Being a person who enjoys both hunting and fishing, I think those persons who truly enjoy the those sports need to break away from the leadership and focus of the present day ARA. It seems to me that it would be a great idea to start a new chapter of a new organization whose membership and leadership is focused on the positive aspects of both areas of enjoyment that so many folks may agree with.
The main focus of both would be not on equipment, though the types of equipment used in both would be discussed as to its fairness to the game we hunt and fish for. The main focus would be to bring a strong voice in the promotion of greater use of federal and state lands for the two sports.
Membership funding would be used to lobby for these issues and to offer in local school curriculum earned credits, equipment use safety and natural resources management for both types of game and our planets environmental well being.
It seems only fair for both federal and more so state taxpayer dollars to be spent in supporting these two sports, instead of being the third cousin to the funds offered to build football, baseball, and basketball arenas and stadiums, as well as the huge tax breaks offered. Relief in the order of tax credits could be offered private land owners to open their areas for these two sports.
Top quality game management as well as renewable stock operations could enhance the sport also.
As to equipment, discuss and implement restrictions to the types of equipment used in enjoying the two activities. Disallowing equipment that is designed for other uses, and at the same time, making the use of our present day high tech stuff that takes away from the fairness of sportsmanship for the game sought after.
Commercial operations have strict limits and seasons that should also be embraced by the hunting and fishing sportspersons.
Over-hunting and fishing has decimated so many game populations around the world. True sportspersons would become ombudspersons and protectors of all issues pertaining to these two sports.
The sports could be part of the athletic programs offered in our schools, something for reasons unknown have never been offered in the past. Lake County would be an excellent place to offer and start such programs.
Special seasons have been offered for those sportspersons using historical types of equipment such as bows and arrows, black powder, etc., which attracts many, so why not the bamboo pole and oak ball bobber of the past.
Studying game habits adds so much more then high tech fish finders, rifle scopes the size of TV”s.
The use of dogs for hunting problem areas with over populated numbers of destructive game, such as pigs and raccoons should be discussed and implemented where needed.
Such an organization and its local chapters could and would offer membership to a vast number of true sportspersons who have no interest in belonging to an organization that uses fear and disenchantment of our present day government as a whole as well as being a leading lobbyist for the weapons manufactures.
The sportsperson membership would embrace the use of safety features that would lesson the sorrow and pain of accidental occurrences that injure and kill other fellow citizens and family members.
It would take a well created website and some true sportsperson in Lake County to start such and organization and even build a foundation for the home office for the entire country to be located in the county.
We do that a famous Bass fishing location to promote and such an organization would bring jobs and needed funds to its economy.
Jim Hall
Clearlake Oaks
