I look forward to another great event and support the organization which has done so much for the sport in MN!

2012 certainly has been a challenge for MOHA with the loss of our past president Don McMillan, however we are back on our feet and strong as ever. This past summer the board reviewed the subject of continuing the calendar and it was decided to hold off to see how things go with this type of fundraiser. Currently there are numerous calendar raffles available, including many of our own members, and we left that at this time the risk vs. reward was not worth taking. We’d like to thank those who have purchased them in the past and we will be sure to let you all know if we start it up again in the future. If anyone has any questions or concerns please feel free to let me know.

Brian Petschl
Director of Operations, Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance

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One of the things that impressed me and kind of took me by surprise was all the father/son teams. I truly expected a bunch of rowdy guys to turn out.

Not the case at all.

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The demographics of bowfishers continues to change as many sportsmen and women find out just how much fun the sport is.

Heck about a month ago I was on my way home from the cabin and I passed a boat in the shallows with an older gal in a one piece swim suit with one of those huge brim hats and she was holding a bow looking for fish…….My instant reaction was one of WOW is bowfishing becoming mainstream?

Thanks Brian for posting the pictures!

There are 4 parts to the legacy fund…..Habitat, Clean Water, Parks, and Arts. Only the habitat portion has a council (Lessard-Sams) made up of citizens and legislators which recommends to the legislature appropriate projects worthy of legacy dollars. The other three don’t have this structure and it was MOHA who pushed extremely hard to have the LSOHC assist with how habitat dollars should be spent. The legislature ultimately approves projects but to date has accepted the recommendations of the LSOHC 100%. We are pleased with the LSOHC and the projects they select….As I said it works and the other 3 portions of the fund should have this same system.

Also I want to make it very clear that council members are volunteer but I do believe they are paid a per diem, they do a bit of traveling around the state throughout the year.

The funds for this project must have come out of the arts portion of the fund. No such project was proposed to the Lessard-Sams Council which makes recommendations to the legislature regarding habitat.

There will always be projects which comes from the arts or parks fund that some don’t like. I have no opinion about the above said project. However I can assure you that the funds for habitat are being spent properly. In my personal opinion the other 3 funds should have a council such as the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council…..It truly works!

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Thanks Brian, thats what I was looking for.
Is there anywhere they can be purchased over the counter or just through them?

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The easiest way to get a calendar is by mail. As the holiday season approaches we will be at Cabela’s (Rogers) weekly selling them. At this point I don’t have a schedule of when we’ll be there.

Brian

MOHA works very hard to ensure the legacy funds that affect sportsmen and sportswomen are been used as voters intended and I can say since the beginning they are being used to fund projects which are appropriate.

Regarding a stadium…..They are speaking about wanting to use funds from the arts pot of the fund. IMHO if they made a real attempt to use the money in such a manner we will see a law suit based on if its constitutional.

The Legacy Fund is and will continue to be successful! While every year there will be attempts to use funds for other things, remember it must follow the constitutional language…..Hard to stray from that. Perhaps it will have to go to the courts…….So be it as sportsmen and sportswomen will prevail!

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There are Millions of our TAX Dollars in the Legacy Funds which (IMO) could & probably should be tapped for this if this proposal gets pushed through.

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I can assure you that the MN Outdoor Heritage Alliance (MOHA) will not support any attempts to use legacy funds to limit access! We did not work hard for over 10 years to see those funds hijacked for such purposes.

You cannot stop the spread 100% but through education and workable laws (and not every law is a good one) we can greatly reduce the spread of AIS. Yes we must take this issue very seriously but at what expense? I too am a lake shore property owner (Otter Tail Co.) and will never support limiting access in the name of AIS.

MN has a history of access and this in no way should change! Adding gates will reduce access and could tarnish what we all believe is our fundamental right to hunt and fish.

If this is allowed to happen I can assure you’ll also see attempts to do the same on public lands. Perhaps someone hunts in an area with buckthorn and could possibly pick up some seeds which could in be transported to another tract of public land. Now property owners connected to that public land run the risk of it approaching their property.

OOOPPPS now there will be a need to gate all public lands too.

Public lands and waters are just that….PUBLIC! We all have an obligation to protect those waters by ensuring we are not spreading them, but not at the cost of taking away access for those who are not fortunate enough to own property next to public waters or lands.

The MNDNR is just getting their feet wet with the new laws and we need to let them get to work and help greatly reduce the spread before associations and property owners start attempts to take away rights.

Sincerely,

Brian Petschl

Director of Operations for MOHA

Fish harvested by bowfishing must be removed and properly disposed. The Land of Lakes Bowfishing Association in no way condones such violations and we will be developing etiquette for MN bowfishing. We are also currently working with the DNR to better educate folks about the do’s and don’ts of the sport. If you see anyone illegally dumping fish or not taking them with them I would encourage you to call TIP and report the violation. This type of activity is unacceptable!

Brian Petschl

LLBA Legislative Liaison