ABA Letter to the AGFC

[Luv2Hunt]

In case anybody in interested, I'm posting the text of the official letter sent to the AGFC from the ABA.

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Dear Arkansas Game and Fish Commission members,

The Arkansas Bowhunters Association and its members have some concerns about
the 2005-2006 deer seasons.

In your most recent harvest summary bowhunters killed only 363 deer in the
first 15 days of February. There is not any biological data the would
suggest that reinstating the season until the end of February would add more
than that number to the harvest total. Biologically 300-400 deer does not
hurt the resource. AGFC personnel killed more that that during the herd
health checks last March.

The bottom line is this: the late season bow hunt has no impact on the
resource and provides an outstanding recreational opportunity, the same
recreational opportunity your mission statement proclaims. The only reasons
that have been given for shortening the season are personal opinion and not
based in sound biological management. In fact we have been told that there
is no biological reason for the shorter season.

In the past 40 years, the ABA and the AGFC have forged a strong partnership
and, to my knowledge, EVERY time the Commission has asked for our help, we
have been there. Most recently, the ABA supported the sales tax increase for
the AGFC and helped defeat the animal cruelty bill. When the AG&FC asked, we
were instrumental in the first two urban bow hunts in Bull Shoals and are
now working on the third hunt. This year we helped implement the observation
data collection that will provide valuable biological data.

Please reinstate the Arkansas bow season to run until the end of February
and lift the arbitrary and capricious baiting restrictions.

Thank you for your careful consideration,

ABA Executive Committee
************************************************

[Tony Harris]

Good letter, hope it helps.

[longbow hunter]

That sounds good. I don't usually hunt much in February...I go once or twice since the season is about over. Myself and some friends usually camp/hunt over the Holiday (Washington's Birthday) on the weekend of February 18th. This year we obviously won't be able to. As a life time license holder, I'm very dissapointed in the decision to shorten the season. The long archery season was a big factor in my decision to purchase a lifetime license. The baiting doesn't really matter to me, but I sure would like to camp/bowhunt that weekend next year. I'm sure a lot of other people have that day off and it always falls after the 15th.

[kw]

Thanks for writing that letter. I mentioned the same in my comments I sent to them. I hope they reinstate it, I always liked hunting on my birthday.

[kildog]

Good letter!!! All bowhunters should be a member of the ABA!!! We need all the help and support that we can get! kd

[lancami1]

Great letter hope it works.

[Keith de Noble]

The letter, written by Tom White, AG&FC Liasion for the Arkansas Bowhunters Association, was very well written. It will be featured in the next issue of The Arkansas Bowhunter which is currently in production.

There will also be an editorial addressing the same issure. The editorial will dissect Nelson's letter to the ABA, which is appearing in the same issue.

As I've stated before, "We will not quit!"

[Tony Harris]

Hey Keith could you at some point post Nelson's letter here for all to see?

[Keith de Noble]

I earlier posted that there will be an editorial dissecting Nelson's letter in the coming issue of The Arkansas Bowhunter. After communication with ABA officials, I will not publish the editorial. At this time, we do not feel it is in the best interest of bowhunting in Arkansas for such an editorial.

Most bowhunters, and the ABA, already disagree with Nelson's position. It would be to all bowhunters advantage to work on getting the shortened and restricted season reinstated as quickly as possible.

I encourage all of you to do your part. Unless, and until, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission staff can prove that bowhunting until the end of February is adverse to the herd, then there is no logical reason for maintaining a shortened season. Tom White's letter does a very good job of making that point.

If, in the future, sound biological and scientific data proves that shorter seasons are necessary, I have no doubt the ABA will support such action, so long as it is fairly applied to all forms of deer hunting.

Nelson's letter to the ABA will appear in the next issue. We make it a practice to publish all letters to the ABA, regardless of the position the author takes.

Finally, the Mission Statement of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission should be strictly adhered to by the entire staff, and all commissioners, regardless of personal feelings, personal observations, and what other states are doing.

[Rattle-m-up™]

thanks for the update Keith.