Quote:
Originally Posted by Smalls
You've got a serious "oppressed man" complex, MG, because if I feel like there's any government agency encroaching on our rights, it sure ain't wildlife and fisheries. Sure, I've got issues with the ways they set limits, but I don't feel they are doing anything unreasonable through the regs. I'm a conservationist.
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I think the issues discussed on Salty Cajun in the past 6 months illustrate the reality of big government in wildlife management.
Big Gov't "Conservationists" tended to think closing federal lands was a reasonable step during the government shutdown. Us small government conservationists remember that the land belongs to the people and should be open to access even if some parts of the government remain closed.
Big gov't "Conservationists" tend to think lead shot should be banned in almost all hunting situations where it might land where a duck might one day ingest it. Us small government conservationists tend to think that lead falls under RKBA and can only reasonably be restricted when and where data has shown with a high degree of confidence that actual populations are threatened, beyond simply reducing numbers available for harvest.
Big gov't "Conservationists" tended to support the tripletail limit. Small gov't conservationists like myself wanted to see the hard data showing how existing stocks of tripletail would be threatened without the limit reduction.
Big gov't "Conservationists" tended to support reducing the limit of specks from 25 down to 15 in 2005, even though there was no data supporting the limit change. Us small gov't conservationists think restrictions on individual liberty should be based in data demonstrating a need for the more restrictive regulation.
I am concerned with what kind of state and what kind of country we're leaving to our grandchildren. Sure, just it may just be a few new "necessary" regulations each year, but 60 years down the line, there won't be much liberty to enjoy our Sportsman's Paradise anymore.
"Conservationists" that focus on the game are inherently shortsighted. The habitat is always the real issue in long term sustainability. The 20th century focus on game limits, limits, limits, regulations, regulations, regulations, allowed all the channel dredging and levee building that has lead to the erosion and saltwater intrusion that truly threatens our grandchildren's fishing.