Environment and Property Rights

Re: 2011 House Bill 4371 (Create government “mentored youth hunting program” and mandate )

would man — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:03:39 GMT

While I am not a registered Republican, I generally go in that direction. This bill sponsored by Peter Petallia (REP) has given me pause to reflect. Maybe I'm playing on the wrong team. I can find no rationale for a bill like this other than raising revenue. In relation to that, I have to wonder just how much revenue it will raise. On the other hand, here is an idea that would undoubtedly raise considerable revenue: how about we start charging people for camping on State-owned land? Did you know that anyone can obtain a permit to camp on State-owned land for a period of two weeks for FREE? While the State closes one State Park Campground after another for lack of funds, hundreds to thousands of people camp on State Land for nothing. What's wrong with this picture? Just because we live in Michigan - that gives us a right to camp on State Land for free? And who cleans up when the campers are gone? No one. Even if living here was a good reason for free camping, what about all the people who DON'T live here who take advantage of this? Take a ride on Northern Michigan backroads the day before deer season begins. You'll find campers all over the place in fifth wheels, trailers, pop-ups and tents. And when they're gone, very few do a perfect job of cleaning up. For example: those who use pink and orange ribbons to mark trails to their blinds RARELY remove the ribbons when they're gone. Plain and simple, this is LITTER. And so are the cans, wrappers, bottles, papers, etc. etc. etc. that are left behind. But of course, there is no money to hire additional help to clean up because all of this camping is free! Time to change. Start charging everyone for camping on State Land. Want to create jobs? This will create jobs - a whole lot more than selling licenses to ten year old kids will. Deer season isn't the only time the camping goes on either. Warm summer days find a lake on a backgroad with State Land and you'll find campers. Place called Foch Lakes north of Atlanta (a former State Campground) during the summer - it looks like Higgins Lake on the 4th of July - all camping for free. Not a pretty sight when the weekend is over. I don't blame the DNR for any of this. I feel sorry for them trying to manage with one hand tied behind their backs. C'mon Petallia...instead of creating more problems for the DNR how about giving them some ammuni$$ion? More to follow...

Re: 2011 House Bill 4371 (Create government “mentored youth hunting program” and mandate )

gypsy — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:47:32 GMT

This is what happens when the NRA has control of our elected representatives. Next thing you know, babies pacifier will be a Glock.

Re: 2011 House Bill 4371 (Create government “mentored youth hunting program” and mandate )

would man — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 13:22:48 GMT

Your comments on ten year old hunters are almost word for word the first things I said about this. Take a look at my posted comments...

Re: 2011 House Bill 4371 (Create government “mentored youth hunting program” and mandate )

would man — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 13:20:05 GMT

A few things to chew on. The bill to allow children to possess a firearm (or a crossbow, God forbid...) under the sponsorship of a mentor is truly the most insane thing I've ever heard. There are several reasons why but one of the big ones is this: the government decides who is a qualified mentor. That alone should be enough to scare people. Why? Go to www.michigan.gov/dnr website. Look up 2011 Michigan Hunting and Trapping Digest. Look at the first page (Contents Page). What do you see? In red, the mission statement of the MDNR. "...committed to the conservation, protection and management..." Really? Underneath the red the DNR sets its number one priority under the heading " "Hunter Harassment." After all, if you were the author of this booklet, wouldn't you put your number one priority on page one? "...committed to conservation..." I don't think so. Read every line in the entire booklet. Know how many times the word LITTER or the words DO NOT LITTER appear in such an important document? The word LITTER appears ONCE - way back on Page 38 - and ironically it is only in reference to hunting on private land. The words DO NOT LITTER do not appear anywhere in the whole booklet. This is how "...committed..." the DNR is to conservation. Hunter Harassment is FAR more important than litter. Too bad. You should see the woods around me after deer season. Ironically, on Page 38, under the heading Hunter Education Promotes Our Wildlife Heritage one paragraph begins with "If our young people can learn to be responsible hunters..." Considering the example set by the DNR - the standard bearers I would think - I would say that's a big "IF". I'm not anti-hunting. I love to grouse hunt but I have to say if I owned 100 acres of good hunting land I would NEVER hunt on public land again. I imagine most hunters would feel that way. But I don't own 100 acres and I don't know anyone who does. But I'll bet that an awful lot of Michigan legislators who voted for this bill either do not hunt or have the privilege of hunting primarily on private land. Surely, no hunter with any common sense would want to be in the same woods hunting where there might be a ten year old with a gun in his hands under the control of a mentor who is more concerned with hunter harassment than proper ethics. More to follow...

Re: 2011 House Bill 4371 (Create government “mentored youth hunting program” and mandate )

gypsy — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:08:54 GMT

A 10 year old boy shot his father to death while duck hunting on Saginaw Bay.

Re: 2011 House Bill 4371 (Create government “mentored youth hunting program” and mandate )

manny — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:10:03 GMT

Frankly it doesn't seem fine to me for a 10 year old to be able to hunt. Kids see things differently and them being allowed to hunt could interfere with their education. Kids using any kind of guns is a no no in my book. You need to be 21 to be able to buy guns for sale, there's a reason for that rule. I don't see how a kid could entertain himself by hunting...

Re: 2011 House Bill 4371 (Create government “mentored youth hunting program” and mandate )

GerryG — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:25:59 GMT

Okay, let me see if I have this correct. Any child in Michigan, however young, will be able to hunt small game, deer and turkeys, trap and fish as long as he or she pays $7.50 and he or she and a parent represent that the child will hunt only when accompanied by an individual who is 18 years old or older and has a valid hunting license. I guess this makes some sense. Now that adult who will serve as the child's mentor has represented when he or she purchased their license that they will follow all the other hunting laws, they will not hunt deer over bait in the lower peninsula, they will not carry a loaded firearm in a vehicle, they will not tresspass on private property, they will not take more than the legal limit of game, etc. Now we will no longer need certified volunteer hunters education instructors. BUT WAIT. Why stop with hunting and fishing. Let's let parents decide when their child can smoke, drink alcohol and drive a vehicle, as long as they do it with a mentor present.

2011 House Bill 4371 (Create government “mentored youth hunting program” and mandate )

Votes Admin — Mon, 01 Jan 2001 05:00:00 GMT

Introduced in the House on March 2, 2011

Click here to view bill details.