Is the ABA helping with this???

[Earnhardt fan #1]

Seeing as the ABA web page hasn't gotten back up to full speed( no comments page just a guest book)Keith is the ABA fighting for the extension of archery season again this year?

[PUDDLE]

2 ABA members spoke at the meeting at Fayetteville. Both spoke in defense of this. They were both well spoken and attention was paid by all but no comments from the AGFC present.

By the way, the ABA guys did not mention the ABA in any way although one was wearing a cap.

[Earnhardt fan #1]

graemlins/thumb.gif

[possum]

The ABA was represented at the Little Rock meeting by at least 2 of it's board members that I know of and they also didn't mention the ABA. While only one of them addressed the gathering as a whole the other got in the ear of every AGFC representative he could get to listen to him.

[Earnhardt fan #1]

Just seeing if there was anyone besides me asking out loud

[possum]

Efan, I know the ABA's VP real well and I can assure you he questions them about it every chance he gets.

[ABA53]

The ABA had someone at most of the meetings. We were trying to gauge the amount of oppostion there was to replacing the lost days of the bowseason. It appears that the commission will try to keep the current ending date of Feb 15.

The ABA will have a boarc meeting Jan 22 and I expect the board will draft a letter to the AGFC on returning the season to its former lenght.

[DODGEMAN]

I don't understand your statement, what bowhunter would oppose extending the season back to the end of Feb.? Other than the bowhunters, since you are a bow organization, who cares if someone else is opposed? :confused:

[possum]

Not trying to put words in his mouth, but I think what he is saying is someone opposed the bowhunters hunting till the end of Feb. and got their way. To fight this oppostion you have got to know it's strength and where it is coming from in order to respond in the appropriate way.

I maybe completely wrong but that's the way I took it.

[ABA53]

Possum you are correct.
One of the reasons the commissions alway give is that they get (got) many request to shorten bowseason in the past. I want to know who is asking for a shorter bowseason and why. That way I can state our case as clearly as possible. I do care what others think even if they do not bowhunt. But our postion has not changed one inch.

[Keith de Noble]

To echo ABA53: We will not give up in our efforts to get the season extended back to the end of February.

Please remember this: Sheffield Nelson was the main instigator at the commission level to get the season shortened. He is on record for wanting it to be shortened to the end of January (at least). But, he yielded to our efforts last year and compromised for keeping February 15 and eliminating feeding the deer from January 15 to the end of season. So far this year there is no commission or staff recommendations to restore the bowhunting season to the end of February.

Again, we will not give up and we'll be around a whole lot longer than a Sheffield Nelson who has absolutley no verifiable data, or scientific based reasoning to his personal opinions, which he has been very effective at pushing on most everyone else.

WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!

[ar bowhunter]

Cutting off hunting Febuary 15th does not make any sense at all.

However this and the new law on not hunting over bait past January 15th could dicourage folks and actually hurt the deer herd.

Some folks will quit feeding when hunting season is over for them. For some folks it would be a special trip to the deer lease just to fill up a feeder and not get to hunt. So they won't go!

Everybody knows this is the time of year when the deer need the food the most.

1 The does are carrying their babies and are needing lots of food. Keeping the does healthy during the hard times of winter will help them produce healthy fawns (and more of them).

2 The bucks have been chasing doe after doe for for several weeks and they are worn down with low body weight. They also need lots of food.

It is proven that Bowhunters DO NOT kill enough deer (All year long) to worry about.

I hope the comissioners have taken this into consideration before deciding next years season.

[Keith de Noble]

Originally posted by ar bowhunter:
Cutting off hunting Febuary 15th does not make any sense at all.

1 The does are carrying their babies and are needing lots of food. Keeping the does healthy during the hard times of winter will help them produce healthy fawns (and more of them).

2 The bucks have been chasing doe after doe for for several weeks and they are worn down with low body weight. They also need lots of food.

It is proven that Bowhunters DO NOT kill enough deer (All year long) to worry about.

I hope the comissioners have taken this into consideration before deciding next years season. The commissioners did take this into consideration last year when we were fighting to keep from losing more days, and try to gain lost days back. Even Sheffield Nelson made comments similar to yours in 1 & 2 above. Yet, he used them to support his argument to shorten season.

Sheffield Nelson, in his own words, indicates his actions are based on personal belief - NOT FACT. Kind of scary, when you consider the power he yields on the commission. He also has stated his push for a shorter season is not based on a personal agenda - A STATEMENT I DO NOT BELIEVE!

The one irrefutable fact is that bowhunters do not kill enough deer in February, and certainly throughout the entire bowhunting season to have any serious impact on the herd.

[ar bowhunter]

I can't understand people making decisions on there "PERSONAL FEELINGS" when they have "FACTS" that would lead them to a decision. graemlins/smack.gif

[F B]

I think thats the main reason those decisions have stirred up so much controversy and have left such a bad taste in alot of peoples mouths about the Commission.

If they had been made based on sound reasons it would be one thing but to make them solely on personal feelings is a whole 'nother issue.

Even if you dont bowhunt these cuts/restrictions should bother you.

If it was that easy to do it to bowhunting just think how easy it would be to do it to gun season.

[ar bowhunter]

I agree totally FB

[Earnhardt fan #1]

Sheffield Nelson, in his own words, indicates his actions are based on personal belief - NOT FACT. Kind of scary, when you consider the power he yields on the commission. He also has stated his push for a shorter season is not based on a personal agenda - A STATEMENT I DO NOT BELIEVE!
And to think in a year and a half he'll be in total control :(

[ar bowhunter]

Originally posted by Earnhardt fan #1:
[QUOTE] And to think in a year and a half he'll be in total control :( OH NO! graemlins/smack.gif

[DODGEMAN]

He will be chariman, not have total control, or at least I hope not. graemlins/smack.gif

[Earnhardt fan #1]

D, oh how we forget the Arkla scandle he was wrapped up in back in the late eightys or so