In the face of global economic struggles one must ponder what the impacts of todays swirling financials will pose for our beloved fish and game here in the great midwest. Being a sportsman of a mere 36 years I’ve witnessed first hand the severe impacts reduced habitat plays on bird numbers. Both Fish and wildlife alike have come under increased pressures while the percentages of licensed anglers and hunters have decreased annually for several years. Interesting huh?? As I head back to Southern Minnesota with the Queen we’ll be doing a little Rooster hunting for a couple days. You’d have to pull me by the shorthairs to get me out of the northwoods for good, but I sure love chasing those cackling peacocks. My young Brittany has been chasing our Ruffed friends up here for several weeks, but surely the scent of a big rooster will lock her up tight. It goes without saying at LEAST half of my old stomping grounds are now housing developments, farmland, or business developments. Trust me I like 45,000 choices for dining, but I’d still prefer a nice duck slough to tag a few mallards, or a deep grass field to run my dog without being run off the land. I think it is interesting when people talk about the falling out of THE YOUNG hunters….Must me COMPUTERS OR REALITY TV OR LIFELIKE GAMES AT HOME….. RU KIDDING ME?? This generation of kids have NOT had the same hunting and fishing opportunities as we have, and not even close to our previous generations. Think they’ve seem TRUE northern flights of birds heading down the ole Mississippi flyway?? Pretty sad for an outdoorsman. We’ve got some SERIOUS work to do to help preserve what we have left. We have pheasant stamps to purchase lands for us to all congregate now. Kudos to the concepts, and I have hunted on some of these purchased lands!! Sadly this is a mere bandaid on a severed lifeline. I’m interested on not only bird and wildlife habitat, but also funding for our area lakes and stream preservation. I greet the Walleye Stamp with mixed emotions. On one hand I’LL GLADLY PURCHASE the stamp! On the otherhand….Is it a sign that we are in trouble?? Are we really that pro-active or in a reactive state to troubles in fisheries. Is the original funding from our fishing license not enough to stock walleyes anymore?? Are we increasing our hatcheries programs?? As a guide here on Rainy Lake I have great respect for our area sportfishing club and leaders to have taken steps to protect this resource. I believe we have one of the greatest fisheries in the state if not the world. With that being said it is important that all the states wonderful waters are protected and producing to there fullest. If that means reduced bag limits so be it. If that means more stringent size requirements lets implement it. If it means not netting thousand of spawning walleyes… Nevermind on that one!! Lost once already. Fact of the matter is it seems when we are in some trouble we stamp things. Pheasant habitat cut in half… STAMP IT. Ducks hardly in existence compared to years back… STAMP IT… Walleyes???? Stamp it… Nope your right it is an optional purchase “NOW”. My concern is that the other two things we currently are forced to purchase stamps to participate in are under intense pressure… You suppose walleyes are different?? I DOUBT IT.
So… Instead of ranting and raving with no solutions (Modern day Politics). I’ve got an idea to our struggles. Money is likely the solution. Lets get some good marketing boys in the DNR!! Lets stop the fear factor, and start the “HEY LETS TEAM UP AND ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!! Maybe the WALLEYE STAMP is a step in that direction. I remember when the state lottery was the answer also. HOW SOON WE SEEM TO FORGET. Maybe it is time we as Minnesotans with such a rich heritage in the outdoors DEMAND this to take PRIORITY!! If you need a Marketing guy.. Hey I’m in!! Lets roll!! I’d take it county by county. Guess what you’d probably not like my suggestion, but license fees would drastically increase. Scary when a couple lures cost more than a license to harvest fish for the year. Nobody wants increased fees… But with that being said if you were to put a price on your the future well being of your fishing and hunting here in Minnesota would if be under $20.00?? LOL!!! We spend more than that on Rainbow chubs for a day. I tell ya what. Maybe CO’s wouldn’t be under as much pressure to write quesionable tickets to well meaning outdoorsman if boys like you and I were pro-active in the management of our resource. Food for thought!! As always ruffling a few feathers and blowing hard from the Border!! 