[Bronco]

I am not sure what the answer to sportsman/landowners issues are, but I know what the wrong answer is. I grew up in ND and had to leave for work for 7 years- at which time l lived in Maine. When I lived in Maine there were groups of "freakshows" that ran through the woods scaring off the game during hunting season! If you think having a big buck jumping out of a bull berry bush gets your heart beating- have a 1/2 dozen PETA freaks run under your tree stand! But I know it can't happen here!

The state of Maine (especially southern Maine) was alot like rural ND only with trees 25 years ago. However in the late 80's "big money" came to town and bought up everything, put up resorts, hotels. stores, ect.ect. And with the money came the special interests and radicals. Outdoors activities in southern Maine will never be like they were! Some of the people I know who "sold out" to greed-regret selling their property now or encouraging (what they called MASSHOLES-Boston) from moving in. When I lived there the state actually had to pass a law to prevent the anti-hunters from harrassing people in the woods hunting!

Folks, let me tell you something-we are the minority There are suburbs out there with more people in them than in the entire state of ND! Landowners/sportsman can dig a ditch between them- but this is dangerous! WE all, (ND,MN, MT,WY, WS) all share a basic outdoors heritage. This includes landowners and outdoors sportsman alike. However, in this country we are ALL the minority! These big cities have millions of people with a strong voice in government and not many of them are sympathetic to hunter/landowner or farming issues. We can fight amongst ourselves or unite to form a common voice. I know you may think I am paranoid-however the same people that would like to take your guns-would like to discontinue your hunting rights, and believe me they are thousands of these freaks out there. What better place to launch an anti-hunting/gun campaign than to start than in the middle of a landowner/sportsman fight? I know you think it can't happen- but how many of you that were around 20 years ago thought you would live to see the day when you could get a $50 ticket for not wearing your seatbelt???? (Thank special interest groups)! It can happen! Landowners/sportsman need to find a way to put differences aside, form a solution and stick together! Otherwise- tape the key to your gun cabinet to your *** and bend over so the special interest groups in this country won't have any trouble taking away your heritage :sniper: If we look hard enough I am sure we can find a Win/Win solution in which we can all keep our ND Heritage!

 

[Nick Roehl]

I don't know exactly where these problems are, or exsist. Every farmer I have talked to has let me hunt, and was very nice about it. Now I don't know what it is like out in Western ND, but that is just a PAY-PAY-PAY- than you can PLAY kind of place anyways. We needed a cap, our own G+F said we did. It wasn't as far fetched as everyone thought. Just answer me this if we don't stick up for our beliefs, and let people roll over and lease up all the hunting ground and let unlimited NR's overcrowd, than what is the point. We won't need special interest groups, our hunting heritage will already be gone as we know it. I agree we sportsman have to work together, but we have to work independently in our own state as well. Just look at Minnesota, 99% of the hunting reports on duck opener we TERRIBLE. But they have no one the blame but themselves for not changing things when they had to be changed, and look at the outcome. Now look at the ND duck hunting reports, it is a total 180 turn, most all reports were good. Now common sense says when you have something good you fight to keep it that way and not take it for granted. Some feet will be stepped on but if it is for the good of the state's hunting, than people will have to suck it up. Bottom line is that we should all stick together and we should all support each other when it come to bettering and preserving our hunting heritage. That might meen limiting duck + pheasant hunters to a reasonable number so that a good hunt can be achieved. And passing laws restricting guides + there use of public hunting grounds.