willing to vote the way she did probably stopped other bills from advancing.
Blake was the best friend sportsmen ever had and he had a D behind his name. He gave us protection from the worst AR bills.
Just two examples.
It is pretty tough to pass a bill but easy to kill one with people in the right place. You don't have to control the Legislature to make a difference.

[KFhunter]

I think its a massive mistake to to simplify this down to an R or D issue...and I think alienating moderate democrats is the worst possible thing we could do in this state.  And if you think everything would be fine simply by replacing all D's with R's...take a look at how bad the Montana Republicans tried to screw Montana hunters earlier this year...and how they did screw NR DIY hunters last year. 

Nice how you frame your narrative. Your hatred for outfitters has been noted many times. I'll remind you that outfitter tags were taken away a few years ago from outfitted hunters and outfitters. DIY hunters only gained at the expense of outfitted hunters. So nothing was really taken away from DIY hunters.

Your hatred of DIY hunters has been noted many times.  You are right, Montana voters, by ballot initiative ended outfitter set asides in ~2011(?).  Then in the dark of night Republican reps and the Governor basically brought them back with their new point scheme.  Bottom line - don't give me this BS that D's are all bad for hunting and R's are all good.  There were a crap ton of hunters in Montana this year that came unglued when the R governor and his appointees tried to screw public land hunters.  Politicians from both parties need watched as both can try and screw hunters...so enough of this BS that one party is pure and good and the other is evil...as far as I'm concerned they are all bad, some less bad than others depending on the issue and circumstance and so hunters/voters should never blindly support one political party over another.   

If you want to up your DIY game, Bearpaw sells some killer DIY maps

Jus sayin

[baldopepper]

Have neighbors next door who are very strong republicans. 3 doors down neighbors are very strong democrats ( he's ran for local office a time or two) They openly dislike each other except on one issue. Both are animal rights fanatics. Between them they have 3 or 4 cats, and both have dogs. They believe hunting is cruel and should be outlawed. I rarely breach the subject when I see them.  Point is, they are united in their efforts. Probably the only thing they do agree on. That's what we're fighting, animal rights activists seem to easily cross party lines. Their leaders don't worry too much about us because we inflict the divide and conquer  syndrome on ourselves. Believe me, many of us have disagreed with Inslee and many of his programs, the same as many Republicans voted against Trump, but until those of us in the middle can get together and show a united front, the animal rights people will continue to win every issue. Recently posts on here supporting a commission nominee who was pro hunting. Many came right out and said no simply because he was a Democrat.  Guess you got your wish, he wasn't appointed.

[bearpaw]

I think its a massive mistake to to simplify this down to an R or D issue...and I think alienating moderate democrats is the worst possible thing we could do in this state.  And if you think everything would be fine simply by replacing all D's with R's...take a look at how bad the Montana Republicans tried to screw Montana hunters earlier this year...and how they did screw NR DIY hunters last year. 

Nice how you frame your narrative. Your hatred for outfitters has been noted many times. I'll remind you that outfitter tags were taken away a few years ago from outfitted hunters and outfitters. DIY hunters only gained at the expense of outfitted hunters. So nothing was really taken away from DIY hunters.

Your hatred of DIY hunters has been noted many times.  You are right, Montana voters, by ballot initiative ended outfitter set asides in ~2011(?).  Then in the dark of night Republican reps and the Governor basically brought them back with their new point scheme.  Bottom line - don't give me this BS that D's are all bad for hunting and R's are all good.  There were a crap ton of hunters in Montana this year that came unglued when the R governor and his appointees tried to screw public land hunters.  Politicians from both parties need watched as both can try and screw hunters...so enough of this BS that one party is pure and good and the other is evil...as far as I'm concerned they are all bad, some less bad than others depending on the issue and circumstance and so hunters/voters should never blindly support one political party over another.   

I have no hatred for DIY hunters, unlike you I think there is room for both, I don't want to eliminate the other like you do. The rest of your gibberish I never commented on! This is why hunters can't get together, some like you are not willing to meet in the middle, its got to be all for your benefit!

[Special T]

It is very easy to get discouraged on the political front, damn Insley and all democrats. That is really counterproductive though. Stop looking at the big picture and concentrate on key races. Everybody's eyes are on the Commission now. If we had a sportsmen friendly Chair in the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Parks Committee, any bad appointees would be gone. And do not think if we put the effort into putting the skids to Van de Wege other politicians wouldn't notice.
This idea the Ds are all against us may be true broadly but if a Legislator is with us on issues, it shouldn't matter what their party.
FYI the vote of one Democrat this session killed animal rights bills I was working against and probably the visual that she was willing to vote the way she did probably stopped other bills from advancing.
Blake was the best friend sportsmen ever had and he had a D behind his name. He gave us protection from the worst AR bills.
Just two examples.
It is pretty tough to pass a bill but easy to kill one with people in the right place. You don't have to control the Legislature to make a difference.

Very well said! Pin point targeting Van de Wege would be a wise choice  for sportmen.get him beat in the election

[idahohuntr]

I think its a massive mistake to to simplify this down to an R or D issue...and I think alienating moderate democrats is the worst possible thing we could do in this state.  And if you think everything would be fine simply by replacing all D's with R's...take a look at how bad the Montana Republicans tried to screw Montana hunters earlier this year...and how they did screw NR DIY hunters last year. 

Nice how you frame your narrative. Your hatred for outfitters has been noted many times. I'll remind you that outfitter tags were taken away a few years ago from outfitted hunters and outfitters. DIY hunters only gained at the expense of outfitted hunters. So nothing was really taken away from DIY hunters.

Your hatred of DIY hunters has been noted many times.  You are right, Montana voters, by ballot initiative ended outfitter set asides in ~2011(?).  Then in the dark of night Republican reps and the Governor basically brought them back with their new point scheme.  Bottom line - don't give me this BS that D's are all bad for hunting and R's are all good.  There were a crap ton of hunters in Montana this year that came unglued when the R governor and his appointees tried to screw public land hunters.  Politicians from both parties need watched as both can try and screw hunters...so enough of this BS that one party is pure and good and the other is evil...as far as I'm concerned they are all bad, some less bad than others depending on the issue and circumstance and so hunters/voters should never blindly support one political party over another.   

I have no hatred for DIY hunters, unlike you I think there is room for both, I don't want to eliminate the other like you do. The rest of your gibberish I never commented on! This is why hunters can't get together, some like you are not willing to meet in the middle, its got to be all for your benefit!

I have 0 hatred for outfitters.  There is absolutely room and need for both.  You favor government handouts for public resources and I personally favor free markets/capitalism.  Gibberish...yes, I understand its highly inconvenient for you to discuss facts that don't support your statement that R's are all good for hunting and D's are all bad.  My guess is the average participant in your forum knows enough about what's been going on in MT to see through the bs the R's leadership pulled/attempted to pull...even if you'd rather not discuss it.

[Tbar]

I think its a massive mistake to to simplify this down to an R or D issue...and I think alienating moderate democrats is the worst possible thing we could do in this state.  And if you think everything would be fine simply by replacing all D's with R's...take a look at how bad the Montana Republicans tried to screw Montana hunters earlier this year...and how they did screw NR DIY hunters last year. 

All politicians and parties need to be kept in check IMO.  I'm starting to think the best move would be to make Commission positions an elected office...one from each region, not attributed by population.  Then voters could focus on just that issue when they vote for a commissioner.  Fish and Wildlife resources are becoming so valuable to the public it makes no sense to allow unelected bureaucrats to wield this much unchecked power.

I think there is far more accountability in elected officials.  Right now 3 are being guided, one is on another paying field and one is already established as a non consumptive supporter. Of the four remaining I have my fears about three off them. That said if there is a R vsD reality, what can joel McEntire in the 19th do for the situation. I know his predecessor would not have stood idle.

[bigtex]

I think its a massive mistake to to simplify this down to an R or D issue...and I think alienating moderate democrats is the worst possible thing we could do in this state.  And if you think everything would be fine simply by replacing all D's with R's...take a look at how bad the Montana Republicans tried to screw Montana hunters earlier this year...and how they did screw NR DIY hunters last year.

There are many instances of states with R majorities who have screwed over hunters, it's not just a D thing. While the Ds typically go after the actual season itself, the Rs typically go after lands and land access. Heck, the RNC in 2016 at their convention voted as part of their platform to have the sale of federal lands to states (who can't even afford the land they currently have as it is) or to private entities. Imagine having Weyerhauser, Hancock, or XYZ tribe buy up an entire ranger district of your former favorite National Forest, it could possibly happen. Several years ago there was a Republican state rep in the Tri-Cities who sponsored a bill to make it unlawful to access public waterways unless there was a restroom and other amenities on the public lands along the shoreline. So under the bill if your small little dirt WDFW boat launch didn't have a restroom you wouldn't be able to access the lake for any use.

Neither party is perfect.

[NumaJohn]

I think its a massive mistake to to simplify this down to an R or D issue...and I think alienating moderate democrats is the worst possible thing we could do in this state.  And if you think everything would be fine simply by replacing all D's with R's...take a look at how bad the Montana Republicans tried to screw Montana hunters earlier this year...and how they did screw NR DIY hunters last year.

There are many instances of states with R majorities who have screwed over hunters, it's not just a D thing. While the Ds typically go after the actual season itself, the Rs typically go after lands and land access. Heck, the RNC in 2016 at their convention voted as part of their platform to have the sale of federal lands to states (who can't even afford the land they currently have as it is) or to private entities. Imagine having Weyerhauser, Hancock, or XYZ tribe buy up an entire ranger district of your former favorite National Forest, it could possibly happen. Several years ago there was a Republican state rep in the Tri-Cities who sponsored a bill to make it unlawful to access public waterways unless there was a restroom and other amenities on the public lands along the shoreline. So under the bill if your small little dirt WDFW boat launch didn't have a restroom you wouldn't be able to access the lake for any use.

Neither party is perfect.

Well said, bigtex.

And as a native Montanan who still hunts in that state, I think the New Jersey billionaire governor is a disaster for hunters. He's all about the wealthy. For example, look at the too-sweet deal accorded the Wilks Brothers and their trophy hunt allocations. None of that is about Ds, or Rs, or Is, it's about greed and a vile disrespect for the tradition of hunting and fishing established by some of the brightest minds in our country's history.

John

[Boss .300 winmag]

I think its a massive mistake to to simplify this down to an R or D issue...and I think alienating moderate democrats is the worst possible thing we could do in this state.  And if you think everything would be fine simply by replacing all D's with R's...take a look at how bad the Montana Republicans tried to screw Montana hunters earlier this year...and how they did screw NR DIY hunters last year. 

All politicians and parties need to be kept in check IMO.  I'm starting to think the best move would be to make Commission positions an elected office...one from each region, not attributed by population.  Then voters could focus on just that issue when they vote for a commissioner.  Fish and Wildlife resources are becoming so valuable to the public it makes no sense to allow unelected bureaucrats to wield this much unchecked power.

The problem is the moderates are voting in Demorats, they don’t want a Republican governor it’s obviously clear if you look at the past elections. Remember the Dino Rossi vs christine gregoire elections, Dino was as moderate as they get for Republicans. She stole the election from him. Some day we’re going to get to play conservatives vs liberals pew pew.😉

The liberals are already screwing us, I’ll take my chances with the conservatives, Culp wouldn’t have let this happen.😉

[bigtex]

The problem is the moderates are voting in Demorats, they don’t want a Republican governor it’s obviously clear if you look at the past elections. Remember the Dino Rossi vs christine gregoire elections, Dino was as moderate as they get for Republicans. She stole the election from him. Some day we’re going to get to play conservatives vs liberals pew pew.😉

The problem is WA's population is around 45% D, 35% R, with the remaining 20% going either way. So knowing this if you were the republican party knowing you're already in a number deficit wouldn't you want to run someone who could actually pick off many of those in the middle and maybe some of the most moderate Ds?

In Inslee's first governor's election in 2012 he actually had 16,000 less votes than Gregoire did four years before him. Yet Rob McKenna (moderate) had 84,000 more votes than Dino did four years before him. Other than the infamous Gregoire-Rossi election in 2004 the 2012 Inslee-McKenna election was the closest governors race in 20 years. It's no coincidence that the closest governors races in the past 30 years in WA have come when there's a moderate R running. This is why the big name republicans endorsed moderate Raul Garcia for governor in 2020 and not Culp.

[KFhunter]

The problem is the moderates are voting in Demorats, they don’t want a Republican governor it’s obviously clear if you look at the past elections. Remember the Dino Rossi vs christine gregoire elections, Dino was as moderate as they get for Republicans. She stole the election from him. Some day we’re going to get to play conservatives vs liberals pew pew.😉

The problem is WA's population is around 45% D, 35% R, with the remaining 20% going either way. So knowing this if you were the republican party knowing you're already in a number deficit wouldn't you want to run someone who could actually pick off many of those in the middle and maybe some of the most moderate Ds?

In Inslee's first governor's election in 2012 he actually had 16,000 less votes than Gregoire did four years before him. Yet Rob McKenna (moderate) had 84,000 more votes than Dino did four years before him. Other than the infamous Gregoire-Rossi election in 2004 the 2012 Inslee-McKenna election was the closest governors race in 20 years. It's no coincidence that the closest governors races in the past 30 years in WA have come when there's a moderate R running. This is why the big name republicans endorsed moderate Raul Garcia for governor in 2020 and not Culp.

A lot of moderates and independents went for Biden thinking he was moderate, boy did they get a bait and switch!

A lot more bait and switch is to come, dems know come campaign season they need tose swing votes, and pander to the middle, like Biden, then seat secured, they go full facistard

[Boss .300 winmag]

The problem is the moderates are voting in Demorats, they don’t want a Republican governor it’s obviously clear if you look at the past elections. Remember the Dino Rossi vs christine gregoire elections, Dino was as moderate as they get for Republicans. She stole the election from him. Some day we’re going to get to play conservatives vs liberals pew pew.😉

The problem is WA's population is around 45% D, 35% R, with the remaining 20% going either way. So knowing this if you were the republican party knowing you're already in a number deficit wouldn't you want to run someone who could actually pick off many of those in the middle and maybe some of the most moderate Ds?

In Inslee's first governor's election in 2012 he actually had 16,000 less votes than Gregoire did four years before him. Yet Rob McKenna (moderate) had 84,000 more votes than Dino did four years before him. Other than the infamous Gregoire-Rossi election in 2004 the 2012 Inslee-McKenna election was the closest governors race in 20 years. It's no coincidence that the closest governors races in the past 30 years in WA have come when there's a moderate R running. This is why the big name republicans endorsed moderate Raul Garcia for governor in 2020 and not Culp.

A lot of moderates and independents went for Biden thinking he was moderate, boy did they get a bait and switch!

A lot more bait and switch is to come, dems know come campaign season they need tose swing votes, and pander to the middle, like Biden, then seat secured, they go full facistard

Yep, and the moderates are too dumb to see it every time.🤬

[KFhunter]

Every. Single. Time. 

[Twispriver]

And the moral of the story is that if you continue trotting out guys like Culp you'll continue being governed by guys like Inslee.