Trump plans major expansion of hunting and fishing in protected US wildlife refuges

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LiveLife

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(6/5/19) OAK HARBOR, Ohio: Trump administration plans major expansion of hunting and fishing in protected US wildlife refuges - http://www.fox5atlanta.com/web/waga...nd-fishing-in-protected-us-wildlife-refuges-1
  • Trump administration proposed major expansion of opening up federally protected land for hunting and fishing in the nation's wildlife refuges
  • Plan affects 1.4 million acres on federal public lands including 74 national wildlife refuges
  • Proposal would allow hunting and fishing for the first time at 15 national fish hatcheries.
  • Proposed expansion at sites in 46 states would allow hunting in 382 wildlife refuges while fishing would be allowed at 316 locations.
  • The plan is to finalize the proposal by September after public comment.
I guess more hunters and fishermen will be voting for Trump in 2020?
 
Plan affects 1.4 million acres on federal public lands including 74 national wildlife refuges
Take a look at Osage county in Oklahoma. It’s 1.4 million acres. Now spread that much land over 46 states. It sounds like a lot. And cheers for those that it opens up opportunities for. But in the big scheme, it’s a spec of sand on a beach.

But......I’m still glad he’s doing it.
 
What if this is just the beginning?

I will take anything pro-gun/2A and hunting and fishing coming my way as I lamented closure after closure of public/wildlife lands over the decades. (As a hiker/rock climber in my youth, I cursed Sierra Club meddling of "our" public lands)

Now retiring, fishing and perhaps hunting (A lot of wildlife in my retirement location and all the neighbors hunt) will be a big part of my retirement.

I think we should celebrate and encourage more pro hunting/fishing proposals.

This proposal follows "Range Bill" which showcased raising of more than $12.1 billion dollars since inception by recreational shooters to significantly contribute to wildlife conservation - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...lated-information.849620/page-5#post-11121848

"Pittman-Robertson funds are derived from an excise tax paid by firearms and ammunition manufacturers. Since 1937, the fund has generated more than $12.1 billion that has funded wildlife conservation and safety education programs in all 50 states. NSSF estimates more than 80 percent of Pittman-Robertson excise tax contributions are generated by sales attributed to recreational shooting. This means today’s recreational target shooter is an overwhelming contributor to conservation through excise tax support."
 
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Hey I’m not complaining. We just have to look at the numbers in perspective. And I’m not a Trump hater at all.

Oklahoma population= 3.9 million (same as the population of Los Angeles Ca.). Total tax revenue of 2018= 12.1 billion.

So all the excise tax revenue since Oklahoma’s 30th birthday to the present for all the millions of guns and billions of rounds of ammunition equals our tax revenue for 1 year. Thats 81 years of this excise tax. That’s just crazy to me. I wonder what percentage of the sale of a firearm goes to this excise tax.

I’ll take the win though. It’s more land than we had before him. And it’s more money than we’d have without the tax. If it’s the beginning, it’s a good start.
 
After decades of anti-gun/2A laws passed in CA and at national level, I will celebrate every one of pro-gun/2A laws passed.

Elections have consequences and things are happening for gun rights/2A for a change (To the horrific dismay of the anti-gun/2A crowd :D:thumbup:). Instead of lamenting, let's celebrate and encourage our pro-gun/2A law makers to do more. Wait until more conservative federal district/circuit courts rule in favor of gun rights/2A, heads of anti-gun/2A crowd will explode then. :rofl:

If you want to "Do Something" pro-gun/2A, email/write/call your law makers and congratulate on good work they did on the "Range Bill" and encourage them to support the Trump proposal.
 
Let's stay on topic, already deleted one post. Not going to nurse this.
 
Not sure.
As someone into outdoor activities and that likes areas populated by wildlife, you do need some locations with reduced pressure.

Hunters are also opposite of natural predators and kill the biggest and healthiest, stopping its genes from progressing. Nature's predators kill the weak and diseased, the slowest, and the mentally challenged more often and end up improving the animal. Human predators make animals worse over time, and natural predators improve them.

Additionally while recreational fishermen are only moderate pressure, and if not for the tours and businesses that take large numbers of people on boats would actually be quite light pressure, commercial fishing operations are particularly rough on any area they are allowed. Commercial guys tend to take all they can and operate as many hours as they are allowed until the area ceases to be productive.
As an avid fisherman and diver and spearfisherman I can tell you that areas completely closed to all fishing are nearly as abundant as those closed to only commercial fishing with the exception of a couple species particularly easy to catch. While commercial fishing tends to completely deplete an area while hiring experts scientists to claim sustainability of just about any fishery until they deplete stocks and then profit declines enough that they move their entire operation to another part of the world or target a new species. Seen it happen over and over with many fisheries.
Commercial use is what brings in money, taxes, is traded on the stock market, and generates jobs though, and Trump being a businessman it makes me wonder.
Does it include commercial fishing?
Commercial fishing is rarely sustainable, just like commercial hunting was not (passenger pigeon was estimated to be the most numerous bird species on the planet if I recall and used to block out the sun for days in a row during migrations. Most were killed to be sold as meat to the European market.)
 
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