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Post by Sandbur on Apr 30, 2017 13:37:35 GMT -6
Two things have happened.
1. The largest organization of deer hunters in the state now has a policy that they wish more of their hunter's dollars to be dedicated to deer programs. This means the use of those dollars will be documented.
If this results in real effective change, remains to be seen. But it is a step in the direction of correcting things pointed out in the audit.
That is one plus.
2. MDHA Executive Director has an agreement that if MDHA supports the license fee increase, 50% of license dollars will go to deer management.
Craig has shown he is a man of his word. I respect him for that. He will hold the DNR to their agreement. He deserves a Thank You for that from Minnesota Deer Hunters.
This does not mean all MDHA hunters need to support the license fee increase. I have expressed my opinion to my legislators.
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Post by Sandbur on Apr 30, 2017 13:39:09 GMT -6
Saw a post on a DNR Facebook page where MDHA is urging its membership to contact their elected to support the deer license fee increase. This comes 4 months after a unanimous MDHA vote for a resolution drafted by Burs chapter to dedicate 50% of deer license revenue to deer management. The DNR has publicly stated they will not be dedicating more resources to deer management. A big F you to the MDHA members who approved the resolution. Engwall publicly claimed MDHA would not support the increase unless they moved funding into deer management. Oops. He changed his mind. If I was a chapter president I would cancel my MDHA fundraising banquet for 2017. I would publicly berate my $88,000 per year leader Engwall. If you help fund this machine - you are now a part of the problem. Brooks please provide the exact link to where the DNR has said they will not be dedicating more resources to deer management.
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Post by Sandbur on Apr 30, 2017 13:47:27 GMT -6
Brooks. You have benefited from our banquet dollars. Through our foodplot program, through our sending of our Director and Assistant Director to the state meeting to vote for you during your running for MDHA President, and through the Foodplot Seminar you attended at no charge just 10 months ago. We also wish to thank you for being a banquet sponsor in previous year.
This open forum is not the place to discuss our banquet. All current members can attend our next meeting and express their opinion on our chapter's activities.
All I can say is that the banquet has benefited you and many other hunters in and around the Morrison County area.
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Post by Sandbur on Apr 30, 2017 13:53:23 GMT -6
Where do I find info besides on Facebook? I want to send it to my Mdha East Ottertail board and ask what the hell is going on. I know many of them personally... audit showed 12% is spent on deer management. Resolution to raise that was passed at the state meeting below. how to upload photo to internetyou have to dig to find the DNR stating even with the increase no more will be spent on deer management. But Engwall said if they recode accounts so it looks like the DNR is spending more on deer he will support the increases. Pussy. Please provide the direct link where our Executive Director made the statement as you quoted above. Enough twisting words to make a point. SPEAK THE TRUTH.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Apr 30, 2017 16:39:20 GMT -6
Conversations are getting us nowhere. Something drastic has to be done, change the seasons, cut back on the pressure and harvest . Both preferably.
I won't support the MDHA until they agree to make changes.
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Post by batman on Apr 30, 2017 17:20:48 GMT -6
Please provide the direct link where our Executive Director made the statement as you quoted above. Enough twisting words to make a point. SPEAK THE TRUTH. Pat Rivers (LeaCH'S NUMBERS GUY) was quoted in an ODN article that even with the $4 increase there would be no changes to deer management. Status quo. If your rez intent was not to increase spending on deer management I am mistaken. I thought your chapter was seeking positive change to deer management in Minnesota by getting the DNR to spend more of the license fees on deer related items. Engwall no longer answers my emails on the topic of accountability to your chapters resolution and his statement they would not support the license increase without additional moneys spent on deer management. He likely has nothing to say that would satisfy me given the info I have. There will be no changes to deer management. Craig is okay with that. Maybe you are as well, and that is okay. But I am not a liar. I quoted nothing. I am only trying to help people understand that Engwalls middle name might be Waffle.
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Post by mnfish on Apr 30, 2017 18:29:05 GMT -6
I know there is a lot of passion and seriousness here but can I just state FTR....I really like waffles! Chicken and waffles with lots of maple syrup IS the perfect breakfast.
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Post by Foggy on Apr 30, 2017 18:37:43 GMT -6
I dunno Art. Maybe the MDHA is moving.....but it's at a pace slower than a petrified turtle. How can the base up in Grand Rapids be happy with this? Do they just like banquets?? Banquets are fine if they serve a purpose....but just paying salaries for a "do-nothing" organization is not gonna work any more.
The voice of the MN hunter (that for an audit) has (and is) gone nowhere at this point......and the MDHA is doing NOTHING to promote more deer for MN and the MDHA members. Either they take some better stand on these issues.....or I cannot support "their" cause any longer. I say "their".....as they do not support "MY"cause......nor that of the MN deer hunter any more. The small rewards for the "benefits" of belonging to such an organization are far out shadowed by their lack of concern for the resource they are destined to serve. The Minnesota deer hunter has stood patiently awaiting some kind of action by MDHA for way too long.....and I don't see any movement on our behalf.
The MN deer hunters are / have been getting hosed over. We have a moose plan and an elk plan and a wolf plan....but when it comes to a deer plan....we have Bull Schmidt......and the MDHA is OK with that? This is a bunch of bull. I SAY.....MDHA....NO WAY!
The MDHA has failed the hunters of MN in so many ways for way to long. I know you are on-board with their cause and I admire your efforts.....but it ain't happening fast enough for me......if it's happening at all. No offense Art (I know you mean well).....but....... How can you see it differently?
Please read my letter above at your next MDHA meeting......and see what reaction you get. Thanks.
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Post by sd51555 on Apr 30, 2017 19:10:47 GMT -6
I believe market forces will work this out in the end. MDHA had better get serious about getting some hunter support because their corporate donors are going to keep dropping like flies.
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Post by batman on Apr 30, 2017 19:30:42 GMT -6
I am not attacking Arts efforts or his chapters local impact. Both are to be applauded. But ultimately it is feeding a larger beast that is not a friend of the MN deer hunter.
Even the premise it was based upon is now gone. Deer feeding up north is gone forever, supplemented and now replaced by disease management.
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Post by Foggy on Apr 30, 2017 19:37:03 GMT -6
I believe market forces will work this out in the end. MDHA had better get serious about getting some hunter support because their corporate donors are going to keep dropping like flies. Market forces??? Market Forces? ? hahahahahahah......you got Wall Street confused with deer mess. The MDHA has NEVER had any meaningnfull support of the hunting and shooting manufactures in this state. Most have stayed away from this organization - in droves. We have some of the largest hunting/shooting companies in the nation....and not very many support the MDHA.....and never have (to any meaningful extent). Why is that? Edit: At one point I was fairly well-known by many in the shooting sports industry......and offered to the MDHA to go and see some industry "biggies" on supporting the MDHA cause. The former MDHA president told me that he was unsure why they could not garner more support from the likes of Federal Ammo, Polaris, and such......but I now know. Sadly......They do little or nothing for our sport.....and most of these companies know it! It's gonna take some big changes to get a new organization going.....and hopefully that person comes from within the sporting goods industry to make something good happen again for our hunting heritage. Once again......What we have is not working.
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Post by batman on Apr 30, 2017 20:01:45 GMT -6
Arts efforts put the 'democratic' MDHA system to the ultimate test. He successfully constructed a resolution that passed with unheard of margins. His chapter charted the course for some real change. All that effort was queered by $88K director Engwall. That was closure for me. The hypocrisy was too much.
Engwall could give 2 shits about the deer hunters of MN. His actions speak much louder than his words. He only cares about his paycheck and whatever future aspirations he may have. Clear to me now.
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Post by biglakebass on Apr 30, 2017 20:19:02 GMT -6
I am extremely thankful for the efforts many have put into trying to get deer hunting to be elevated and important to the state.
Its been a number of years of many people busting their asses to do so much.
I wont give up. I am stubborn. But I realize as the months and years are passing that there will likely never be anything significant to change.
This much I know.... If I did my job as adhoc and shitty as our Wildlife team works on the deer stuff, I would have been fired many years ago. The garbage we have dug up as a group off simple reports posted on the MN DNR webite is just sickening. They post the data for many of us to read and beat our heads on our desks, and they just keep going on status quo.
I commend many on this forum and in many organizations.
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Post by mnfish on Apr 30, 2017 22:45:15 GMT -6
I am extremely thankful for the efforts many have put into trying to get deer hunting to be elevated and important to the state. Its been a number of years of many people busting their asses to do so much. I wont give up. I am stubborn. But I realize as the months and years are passing that there will likely never be anything significant to change. This much I know.... If I did my job as adhoc and shitty as our Wildlife team works on the deer stuff, I would have been fired many years ago. The garbage we have dug up as a group off simple reports posted on the MN DNR webite is just sickening. They post the data for many of us to read and beat our heads on our desks, and they just keep going on status quo. I commend many on this forum and in many organizations. I have to say this has been quite a 2 year journey for me. The problem of low managed deer numbers here in MN has become a much bigger problem. Bigger than I could ever imagine. It's simple and very complex all at the same time. For me, I have found the answers I needed and hope others find their answers. As I see it, this is a social issue as much as anything and no one in a leadership role is truly representing the deer hunters of MN. One thing is for sure, I am very thankful to have met the people I did while embarking on this sometimes very frustrating journey. Except you Mark, your a pain in the ass...jk
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Post by Bwoods11 on May 1, 2017 9:22:01 GMT -6
I do not hunt public land, so not sure why I care, but I am so frustrated with our DNR cutting down trees on public land. They have destroyed nice shelterbelts. On a public parcel near Starbuck. Pheasants Forever purchased the land for hunting, it then is turned over to the DNR (mistake).
They cut down a beautiful fairly mature red cedar 3 row planting. This always had pheasants and deer in it.
The DNR thinks trees are bad for pheasants and ducks, so the deer and pheasant hunter gets screwed. A lack of national deer organization hurts, besides northern MN, you do not see any wildlife areas that encourage habitat for deer.
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