Yep!

Moosetrot

Why is this a problem? Would any of you changed your vote on it based on what was said in the room? I wasn't.

I, too, question how they would keep anti's from taking over.

Here's what I stated above:
"Some of the comments from concerned citizens swayed how I voted on certain questions."
Maybe I'm the exception though. We just really had a lot of good discussion at our meeting. It's a good chance to listen to other viewpoints and learn.
I, along with our WTA county rep, stood up and spoke in support of several of the trapping questions. I would like to think it made a difference.

It is up this year, but still not as high as it should be. He only had a couple folks in my county show up. Here is a link to the public comments.

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/hunt/documents/DMU-report.pdf

Why is this a problem? Would any of you changed your vote on it based on what was said in the room? I wasn't. [/quote]

Absolutely!!!!! Many times I have changed the way I was going to vote based upon hearing the discussion from someone who actually knew what they are talking about. At least I had the opportunity to hear the discussion to weigh the sides of an issue and vote accordingly.

'Nuff said. G'night.

Moosetrot

I wonder if DNR is pushing for online voting. They'd probably prefer to not have to spend the night at the congress meeting.

AJE, that was directed at Nimzy. Would he change his vote at that point? Both of us were authors of resolutions that lead to question 32. I won't speak for Nimzy, but it would of taken an act of God to change my mind on that question on that night. Is that a bad thing? In reality, wouldn't that be the best case scenario?

It was about our ability to influence others. It’s difficult to do once they leave. I have but one vote

But If they are doing It online you can't influence anyone.
Can you Imagine what a few antis could do with the use of social media. We the consumptive users would be hung out to dry In a heart beat.

X2

Interesting theory. As Nimzy noted, you are already losing your ability to influence at the meeting as the majority have voted by the time the question comes up. Would elections and new resolutions be exception?

But what keeps you from influencing them now before the meeting? Isn't it already happening? Why did so many crossbow supporters show up?

You only need to look at the crossing the rail road track issue here on the west side of the state, to see how online voting would hurt individual counties.
So people are basically lazy and don't take time to go to there county meeting get local input on a topic. Unless there is a hot button issue for them as a individual user. Like us folks here along the river and the rail track issue. Locally big issue for some people, most don't care. It has to be changed at state or national level. People who don't have a local, state or even national concern on a topic. Their not even going to go to a county meeting to see what concerns the locals have on a topic. Pretty sure they'd be more than happy though when the news announces and up coming online vote. To just pop on line and put the finger on a yes or no key.
I used to get pretty bored at the meetings years ago with the round and round talk on some topics, I had no interest in. Dove hunt comes to mind with lots of faces never seen before at our county meeting. Years ago when we had to sit there and raise our hands to vote. You had to wait your turn sit threw all the other BS to get to that one vote you wanted to make. But then people felt intimidated having to raise their hands in a crowd, wait so long to vote. Enter stream lining the vote to paper ballot shorting meeting time, clean things up. Less confrontation..Yes I'll admit I like being able to read ahead and I mark some votes before the discussion has been had. During the old hand votes though I remember seeing people clearly anti's. Vote No on any issue that made things better, easier or added things for outdoor users. Didn't matter the content of discussion pro or con.
In fairness to those folks they were passionate enough to be there and raise their hand have their say. You got to respect that and especially as it applies to a local issue..
I'm probably and odd duck with the voting thing. But I don't always vote on every question. If the locals in some county think they should have a 10 fish limit blue gills on some lake I'm never going to fish. I skip that question let the locals that want or don't want it vote. Not cancel some local persons vote with my yes or no.
Anyway you take the vote online. You lose even more local voice.
When I created the cat fiasco to which Moosetrot got up and spoke on my behalf. While I was hiding in the crowd under death threats. Lot of things became clear to me about this voting thing. When I'd get calls from the media or haters. One thing I'd ask them. Did you read my proposal? Most times answer was no. They only knew they hated me and were against what I proposed.. Even though they had no idea what that was..
I had made my proposal and had it voted down I believe twice, at the local level with crowd laughing. That was at least two years I messed with it and I'm not sure that was two years in a row I don't recall now. When I proposed it the second time and the vote was again a no. The local district warden supervisor talked with me about approaching the subject differently. The next year I wrote it the way he suggested and the vote passed locally without a giggle... Bring it state wide the next year.
Take the vote on line..never would have brought that issue to light. It died and really was a mess for me personally. But I can say I've seen change in how the subject of feral cats is looked at nation wide.
So for me I would never want conservation congress vote to go on line. I wouldn't mind they went back to raise your hand be counted. Dip your finger in the purple dye so you can't vote twice.
I do recall one of the wardens telling me many years ago. If the anti's every got organized enough they could take over and control those meetings. I even heard anti's at meetings stand up and complain they had no voice there they were out numbered..
Give them online voting probably be just that voice, numbers, Control they want.

JMTCW

Mac

X2 [/

XXX3quote]

on question 32, guys I talked to don't want southern trappers up here hammering away before their season, and after their season

Why do you think we went to the statewide season? Not that I agree.

Greed

Pushed by the same individual that made a cluster#&$@ out of our colony trap regs.

Do we really need to beat this dead horse some more?

As stated before we had a lot of persons vote and hand in their ballots before the meeting started. We had a nomination from the floor for a candidate to fill a 2-year seat on the county congress. He nominated himself so that gives us some insight as to the interest. We also had a resolution that 10 terms would be the limit any one could serve. We will see where that goes.
Several of the persons voting early and leaving were voting for or against the crossbow resolution and group hunting.
As to question 32 I was involved in getting this to the hearings. I can see the issue people have regarding those that don't reside in an area coming up to harvest wildlife, but we do that with deer, bobcats, wolves, bear etc. etc. and our dollars are welcomed but oh no you can't have a $2.50 muskrat those are ours.

I live in an area that was in the central region and have trapped in the northern region not far from where I own property. The fact that we create 3 zones can be an issue, but in reality for me I have 12-16 more ice free days where I live than say Park Falls WI. All my rat line in my area is private so I can trap for a week or 10 days up north under the current law and not lose much if any open water in the south and I have actually better ice with less snow for later season. So if we don't return to a 3 zone season it won't change things as much as many think. If one wants to trap up north it is more a decision for me to enjoy a different experience and not catch a ton of high value rats.

Bryce

I haven't trapped up north. Do the rats get smaller the further north in the state a person goes, or is it just that they don't have as nice of a pelt? Im in central Wi. I was telling a guy from southern Wi that I sometimes use 110s instead of 159s, and he looked at me like I was kinda crazy.

How bout during “ their “ season?