Combining Youth & Veteran hunts

[Sweatliner]

With the Jr and Veteran weekends coming up just a reminder to email your views to fgc@fgc.ca.gov

 

[AJCsurf]

Just got this as a return from my email to the FGC.

Thank you for your public comment. The February 8-9, 2023 California Fish and Game Commission meeting will be live streamed; visit http://www.fgc.ca.gov the day of the meeting to watch or participate. To provide public comment during the meeting, please join at an in-person location, via Zoom, or by telephone; click here for instructions on how to join. The instructions will be posted as the meeting draws near.

 

[Sweatliner]

From the Commission website

2. Safari Club International supports the Department’s recommendations, but highlights possible diminished youth hunting opportunity through increased competition for the same resource due to the proposed combination of Youth and Veterans and Active Military Personnel waterfowl hunting days (Exhibit 6).
3. Three commenters support combining the youth and military waterfowl hunting days to reduce the season length and avoid the late season when waterfowl are more vulnerable. A sample is provided in Exhibit 7.
4. Ten commenters oppose combining youth and military waterfowl hunting days, citing concerns about youth having to compete with adults for the same resource, a reduction in the quality of hunting opportunity for youth and adults, and reduced drawing odds, especially for properties with disabled access. One commenter also suggests the definition of a junior hunter should be changed to no older than 16.


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If you are an SCI member you may want to ask them why they support combining the the hunts.


Can you imagine you have a 10 year old working his way out to Free Roam and here comes a 32 year old Veteran trying for the same spot. It’s going to put folks in an uncomfortable position. 9 year old Timmy is hoping to get the last blind available and 55 year old Veteran Tom is a number ahead and would like to hunt it as well. Tom will probably pass on it but you’re putting folks in situations that should not happen.

 

[Sweatliner]

fgc@fgc.ca.gov

Let them hear from you

 

[AJCsurf]

Looks like its Item #12 on Day 1

Schedule
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=208994&inline

Documents about item 12:
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=210556&inline

An interesting screen grab from the commenters' data set:

Rich wrote a great email with good points.

Hopefully they will use those graphs and table I made to combat support for emails that consist of "the birds are stupid that time of year" comments.

 

[MQ]

I'd rather see a week taken off the season than combine the jr and vet hunts.

 

[CA Birdman]

I thank all veterans for their service but from a continuing the tradition, junior hunter recruitment and retention has to be the number one priority.

 

[Wood-Dro]

Looks like its Item #12 on Day 1
View attachment 375885
Schedule
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=208994&inline

Documents about item 12:
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=210556&inline

An interesting screen grab from the commenters' data set:
View attachment 375886

Could he have at least had someone proofread his response.

 

[OSUbeaver_enthusiast]

I doubt that a) harvest during the veteran or youth weekends has even a locally significant effect on bird populations, and b) that the state didn’t consider the ramifications of that harvest. If it’s truly the case that birds are easier to harvest- good. These are the two groups we need interested in and passionate about the sport. Good draw odds and chances for a great hunt= hunter recruitment. I know I didn’t catch the waterfowl bug until finally I drew at a refuge last year

 

[thekillerofmallard]

I thank all veterans for their service but from a continuing the tradition, junior hunter recruitment and retention has to be the number one priority.

Hummm wonder how many 22/25 yr old vets who are just starting to duck hunt get involved and continue on? I'm sure finding age of hunters would be easy continuing on would be more difficult of course.