What if

[mark]

There 10,293 members on here. WHAT IF everyone would pledge 10 dollars a month,every month to a fund to fight the antis. 1.2 million a year!
WHAT IF 20 bucks a month?

[Jeff Eberle]

Mark, Why stop there, Why not go to all the businesses that make money off of hunters ( Wal-mart ,All sporting good store's , tire shops ,tent company's, four wheel drive shops, ebay , amazon, ect , ect.... ) Anyone that sells anything to do with the outdoors. And make a newsletter of who is helping us fight the fight. Then we would need to hold true to the list even if it meant paying a little more and only shop with the ones in the fight .

[TrophyHusband]

Very good plan Jeff!! Most of these businesses take our money but are silent when it is time to defend us. An online list, or phone app would be nice. I would drive a little further for gas, tires, etc. and pay a little more if I knew they were in the fight with us and not just silently watching us struggle.

[mike martell]

I also think it is time for an on line list of the slacker hound hunters who enjoy the sport and contribute daily right here on Big Game Houndsmen and DON'T BELONG TO ANY STATE ASOCIATION OR A SINGLE HOUND HUNTING CLUB FIGHTING THEIR ASSES OFF TO DEFEND YOUR HOUND HUNTING RIGHTS!

Representative Sprenger said it best about Oregon houndsmen and I'm sure she also nailed it in many other States as well!

Given an option of supporting your hound hunting rights by giving up fifty dollars to save your own sport or spending fifty dollars on gas, can of Copenhagen and a six pack of beer, you choose the latter....

Well people, enjoy the good times while you can because it cost beyond your own personal satisfaction to hunt hounds!

Sure would be nice to see more than three hound hunters in a legislative hearing on Cougar Hunting....So you say, we will never get that back, why bother getting involved????

So what in the hell do you say about only two hound hunters showing up in Salem Oregon at ODFW Headquarter when ODFW tried taking away two Eastern Oregon bobcats last year? Can't take the day off from work but if you could, you wouldn't mind spending the $100.00 in Gas? How hard would it be to at least take the same $100.00 you saved in fuel and stuff it in an envelope and send it to the Oregon State hound lobby association fighting daily for you in Salem?

Now comes your response...That's what they get paid to do.....NO, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND OTHERS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME FOR FREE!!!!! I will introduce you for the first time to the Oregon Outdoor Council Chairman of the Board, he is a retired OSP Fish and Wildlife Game Enforcement Officer and currently a river fishing guide that could be getting paid $$$$$ to have fun, but instead the man chooses to cancel out on cash paying clients and drives to Salem because he believes in you?..............WHY?


Now jump back up to the Bobcat page and look at all the people from Oregon that participate.....How many of you belong to OOC or OUSDA? How many belong to a State club?

Just know and understand .............YOU DO NOTHING FOR YOUR SPORT, THE ONE YOU LOVE AND CHERISH......WHAT IN THE HELL WILL IT TAKE TO MAKE YOU JOIN IN THE FIGHT?

Get spell check because if you keep it up you are going to need it soon, this will be the only place you are going to run a hound race.

Also know and understand there is one guy who is a major contributor on the Bobcat page that gives 1000 times more than his daily dues and he alone shouldn't have to carry the load and some that give all the time necessary in Salem when asked and some young couples with families who struggle making ends meet and can only afford the cost of joining OOC-OUSDA and save up all year long to buy a membership, NOT like some of you retired pikers, that money is used in the fight to defend our hound hunting rights and when you compare us to the other side? The only way we will ever stay in the game will be.............

WHAT IF????

[BAR BAR 2]

Mike, I agree with everything that you said, but we must also remember, TIME is just as important as money. In some instances, it is even more important. One thing I have noticed, is that people are all for joining a group initially. They will make that first meeting or two and they will also give a little money, but then interest quickly fades. If there isn't some sort of constant attraction like field trials, buddy hunts, or bbq's, people's interest will fade quicker than an evening sun.

It would be nice if these organizations could be all about having fun, but the reality is, they serve as a foundation from which to stand when facing the different game agencies and opposition groups. Being able to say that 'Such&Such Houndsmen Association' is at a particular game commission meeting in order to represent the beliefs and wishes of a large contingent of houndsmen is great. Having all those houndsmen at that meeting and then saying that is even better.

All of the fights the houndsmen of different states are in need money. To just throw money at it though and continue on with one's day is the lazy man's approach that will solve nothing in the end. People are needed to make phones calls, to send emails, to show up at commission meetings and to help educate the public. Feeding the hounds and going to the woods is the easy part of being a houndsman, but if people don't start getting in on the fight, you are right, the only races people will be running will be right here on this site.



Tex

[Jeff Eberle]

..

[mr.c]

The ones that say how did that happen are the ones that sat back and did nothing. To turn this around every one who runs hounds or even hunts has to work side by side. All clubs have to start pushing there members to under stand if they don't get involved we will loose.

[mike martell]

Spot on Tex...

Jeff, please don't erase your comments...If you take the time to log in? I want to hear what you have to say, good or bad! This should be the place to get this out in the open!

Tex, I have more time than money and know all too well one person taking action can make a difference, to a point....Our problem is deep rooted...Sometimes having no hound hunters show up in Salem beats representation.

My suggestion? Give $$$$$$ to the lobby that is respected and fighting for our cause, might not be the best, but it is the only one we have....I know and understand the relationship between hound hunters of Oregon and our own Game Commission is the problem, not HUSU-PETA or any other radical organization, it is the very people our dollars go to employ that screw us the most!

How hard would it be to simply write a letter? If a guy can figure out how to log on to BGH? You have no excuse! Why do you need to be told who to write too? Why do you need to be told what to write and when? You sure don't have a problem giving another cat hunter some advice or calling bull$%^t when you read it here!

You as a citizen have a responsibility to engage in the process! Ever wonder why we get our a@@ kicked on a National level as well?

If all the above is too complicate? Reference the title of this thread............What if.......What if we had a State web page in each of our home State's that allows credit card payments and makes all of us accountable monthly for a small donation to defend our cause? Remember how many members there are on BGH X $10.00 each per month= the difference between losing and winning!

[Jeff Eberle]

Mike , I erased it because I got sucked in and it was negative. The bottom line is we are going to be on the losing end every time , Simply because we can get along long enough together to fight them before we start attacking each other. I know you do a lot Mike for your state and for that my hat is off to you . But this post Mark started got me thinking and maybe a few other "What if " Why can't we build off of what Mark started instead of making it about who not doing what. We all know that there are going to be free loaders , The world is full of them. We can spend are time making all the negative he isn't helping list we want its not going to change them. And I just feel that this post like most on here always turning in to something else . How about we build off of what Mark started and if its a list we need let make it out of the names that are sending in their money every month.

[BAR BAR 2]

Good points, Jeff.

What if we each skipped 15 minutes on here once a week and instead used that time to write emails in support of our sport. This time could be used to write our legislators, game commissioners, the editor of our local paper or to young hunters who are just getting started.

How much good could be accomplished if we each spent 15 minutes writing an emailin support of our sport?



Tex

[mike martell]

Jeff

Your point is very well taken...

I'm just damn sick and tired of guys that very simply are in a position to be natural leaders that could have an easy influence in changing this trend, if they only give a shit......

I'm not alone with my analogy, just the only one that will log on and start somewhere....What do you suggest we do to spark the interest within our sport to make someone who dearly loves hound hunting want to keep their sport going?

Not sure why I bother given I have my private reserve to hunt whatever I want, whenever I want, but understand it is just wrong to pass over those less fortunate that aren't Grandfathered into these exclusive situations....

[Jeff Eberle]

Mike, I think we all know that Hound Hunters are just a stepping stone. Once we are gone the antis will not go a way they will take the next step up the ladder to what ever group is the next most unorganized and slowly take away from them , and they will not stop till there is no one left to hunt , fish or camp in the woods. This is way bigger then us hounds men, and if the duck , upland bird , deer , elk hunters, fisherman, dirt bikers, four wheelers think it isn't just wait. I don't know Mike how we can light the fire but I do know it needs to be a bigger fire then just what us hound hunters can get going. How much revenue does the outdoors world generate in a year . Why let the retailer off the hook in this fight. And with all you do Mike maybe you do have the right to be flat out pissed off and I don't blame you one bit. I just think we could get a bigger bee hive with honey over insults. Its sad to say but in this world the one with the most money wins. Buddy has the national hound fund why don't we start there ? And from there work on other hunting ,fishing, outdoor groups and retailers to join not are fight but THE FIGHT

[mike martell]

Jeff

You are eluding to what needs to happen....I do appreciate your candidness and opinion....This National organization could be the deal if we all would get behind it ten bucks at a whack...Getting the retailers on board is another great idea...Just wonder how a guy goes about making that happen? I just hate the thought of a total loss of our rights and know It's coming our way and do agree, it is well beyond just our hounds, we are an easy mark to get the momentum moving forward...

Mike

[not color blind]

http://www.ussportsmen.org/about-ussa/


Jeff I'm sure you are aware of this group that backs all outdoorsman/woman (with a keen interest in protecting all sporting dog owners rights). I'm sure they are not perfect but it would be a great organization for EVERYONE to join.

The more members and $$ the better.