Why is that sportsmen and women in general are so reluctant to speak up about conservation issues that are important to them? It is almost universal all over the county. Only when an issue is so controversial will more than the normal 2-3 percent of hunters and anglers actually get fired up and expend some energy to make their views known.
It has been this way for a very long time and it is time for this situation to change. In this past legislative session, a metro legislator and his friends were successful in delegating language in a grant program that required lands acquired in fee with Land and Legacy money to be open to the taking of fish and game in regulated seasons. This now allows metro parks to buy land to add to the holdings with no regard to the wishes of sportsmen or the constitutional language that was created to stop this very action.
I have been and continue to be active on the grass roots side of conservation issues. I wish more folks who like to hunt and fish did the same.
I spoke with a gentleman by the name of Dave Carlson. He represents a group called the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance. They are not a lobbyist group. They are a non-profit made up of a large number of different conservation organizations with the intent of representing you and me on Minnesota legislative issues.
They are going to be in Worthington on June 15 at the Elks Lodge from 6-9 p.m. to listen. I will repeat, they have no specific message of their own. They are traveling about the state looking for input from sportsmen so they can prioritize their efforts when the state legislature convenes next year.
Now is the time to make you voices heard and to do so with one of the best available sounding boards.
Any topic is open to discussion, and I can assure you this is a listening session and no debates will take place this night.
Chronic wasting disease is killing our wild deer herd. Public lands concerns and many more topics will likely come up. Now is the time to get off the couch and be one of those folks that actually show up.
Remember, be it in this arena, natural resources, or any other, decisions and directions are made by those who actually show up. There will be chips and barbecues at 6:30 till gone.
Please make the trip to Worthington with your conservation concerns and bring a few friends along as well. I can’t think of a more important thing to do with your precious conservation effort and time. Put your actions into words on June 15 for a better conservation community for our great state.
Scott Rall, Worthington, is a habitat conservationist, avid hunting and fishing enthusiast and is president of Nobles County Pheasants Forever. He can be reached at scottarall@gmail.com.