[firehunter]

Many are ready to vote old Joe next door to the commission so he can take care of the common man or even have thougths "I MIGHT EVEN GET ELECTED". If you are going to run a campaign it takes MONEY. State Representives spend $50,000 on campaigns for a job that pays $15,000. And their districts cover very small areas. How much would it cost to run a camapign covering 20 counties? LOTS......... Plus do you have any clue about how many days of meetings etc you would have to attend. If you were a hunter and still working you'd never get to hunt because all your time would be spent at meetings.
Bottom line only very well to do people either on an ego trip or with an axe to grind are going to run. Or retired people with time and money. Oh and if someone does rasie funds from hunters and fishermen to run who do you think they will be beholden to. Some small interest group. Doesn't that sound like what we have now? Nothing will really change and the danger of electing commissioners scares me to death.
It is so sad that the people appointed over the last few years have been so bad. I love Mike Beebe, supported him with a contribution and my vote but I'm sure not happy with most of his appointments. Didn't care for some of the previous administrations either. I don't think we really want or can have what we are wishing for.
Some things need to change at the AG&F. They are not serving the outdoor public like they should.

 

[stealthycat]

Some things need to change at the AG&F. They are not serving the outdoor public like they should.

what do you suggest ?

 

[Tink]

opcorn:

 

[Bruin]

Back in the late 90's the cost to be a Commissioner was a $50,000 contribution to the Governor's campaign fund.
Of course, I am sure that number is higher today.

Just like the OP described. An official spends $50,000 to get a job that pays $15,000. This happens all the time....why? Because they intend to use their power to make money, plain and simple.

Why would someone spend tons of money to be a Commissioner when it pays nothing? To use their power to get things done. Boat ramps made in their names. WMA's and Lake's named after them. Even setting seasons up to benifit the land they own and that their friends own.

I believe the Commissioners should be appointed by the Governor. But I believe they should be retired Biologist, not fat cat's.

 

[tmeredith]

what do you suggest ?

I would suggest disbanding the agfc entirely, with possibly public hanging for some who opened the flood prone regions, and replace them with a private wildlife management firm.

 

[Passthrough]

Why cant folks just hunt and be happy? We are blessed with an abundance of game to hunt in this state. There will never be a perfect system to manage it but thats just life.

 

[tmeredith]

Why cant folks just hunt and be happy?

I guess for the same reasons Henry Ford wasn't happy riding a horse everywhere, or Alexander Bell wasn't happy yelling down the road to talk to his neighbor, or Thomas Edison wasn't happy lighting candles to see by every night.

Some of us are tired of crappy hunting and want better. Why do some people so strongly oppose progress or improvement?

 

[Passthrough]

.

 

[Bruin]

Why cant folks just hunt and be happy? We are blessed with an abundance of game to hunt in this state.

Because our natural resources are being grossly miss-managed. The Commissioners run the AGFC like a private hunting club. They make rules as they go along to suit their private needs. They ignore the recomendations by the Biologist and do as they please. The Commission is out of control, and it is time the people get mad and try to do something about it.

 

[Dmille5]

because our natural resources are being grossly miss-managed. The commissioners run the agfc like a private hunting club. They make rules as they go along to suit their private needs. They ignore the recomendations by the biologist and do as they please. The commission is out of control, and it is time the people get mad and try to do something about it.

x 2

 

[huntindoc]

If they would follow sound biological advice and reasoning even 80% of the time I could forgive their occasional indiscretions and never say another word. Unfortunately it seems rare for them to make a decision that's 100% based upon what's good for the resource and sportsman. We have professional biologists on staff and more info available but most of the time they are ignored.

 

[cards05]

I guess for the same reasons Henry Ford wasn't happy riding a horse everywhere, or Alexander Bell wasn't happy yelling down the road to talk to his neighbor, or Thomas Edison wasn't happy lighting candles to see by every night.

Some of us are tired of crappy hunting and want better. Why do some people so strongly oppose progress or improvement?

Because some of are not experiencing "crappy hunting" and are not even sure what the definition is. We may believe it could be a little better but also think it could be a lot worse. Maybe we don't even believe some people delusinal goals for Ark hunting are even possible. I'm just not sure.

 

[stealthycat]

and replace them with a private wildlife management firm.

and you would guarantee that private firm wouldn't have its own interests at heart and couldn't be "bought" and would never give preferential treatments?

 

[firehunter]

what do you suggest ?

For one they need to communictae better to the public. Stop ingoring the professional biologist or hire ones they trust. Buy every acre they can for the public to use and make it available to the public. Stop looking for things to stop doing but work to do them better and do some new things and do them right.
I trace alot of our problems back to Shuffield Nelson who had an axe to grind with certain parties and now the tit for tat has started and it is not for the betterment of the public.
I served on the school board for years and I know about agendas and what kind of damage they can do to schools. No different here. It takes alot of effort and self control to be informed and make decisions outside your own prejudices. iF I was on the commission as a bowhunter and squirrel hunter(with dogs) it would hard not to make decisions tainted by my personal interest.
There are people out there that can be for everyone and make proper resourse decisions. The governor should appoint them not the kind we have.

 

[Tony Harris]

The simple answer is to clone about a dozen Mike Freezes and make them commissioners

 

[tmeredith]

and you would guarantee that private firm wouldn't have its own interests at heart and couldn't be "bought" and would never give preferential treatments?

Of course nobody can guarantee what people will do, but at least a private company can be fired.

 

[haywirejr]

I also believe that elected commissioners is a bad idea. Appointing them seems to be the best solution, the same with judges but, I do think there should be an avenue for the hunting public to REMOVE an unwanted commissioner. I feel the same about unwanted policies. We should have to power to remove or impeach. This would make them respect hunters wishes without having to do a lot of butt and baby kissing to get elected.

 

[ozark outdoorsman]

There are people out there that can be for everyone and make proper resourse decisions. The governor should appoint them not the kind we have.

Why do that when the governor can just appoint an old college buddy or two?

 

[blackriver 373]

governor could toss in 4 names and hunters and fisherman could vote when they buy their license just like you fill out hip info

 

[thompson]

For one they need to communicate better to the public. Stop ingoring the professional biologist or hire ones they trust. Buy every acre they can for the public to use and make it available to the public. Stop looking for things to stop doing but work to do them better and do some new things and do them right.
I trace alot of our problems back to Shuffield Nelson who had an axe to grind with certain parties and now the tit for tat has started and it is not for the betterment of the public.
I served on the school board for years and I know about agendas and what kind of damage they can do to schools. No different here. It takes alot of effort and self control to be informed and make decisions outside your own prejudices. iF I was on the commission as a bowhunter and squirrel hunter(with dogs) it would hard not to make decisions tainted by my personal interest.
There are people out there that can be for everyone and make proper resourse decisions. The governor should appoint them not the kind we have.

Never been a big Nelson fan myself but you got to admit he helped keep them in line this year and it took a lot of his money to do so when they thought they were too good to amswer to anyone anymore. The motive,...I may not like but the outcome I did.