Post by ridge on Jan 11, 2020 22:52:53 GMT -5
This brief but very odd NRC meeting of 1/9/2019 was again on the MUCC live feed. I watched it to see what new ideas or events might happen and so they did. The Commission and the public speakers had interesting (to say the least) things to say and to do.
Eric Schnell of QDMA, who gave the usual party spiel for MARs across the state, etc., and the new Head of MBH (new to me) vigorously welcomed Anne Mitterling, the new member of the NRC. She has previously worked with the MUCC and lately worked as the CO-OP organizer/liaison for the DNR. She later stated something along the nature of "after having worked with and observed the DNR and MUCC she would support their programs or ideas. (I will check this quote again at a later date as I have time.) If I understood correctly this would mean there is no neutrality in this member and perhaps that was the intent with her placement.
The MBH Director renewed their effort against crossbows. He suggested that deer were being overharvested because of crossbows. The MBH, according to him, is asking that the archery season be split into two seasons, one of which would remove crossbows from legal use. Remember that this Director of the MBH sits on the Board of Directors of the MUCC. The MBH Director spoke as though the muzzle loading groups were siding with him in this action. Many of us knew this dirty shoe would drop and now we know when. He also stated that he wanted the special January urban archery season extended to all of zone 3. Two commissioners asked questions which were to clarify his statement so they knew exactly what he was wanted. I saw no response from the commissioners. This is sure to build some more fires among deer hunters.
The really but not so strange to some was that a speaker was there on behalf of an animal protection group and another was there for the Michigan Humane Society. First they politely but somewhat aggressively asked for a seat on the NRC. The NRC was respectful but non responsive to their request. They both stated that the majority of Michigan people (non-hunters) want non-consumptive use hunting. [HOW DOES ONE HUNT WITHOUT USING THAT ANIMAL A SINGLE TIME AS IN FOOD?] The Humane Society leader said that they were especially against "trophy" hunting, trapping, predator and fur hunting. Anyone for CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES would see it their way according to her.
After a few usual director reports during the regular meeting, the commissioners went into closed session for a legal matter that they said was based on client-attorney privilege. It has been no secret that a trout group, most likely TU, has sued the State of Michigan and the DNR over a recent action by the NRC to increase the take of brook trout to ten in certain streams of the UP. After the session Walters made the motion to reverse the previous action and it received a second. Commissioner Tracy objected to the entire procedure stating it would open the door for reversing or going over whatever had been done in the past. He was right however the Commission voted 4-2 to reverse the previous action. For the rest of the story it should be known that two of the NRC commissioners are prominent members of the TU which is also a prominent player in the MUCC. Had those two members, who should have recused themselves done so, the vote would have been tied 2-2. The politics of money and influence were blatantly clear in this case,
This was the brunt of the meeting along with the sale and exchange of properties.
My Dear wife said that the meeting was held during a full moon. Who am I to argue that this was not so!
Eric Schnell of QDMA, who gave the usual party spiel for MARs across the state, etc., and the new Head of MBH (new to me) vigorously welcomed Anne Mitterling, the new member of the NRC. She has previously worked with the MUCC and lately worked as the CO-OP organizer/liaison for the DNR. She later stated something along the nature of "after having worked with and observed the DNR and MUCC she would support their programs or ideas. (I will check this quote again at a later date as I have time.) If I understood correctly this would mean there is no neutrality in this member and perhaps that was the intent with her placement.
The MBH Director renewed their effort against crossbows. He suggested that deer were being overharvested because of crossbows. The MBH, according to him, is asking that the archery season be split into two seasons, one of which would remove crossbows from legal use. Remember that this Director of the MBH sits on the Board of Directors of the MUCC. The MBH Director spoke as though the muzzle loading groups were siding with him in this action. Many of us knew this dirty shoe would drop and now we know when. He also stated that he wanted the special January urban archery season extended to all of zone 3. Two commissioners asked questions which were to clarify his statement so they knew exactly what he was wanted. I saw no response from the commissioners. This is sure to build some more fires among deer hunters.
The really but not so strange to some was that a speaker was there on behalf of an animal protection group and another was there for the Michigan Humane Society. First they politely but somewhat aggressively asked for a seat on the NRC. The NRC was respectful but non responsive to their request. They both stated that the majority of Michigan people (non-hunters) want non-consumptive use hunting. [HOW DOES ONE HUNT WITHOUT USING THAT ANIMAL A SINGLE TIME AS IN FOOD?] The Humane Society leader said that they were especially against "trophy" hunting, trapping, predator and fur hunting. Anyone for CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES would see it their way according to her.
After a few usual director reports during the regular meeting, the commissioners went into closed session for a legal matter that they said was based on client-attorney privilege. It has been no secret that a trout group, most likely TU, has sued the State of Michigan and the DNR over a recent action by the NRC to increase the take of brook trout to ten in certain streams of the UP. After the session Walters made the motion to reverse the previous action and it received a second. Commissioner Tracy objected to the entire procedure stating it would open the door for reversing or going over whatever had been done in the past. He was right however the Commission voted 4-2 to reverse the previous action. For the rest of the story it should be known that two of the NRC commissioners are prominent members of the TU which is also a prominent player in the MUCC. Had those two members, who should have recused themselves done so, the vote would have been tied 2-2. The politics of money and influence were blatantly clear in this case,
This was the brunt of the meeting along with the sale and exchange of properties.
My Dear wife said that the meeting was held during a full moon. Who am I to argue that this was not so!