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My thinking was is if a organization could bring all the different users together.. hunting, trappers, fisherman, even down to the wild life photographers and stay at home moms or dads who just visit a state park every so often... just laying facts out of what the bills mean. And dive a bit deeper into what it would mean for recreation and all users of wildlife. My mother in law is fallen into the wolves stuff years ago... she thinks they all should be protected and we are horrible for wanting to harvest them doesnt take into consideration how well they do and what it would mean if populations were to high... and its because she saw some propaganda in the early 00s and wants to see a wolf in the wild, not just yellowstone... well she's almost 60 not in the best shape, and doesn't spend much time outdoors... she's gonna belive if she wants to see them they should be protected and her mind has been made up ever since. Her and my father in law have almost been divorced over this subject... but that peice of propaganda was enough to change her mind forever.... thats all I really mean we somehow need to be more organized as a group and articulating the facts and dismissing the propaganda to the large majority of people. But it does have to be done tasteful and tacticly.. my father in law is a purist and very smart like you... and lays facts out doesnt really let his opinion sway his decision but tbe facts... but it's not catchy and it's not a picture of a innocent wolf pup or lion cub... we all think they are cute too... but having the kids in Colorado name the wolves in school class is wild peice of propaganda... it's attaching feelings not facts to the kids and really playing the long game... I guess I dont really know how to combat it in a large scale... but I would think having a honest group that proves to be honest like rmef would stand a pretty good chance at laying out both sides arguments, and letting people decide what it actually means for them... vs all the propaganda... but propaganda is sexier unfortunately. Again I don't have the answer.

I do agree we need some people in the frontlines willing to hault these issues.. I guess I'm just kinda at a loss.. the differences we all have with eachother in the hunting community are going to be the fall... these guys don't care if we think the seasons should be a week longer or shorter, or if its a trophy hunt, tag allocations etc... they don't want a season at all at the end of the day... so if we don't figure a way out to combat that propaganda, I do think it will eventually win. Little by little... then agency's like California will be hiring trappers and sharpshooters to hunt the lions and wolves etc... the same problem but now the hunts are not on social media so the animal rights activist feel happy, not knowing how much more money was wasted in the pit of waste we already make. I definitely didn't realize what you pointed out though so thank you.

Perhaps our approach is part of the issue of making the division broader. We continually bemoan people not running with our messages, thoughts, etc yet we rarely ever reconsider our approach. The hunting community leads with it's chest and it's heart - rarely with it's head.
 
no you were referring to mass e-mails simply advocating for a position. not mass e-mails harassing people and their family.

as far as what the hell would i do? i'd never be a politician, there is no amount of money - my soul is priceless.

so, i dunno 🤷‍♂️

To think that those emails don't get personalized after a few road sodas and get turned into an expression of frustration ignores the reality of mass-email communications.

Plus - if a legislator is getting 10-15 emails from you, regardless of how polite or unaltered the form email is, you're wasting their time, along with the 4700 other emails in their inboxes.

Expecting people to respond positively to a barrage of negative reinforcement is kinda like thinking the stripper really likes you.
 
Perhaps our approach is part of the issue of making the division broader. We continually bemoan people not running with our messages, thoughts, etc yet we rarely ever reconsider our approach. The hunting community leads with it's chest and it's heart - rarely with it's head.
edit: testosterone, and egos

I agree with you, just the way I personally would word it.
 
Perhaps our approach is part of the issue of making the division broader. We continually bemoan people not running with our messages, thoughts, etc yet we rarely ever reconsider our approach. The hunting community leads with it's chest and it's heart - rarely with it's head.

same could be said of the other "side." emotional chest beating and falsities lobbed left and right.

the issue really just seems to be we're a minority in a state with an executive and legislative branch who's majority is fast tilting away into sympathy with/controlled by anti hunting.

no amount of tea and crumpets will sway my senator. maybe it would some others.

now obviously politeness, kindness, and authenticity should always lead the pack. i may express frustration in e-mails, but never resort to insults.

however, at the same time, if they don't wanna be called pig ****ers then don't be pig ****ers. actions having consequences should be a two way street. it seems the whole concept of actions having consequences only seems to apply to citizens anymore.

* randy, that's the last time i type out that profanity, i promise. sorry.
 
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same could be said of the other "side"

I define my ethics through my behavior, not the behavior of my adversaries. If those folks want to fight dirty, that does not mean I get dirty as well.

the issue really just seems to be we're a minority in a state with an executive and legislative branch who's majority is fast tilting away into sympathy with/controlled by anti hunting.

Welcome to life in these United States. Was having this conversation with some friends recently, and it's a bit funny for those of us who have worked in hardline legislatures for decades. The shift in CO is no different than the shift in MT, except for the color of the shift. Both majorities can be antagonistic to conservation, yet both have the capacity to pass significant and meaningful legislation/budgets if they are worked correctly. The lesson that Coloradans can take away from this week is that mass emails & calls don't sway hardline partisans. But CO should also learn that there is a big enough swing vote in the senate that can be used effectively if you work on your arguments, improve relationships and don't call people you are asking to do something controversial or daring bad names.

no amount of tea and crumpets will sway my senator. maybe it would some others.
"Diplomacy is the art of telling someone to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions."

The English language is one of the finest weapons ever created Learn to use it effectively when you communicate with those you disagree with and you end up severing heads over biscuits and earl grey. And then afterwards, you get a scone and some tea. It's a lovely way to conduct business.

however, at the same time, if they don't wanna be called pig ****ers then don't be pig ****ers. actions having consequences should be a two way street. it seems the whole concept of actions having consequences only seems to apply to citizens anymore.

The consequence of them not doing what you want is you calling them a mean name. The consequence for you in them not doing what you want is materially worse. In this instance the retribution is a fly and the consequence is an elephant. If you want that person to have actual and real consequences for their actions then engage in the political process and knock doors for an opponent - or run! I'd vote for you, like, 17 times.
 
I define my ethics through my behavior, not the behavior of my adversaries. If those folks want to fight dirty, that does not mean I get dirty as well.



Welcome to life in these United States. Was having this conversation with some friends recently, and it's a bit funny for those of us who have worked in hardline legislatures for decades. The shift in CO is no different than the shift in MT, except for the color of the shift. Both majorities can be antagonistic to conservation, yet both have the capacity to pass significant and meaningful legislation/budgets if they are worked correctly. The lesson that Coloradans can take away from this week is that mass emails & calls don't sway hardline partisans. But CO should also learn that there is a big enough swing vote in the senate that can be used effectively if you work on your arguments, improve relationships and don't call people you are asking to do something controversial or daring bad names.


"Diplomacy is the art of telling someone to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions."

The English language is one of the finest weapons ever created Learn to use it effectively when you communicate with those you disagree with and you end up severing heads over biscuits and earl grey. And then afterwards, you get a scone and some tea. It's a lovely way to conduct business.



The consequence of them not doing what you want is you calling them a mean name. The consequence for you in them not doing what you want is materially worse. In this instance the retribution is a fly and the consequence is an elephant. If you want that person to have actual and real consequences for their actions then engage in the political process and knock doors for an opponent - or run! I'd vote for you, like, 17 times.
1710436847337.png
 
Maybe it’s a question best answered by @Oak or someone smarter than me, but are hunting advocate groups such as RMEF, WSF and MDF in on this issue as well? I know HOWL is all over this.
Simple answer, not really, and this is our issue. Dan Gates we t over this last week.
 
One of the biggest hurdles in CO is that these people and decisions are voted in and the changes are all born on the front range. It was so great that 4 of the democratic senators crossed the line. After the vote was over, I even emailed my senator and thanked him even though I did not originally vote for him- and he sent me a personal response saying what occurred was wrong and that Jess wasn't the right candidate.

If the current political situation on the front range is as tight as it appears, I am not sure what we can do other than the try and change the next round of elections to find candidates that might be more wildlife and rural friendly.

The vote went 19 versus 0 on the frontrange - good lord!

I am not even sure what a lobbyist could do to sway any of those 19 unless one of them was convinced that they wouldn't survive the next election.

CO is beyond blue right now and we need to make sure these next round of candidates are sportspeople friendly.
 
We can complain all we want. Can we harness the power of this forum to find possible solutions? As I step back and ponder this problem on a national scale, I have an idea. We need the right people to be the face of our cause. Intelligent, charismatic, likeable people that send the message we want to deliver. We need money to frame the message and employ those type of people. But we need to find those people and all start oaring in the same direction. We are starting to get organized here by calling a meeting of like-minded groups. It is a start.
 
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you guys wash your hands after taking a piss?

Three guys standing at a communal at the Expo. 1 is from UT, 1 is from CO, 1 is from WY.

1st dude finishes & makes a big show of washing his hands. "In Utah, we're taught that cleanliness is a virtue."

2nd guy starts washing his hands w/a little dab of soap & a tiny amount of water. "In Colorado, we know to conserve our water!"

Guy from WY finishes up, zips up & starts walking out the door. "welp, in Wyoming they just teach us to not piss on ourselves."
 
Three guys standing at a communal at the Expo. 1 is from UT, 1 is from CO, 1 is from WY.

1st dude finishes & makes a big show of washing his hands. "In Utah, we're taught that cleanliness is a virtue."

2nd guy starts washing his hands w/a little dab of soap & a tiny amount of water. "In Colorado, we know to conserve our water!"

Guy from WY finishes up, zips up & starts walking out the door. "welp, in Wyoming they just teach us to not piss on ourselves."

1710513343357.png
 
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