Hunt_News
10-14-05, 09:07
Farmers, hunters asked to respond to survey
10/12/2005
With the fall hunting season now under way, it’s an opportunity for sportsmen and farmers, ranchers and other landowners to give their views in an online survey about issues surrounding land available for hunting, fishing and other wildlife recreation.
The rural organization Communicating for Agriculture and the Self-Employed (CA) is featuring an ongoing public opinion survey on its Web site about policies and programs surrounding improving access to private lands for hunting, fishing and other wildlife recreation.
CA would like to hear from sportsmen and landowners among both the general public and its membership. In particular, CA is seeking to learn public perspectives on state “Walk-In” or “Open Fields” programs, which provide incentives to landowners to make their private lands available to sportsmen.
The survey also touches on opinions about liability protection issues for landowners and respect for property by sportsmen.
You can take the survey by going to CA’s Web site at www.selfemployedcountry.org or you can download it from there and send it in with comments.
The issues and public views are important and timely due to legislation under consideration in Washington, D.C., which would provide partial federal grant funds to support states in trying to fund walk-in access programs.
Communicating for Agriculture and the Self-Employed is an active supporter, along with many wildlife, hunting and conservation organizations, of Senate Bill 548, the Voluntary Public Access and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Programs Act of 2005.
The bipartisan backed bill would authorize $20 million be made available in grants through USDA for cost assistance to state walk-in programs that provide incentive payments to landowners who voluntarily make their land available for hunting and wildlife based recreation.
While the $20 million in federal cost sharing would represent a small amount compared to what the 18 states with these programs now spend, CA says it would help them meet some of the increased demand and may encourage additional states to start similar programs.
An estimated 82 million or more Americans go hunting, fishing, bird watching or take part in some form of wildlife based outdoor recreation each year.
“Hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation are among the most important attractions and benefits of living in rural America, and they represent an important connection to our urban friends. It’s important that we protect the land and enhance these recreational resources. Hunting and recreation should not become something that only the wealthy can do,” said Wayne Nelson, CA national president and a South Dakota farmer.
CA is a 33-year-old national, non-profit, non-partisan organization, headquartered in Fergus Falls, made up of farmers, ranchers and rural small business members. CA has long been active in support of conservation, the environment and rural economic development. For more information, call 1-800-432-3276.
10/12/2005
With the fall hunting season now under way, it’s an opportunity for sportsmen and farmers, ranchers and other landowners to give their views in an online survey about issues surrounding land available for hunting, fishing and other wildlife recreation.
The rural organization Communicating for Agriculture and the Self-Employed (CA) is featuring an ongoing public opinion survey on its Web site about policies and programs surrounding improving access to private lands for hunting, fishing and other wildlife recreation.
CA would like to hear from sportsmen and landowners among both the general public and its membership. In particular, CA is seeking to learn public perspectives on state “Walk-In” or “Open Fields” programs, which provide incentives to landowners to make their private lands available to sportsmen.
The survey also touches on opinions about liability protection issues for landowners and respect for property by sportsmen.
You can take the survey by going to CA’s Web site at www.selfemployedcountry.org or you can download it from there and send it in with comments.
The issues and public views are important and timely due to legislation under consideration in Washington, D.C., which would provide partial federal grant funds to support states in trying to fund walk-in access programs.
Communicating for Agriculture and the Self-Employed is an active supporter, along with many wildlife, hunting and conservation organizations, of Senate Bill 548, the Voluntary Public Access and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Programs Act of 2005.
The bipartisan backed bill would authorize $20 million be made available in grants through USDA for cost assistance to state walk-in programs that provide incentive payments to landowners who voluntarily make their land available for hunting and wildlife based recreation.
While the $20 million in federal cost sharing would represent a small amount compared to what the 18 states with these programs now spend, CA says it would help them meet some of the increased demand and may encourage additional states to start similar programs.
An estimated 82 million or more Americans go hunting, fishing, bird watching or take part in some form of wildlife based outdoor recreation each year.
“Hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation are among the most important attractions and benefits of living in rural America, and they represent an important connection to our urban friends. It’s important that we protect the land and enhance these recreational resources. Hunting and recreation should not become something that only the wealthy can do,” said Wayne Nelson, CA national president and a South Dakota farmer.
CA is a 33-year-old national, non-profit, non-partisan organization, headquartered in Fergus Falls, made up of farmers, ranchers and rural small business members. CA has long been active in support of conservation, the environment and rural economic development. For more information, call 1-800-432-3276.