I hear what you guys are saying. Let me ask this: Can I potentially do more to affect wildlife policy as a Republican/Independant or as a Dem? When Ballot measure 97 (in 2000) reared its ugly head I was part of a team that visited the Editors of two large Regional Newspapers. These were in Democratic strongholds. That week the Eugene Register Guard came out in opposition to 97. I was directly responsible for the Editor taking that stance. He as much as said so in the Editorial. 97 was defeated while the identical measure in Washington state passed.

At the Senate hearing on HB 3932 on May 6th guess how many trappers came to testify in person? Me, Stan and Jeremy, our OTA prez. The "yes" on 3932 crowd had dozens there.

I see what your saying BP....you think you can make a better stand as a democrat when fighting democrats. Maybe so.

But, its the continued voting for them that some of us are confused by. From the outside looking in....it appears that anyone that voted democrat has created their own problems. We want to ask...WHY, would you do that? It's a concept that's odd to understand.

I get it Swampy. I really do. But I never said that I vote a straight party ticket have I? For example our current Dem Governor didn't receive my vote last election.

Who told the bunny huggers it was recreational? Not me.

I personally hate that term but what they mean is fur trapping. But if you read our regs it says “recreational”.

No...in fairness to you...I've never read that you have. I'm basing my opinions off comments you've made about national level dem-repub candidates and officials. So, I'm assuming that you lean left. My apologies.

No apologies necessary. I do lean left! Lol. I really don’t fit within any party though.

I'm sure the bunny huggers appreciate that term. I remember when I attended several Board of Game meetings in a row years ago, when the bunny huggers number 1 enemy were those non-resident sport hunters. Didn't bad mouth us resident subsistence users at all. It is all about public perception. The general public ( not the bunny huggers) does not actively support the idea of killing wildlife for fun. You gotta have a better reason then that. I did not make how things are, this is how things are.

What constitutes a "subsistence user".

Polling on the issues back what you're saying Dirt. Again, we are not well served using that term.

Beaverpeeler, it was my understanding that you were able to have a discussion with your Democratic Senator. He was the swing vote on the committee that could advance the bill or kill it. Three Democrats and two Republicans on that committee. I'm sure you laid out the reasoning against the bill in an fair and reasoned manner. Yet, he followed the party line and voted against you. Do you think he gave you a fair shake in considering your arguments and your viewpoint coming from real world experience? Or was he going to vote against you no matter what the data and science supported?

The Democrats that I have to tried to engage with in Minnesota on trapping issues (this includes the governor who portrays himself as an outdoors man) won't even talk to me. They hate and despise folks who make their living in the outdoors. Is there even one pro gun and pro trapping Democratic Senator or Representative anywhere in this country. I would say no.

Gerald, we spoke for about 20 minutes. I felt that I was listened to but in reality I had no chance to sway him. He has a A+ rating on environmental causes and he had also heard from many constituents who champion this bill. And you know how politics work. One party member votes against his party and he/she makes enemies within his/her own party and will have to deal with that moving forward.

For trapping in Alaska you have to be trapping to support your family. You need to be making money, eating the meat or making clothes, or making garments or handicrafts to sell to make money.

Perfect example of tyranny of the majority. If this senator had any integrity, he would have simply said: "I'm voting against this because the science and data show that it is a mistake." and let the chips fall where they may.

Kinda of like the old Russian saying, the defendant will be given a fair trial, after which he will be executed.

Urban versus rural divide (or Democrat versus Republican) in this country, and it is the urban that have no respect for the way of life that rural folks have. As bad as it has ever been and getting worse.

There are those from either party who don't necessarily agree with or fit in with their party of choice on all things either, but they still are branded by the actions of their party. I'd suggest if you don't fit in, it's time to move on. For the same reason I don't attend PETA conventions. I don't fit in, and I don't believe in their message or cause. Why be counted in their lot?

I'm of the opinion the person you visited with only took some time to appease you so now he can say, "I've listened to both sides of this issue," and then cast his vote how he had intended to all along.

No i dont believe you can, not after voting democrats into office. Your best chance is to not have democrat majorities voted in, but that cats outta the bag.

Kinda like shutting the barn door after you left all the cows out.

I just hope like someone posted above.....those who still vote for the new progressive democrats of today take note!

It can be complicated in a State where you know the Democrats will be in control because of a large urban vote. There are democrat Legislators occasionally who will support trapping. Tribes are a big component too. Almost always support democrats but also consumptive wildlife use. If you can encourage one of them to try for a committee that oversees these type bills it can be a block. All it takes is one democrat willing to vote with the Republicans. Easy to say it doesn't happen, but it does or really the vote never gets taken because they count the votes beforehand. It takes positioning.

Any politician, democrat or republican, is going to vote whichever way keeps them in power. The politicians that voted on this bill are the same ones who approve of filling in wetlands, clear cutting timber, developing prairies, and “rescuing, removing” wildlife to build new strip malls, golf courses and houses. The same ones who let Port of Morrow dump who knows how much wastewater into the river(with no fines) because they can’t keep up with the fines they’ve been getting over the last 10 years. The science is out the window. They will vote whichever way makes their constituents vote them in again next term.

5 Counties control this state to heck with the rest of the people, it is all about money and power!

Georgia has see-sawed similar to this in the past few years.....with those counties that make up metro Atlanta. Yall can guess the makeup and mindset of those counties.

Some states are doomed by the overpowering vote of the urban areas of their state. It appears to be the future for most of the East Coast and portions of the Midwest.....and has already happened on the West Coast.