Minutes from Indiana Sportsmen’s Roundtable Membership Meeting
Fort Harrison State Park Garrison Conference Center
April 17, 2010
Attendees included: Danny East, Bill Herring, Doug Allman, Brad Jones, Herb Higgins, Mark Shane, Tom Morelock, Dean Shadley, Eric Simpson, Bud Dennemann, Doug McPherson, Glenn Lange, Chuck Brinkman, Chris Powell, John Davis, Dan Smith, Dean Farr, John Goss, Gene Hopkins and Mark Reiter.
Membership
Dean Shadley reported that 18 organizations are paid, and about 6 more have voted to join. Dean has visited about a dozen conservation groups this year, and interest in the Roundtable is strong. The primary feedback is that more regular information is needed for effective two way communications with conservation groups. They are also starved for an opportunity to share what they are doing and to see what other groups are doing. Member projects and accomplishments will be added to the Roundtable website.
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Financial/organizational report
The Roundtable current fund balance is $3,500. The Indiana Wildlife Federation has contributed $1,100 in cash for expenses to date in addition to providing staffing and office support. The Indiana Bowhunters Association contributed $1,000, making them the first lobbying partner organization. It is hoped that other state associations will consider becoming $1,000 lobbying partners also.
There was discussion about possible regional meetings over the coming year to reach out to groups statewide.
Roundtable Roundup is the new monthly Roundtable email newsletter with the first edition out in March. John Goss, Board Secretary, will edit the Roundup. Gene stressed that all members should suggest topics and contribute content for the Roundup.
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Atterbury-Putnam Fish and Wildlife Properties
Mark Reiter-Fish and Wildlife Division Director, presented the details of the property swap announced by Governor Daniels on April 15th. The Indiana National Guard has wanted to expand at Atterbury for over 10 years.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has strict requirements for a land exchange requiring equal or greater wildlife, recreational and monetary value.
Read the entire press release.
Some concerns were expressed about the amount of hunting and fishing license funds invested over the past 40 years in the Atterbury property for improvements and maintenance that is not being compensated. Also, there is a serious concern about the ability of Fish and Wildlife to manage another property that is not connected to an existing fish and wildlife area.
The former open crop land at Putnam has potential as upland game and game bird management areas.
Public Open Scoping Meetings are set next week:
-April 26th at Atterbury, at the DNR office 6-8PM
-April 28th at Putnam, 6PM-8PM, at the State Police Post at Putnamville on US 40
The open meetings are to consider all possible environmental impacts and to discuss positive and negative impacts.
A Roundtable fieldtrip may be scheduled at the Putnam property this summer.
The Governor cited the addition of 33,000 acres since 2005 to Indiana protected areas. A list of properties and the areas with public access on the 33,000 acres has been requested from DNR and will be circulated to ISR membership.
Reiter also suggested that it will be a goal to locate more land on the north side of Atterbury for possible purchase to add to the fish and wildlife area.
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Deer management strategy
Mark Reiter outlined the task force work to create a list of options. Several ISR members served on the task force.
THE INDIANA SPORTSMEN’S ROUNDTABLE HAS TAKEN NO POSITIONS ON THE DEER RULES PROPOSALS AT THIS TIME.
ISR encourages all organizations to pay close attention to and participate in the deer rules discussion.
DNR staff created an online survey available Monday, April 19 to measure interest in various options.
PLEASE TAKE AND FORWARD THIS SURVEY TO ALL HUNTERS.
The DNR staff will draft a rule, and the proposed rule will go to the DNR Commission on May 18th for preliminary adoption of the deer rules changes. Then public hearings and public comment periods begin. The Commission would like to put the changes in effect for deer season this coming fall, 2010.
The concern was expressed that adopting too many changes at one time will make it impossible to track the impact of the changes. If these changes are all successful, could the deer herd be reduced too much?
Mark suggested that we adopt the changes and keep in effect for 5 years to measure impacts.
Access to deer on private property is still one of the biggest concerns. Farm Bureau is interested in working on increasing access to private lands and revisiting the legal liability questions for private landowners allowing hunters on their property.
There is a concern for bundling licenses and the financial impact on vendors handling licenses. It may require legislation to make changes in fees to vendors.
Questions were raised on options for creating a crossbow license. It is unclear if DNR has authority to create the cross bow license. However, possibly the crossbow could be licensed as a primitive weapon under the gun license. Archery groups do not support adding crossbow as part of the archery license.
DNR will share a draft of the proposed rules before the May Commission meeting with the stakeholders group. Roundtable members will receive notice when the draft deer rules are available.
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Roundtable consensus voting
The members then discussed how the Roundtable will develop a Consensus policy on issues.
The Roundtable members present voted that a two thirds, or 66%, vote is needed to adopt a policy statement for the Indiana Sportsmen’s Roundtable. An amendment to set the requirement at 75% was defeated.
When natural resources policy issues arise and no in-person meeting of the Roundtable is possible, an email survey of ISR Members will be used to poll the sentiments of the designated contact persons for each member organization. At least 3 days will be allowed for a response to an email survey. A two thirds vote or 66% of those responding to the email will be considered a consensus of the ISR. In some cases, legislative amendments and other questions may arise that need quick responses. The officers of the ISR Board will be empowered to make statements that they believe are consistent with Roundtable interests.
Proactive roundtable proposals should have unanimous consensus of support if possible.
Bylaws will be on the ISR website.
The DNR Commission is moving rapidly to address Rule Changes Recommended by the Advisory Council.
Click here for the DNR Commission rules schedule.
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Changes in Fall dog running season
Recommendation for preliminary adoption of amendments to 312 IAC 9-3-14 that govern the chasing and taking of raccoons and opossums, Administrative Cause No. 10-038D
The changes are summarized as follows:
1) Extends the raccoon and opossum running season to February 1 through October 25 (it currently runs from Feb. 15 though Oct. 14). The NRC requested the rule change to open the running season on February 1 instead of February 15 as a result of the recommendation by the Natural Resources Advisory Council through the comprehensive fish and wildlife rules enhancement project. The Indiana Sportsman’s Roundtable developed a taskforce that consisted of a representative from the Indiana Bowhunter’s Association, Indiana Deer Hunter’s Association, Furtakers of America, and Indiana Tree Dog Alliance to work on an agreement to an extension to the running season in the fall. This taskforce agreed to an extension of the dog running season for raccoons and opossums until October 25.
2) Opens the raccoon and opossum hunting and trapping season on the same day (Nov. 8), adding 7 more days to the trapping season. The raccoon and opossum hunting season currently starts on November 8 and the trapping season currently starts on November 15. This extension will allow for more raccoons and opossums to be taken by trappers.
More details here.
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ISR Task force report
Chris Powell, Hoosier Tree Dog Alliance, explained the reasons for recommending the season changes.
The ISR taskforce was asked by DNR staff for a recommendation, and it was communicated that the ISR task force supported this change. It was also reported that the rest of the ISR groups had not reviewed this issue.
In the future, standard procedure will be that task forces need to report to rest of ISR for consensus discussion and voting prior to public statements on ISR policy positions.
ISR members adopted a motion to accept the task force recommendation with 2 voting in opposition.
ISR Supports the DNR recommendations for changes in Raccoon and Opossum seasons.
Coyote and Fox Hunting with Dogs:
DNR did not recommend any restrictions for hunting for fox and coyotes.
ISR unanimously supports the status quo with no restrictions on hunting fox and coyote with dogs.
ENCLOSURES:
DNR has proposed to eliminate dog training in enclosures with coyotes and foxes. ISR has taken no position on dog training in enclosures with coyotes and foxes.
Law enforcement will present info at the May DNR Commission meeting about different types of dog training around the country. Some states allow small pens, called catch pens, to train dogs to catch animals.
Indiana Fox Hunters Assoc has 3 field trials scheduled at the Linton property which has 375 Acres in an enclosure for field trials.
ISR, DNR and the DNR Commission have been invited to view the field trials.
Fair Chase within the enclosures will be reviewed. ISR review and consider later this year. A visit will be scheduled. The owner will be invited to speak to ISR also.
CONSERVATION OFFICER JOB DESCRIPTION
An ISR Task Force will research the concern that Indiana Conservation Officers are asked to spend lots of time on non fish and wildlife funds. Are we getting our money’s worth?
Bill Herring, Dean Shadley and Gene Hopkins will start research on the CO job descriptions.
DNR STAFF CHANGES
Col. Mike Crider retiring December, 2010 as head of Conservation Officers
Wayne Bivins has recently retired as head of Wildlife Division.
John Goss will request a meeting with Director Carter to discuss ISR input on hiring key Fish and Wildlife and Law Enforcement personnel.
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New business
Indiana Taxidermists are requesting an increase in licensing fees. Brad Jones reported on a survey of fees, finding Indiana at the bottom of the list. The taxidermists believe that a higher priced license would add credibility to the profession and improve compliance with state regulations. Also, it could add funds to DNR for fish and wildlife. Current license is $15, proposing $200 per year. There are currently 700 taxidermy license holders. The Association has over 100 members that endorsed this increase, and it was unanimously adopted. $200 would be midrange among the states.
ISR members present voted unanimously to support the taxidermists request for a license increase to $200.
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