Dennis
07-29-2011, 10:24 PM
SWFWMD Meeting Recap
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 29th SWFWMD Meeting in Plant City at Hillsborough Community Collage
Governing Board member Hugh Gramling facilitated the meeting and Governing Board member Neil Combee was in attendance District members in attendance that took part in the meeting were Eric Sutton, Will Miller, Cheryl Hill and Bruce Wurth. FWC’s Jason Burton and Chris Wynn were in attendance as well as an aide to State Senator Paula Dockery, FWC law enforcement was present as well.
The meeting was opened by Governing Board member Hugh Gramling welcoming the public and setting some ground rules for the meeting limiting speaking time allowing 2 minutes for each speaker. Eric Sutton briefed the room on what the meeting would be about and Will Miller went through the process and how it was arrived at. He then went through a quick review of the properties and what the District has proposed to open for new hunting opportunities.
The crowd was the typically uninformed Audubon / Sierra types spreading their untruths and misinformation flavored with irrational and emotional fears. A new anti-hunting group has surfaced, the equestrians who have unfounded fears of being shot and collectively exerting their beliefs they have ownership of some of these properties. Does anyone know how many equestrian riders or their horses have been shot by lawful hunters on public land in Florida? I don’t believe I have any knowledge of any incidents. Another of their rants was of hunting takes place in the cooler months when they want to ride. The native plant folks don’t want us there thinking we’ll step on something but don’t seem to mind the hikers or horses stomping and pooping about. Some espoused that environmental impact studies need to be done, before hunting can take place but nothing before a hiker or other user group can walk where they want. One misguided Sierra type lady actually said that we will disrupt the ecology by disturbing the moist soils. Really, the hikers and horses what do they do? Another uninformed Sierra fellow said how hunting can’t take place on the Chassahowitzka area due to the bears that will be shot! After the meeting I spoke with him and asked him to tell how many bears are shot accidentally by hunters in the state, and that the bears are seen traveling thru the WMA’s in the immediate area with no adverse effects. Of course he had no knowledge and didn’t care to learn that we hunt in prime bear country without the bears suffering any negative impacts. It just proves what these anti-hunters who are otherwise intelligent people will say and believe with absolutely no evidence, sophistry in the purest form.
Multiple media groups were there and as I write this our own Ralf Putnam gave a great on camera interview you can see on Bay News 9, I’m sure there is going to be more about this in the other media outlets as well.
__________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 29th SWFWMD Meeting in Plant City at Hillsborough Community Collage
Governing Board member Hugh Gramling facilitated the meeting and Governing Board member Neil Combee was in attendance District members in attendance that took part in the meeting were Eric Sutton, Will Miller, Cheryl Hill and Bruce Wurth. FWC’s Jason Burton and Chris Wynn were in attendance as well as an aide to State Senator Paula Dockery, FWC law enforcement was present as well.
The meeting was opened by Governing Board member Hugh Gramling welcoming the public and setting some ground rules for the meeting limiting speaking time allowing 2 minutes for each speaker. Eric Sutton briefed the room on what the meeting would be about and Will Miller went through the process and how it was arrived at. He then went through a quick review of the properties and what the District has proposed to open for new hunting opportunities.
The crowd was the typically uninformed Audubon / Sierra types spreading their untruths and misinformation flavored with irrational and emotional fears. A new anti-hunting group has surfaced, the equestrians who have unfounded fears of being shot and collectively exerting their beliefs they have ownership of some of these properties. Does anyone know how many equestrian riders or their horses have been shot by lawful hunters on public land in Florida? I don’t believe I have any knowledge of any incidents. Another of their rants was of hunting takes place in the cooler months when they want to ride. The native plant folks don’t want us there thinking we’ll step on something but don’t seem to mind the hikers or horses stomping and pooping about. Some espoused that environmental impact studies need to be done, before hunting can take place but nothing before a hiker or other user group can walk where they want. One misguided Sierra type lady actually said that we will disrupt the ecology by disturbing the moist soils. Really, the hikers and horses what do they do? Another uninformed Sierra fellow said how hunting can’t take place on the Chassahowitzka area due to the bears that will be shot! After the meeting I spoke with him and asked him to tell how many bears are shot accidentally by hunters in the state, and that the bears are seen traveling thru the WMA’s in the immediate area with no adverse effects. Of course he had no knowledge and didn’t care to learn that we hunt in prime bear country without the bears suffering any negative impacts. It just proves what these anti-hunters who are otherwise intelligent people will say and believe with absolutely no evidence, sophistry in the purest form.
Multiple media groups were there and as I write this our own Ralf Putnam gave a great on camera interview you can see on Bay News 9, I’m sure there is going to be more about this in the other media outlets as well.
__________________