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Don't know about an entire petition counting as one vote but IMHO you're wrong. Each and every signature to a contrary opinion is just that . . . a counted vote against an agenda. I just came back from the Sunrise Casino in Missoula (and trust me), there are plenty of signatory's there who are P.O.D. at what's going on. They don't want MFWP to destroy another great fishery. MFWP can't ignore this tide. The fact is, whether you personally email or sign a petition, your vote is counted unless you live in Russia. Make you position known today!
Petitions are generally discounted especially compared to actual comments, and even more so, an actual contact or discussion with a decision maker. Just the way the system works.
I thought this was mother Russia, especially after seeing all the legislation going around. The Montana Cats board came to the same conclusion concerning limits, public comments are taken, but they still do what they want.
Sadly I don't think FWP cares what we say. You could get 95% of the Montana population to speak against it and they'll still do whatever they want. My experience with comment periods is they do it as a way to make us feel like they care about our opinion while really they already know what they're going to do. With that being said, speak out and hope for the best....
I’d like to take a moment to comment on the walleye suppression recommendations for Noxon Reservoir. As a sportsman who lives in Western, MT, I hope that my voice will be heard. First, I would like to state that I know MTFWP deeply cares about our natural resources and about our local communities. The passion of individual MTFWP employees is almost always exemplary. Unfortunately, politics often get in the way and do not allow MTFWP, nor its staff to utilize their passion and skills in ways that benefit our local communities. I would urge MTFWP to take a different direction on this project and to LISTEN to the local citizens. Don’t destroy a fishery that is desired by the majority of local citizens in order to satisfy special interests and a larger political machine! Comments from local Montana citizens have become increasingly critical of MTFWP over the recent past, this is BECAUSE MTFWP is NOT listening to local citizens! It is to MTFWP’s detriment to ignore the local populace and it undermines the agency and its wonderful staff as they try to work cooperatively with local communities. Community members in Western, Montana (myself included) strongly desire a functional walleye fishery, Noxon could be such a fishery. Consider that Noxon is already awash with non-native fish (smallmouth and largemouth bass and northern pike) and is targeted hard by anglers seeking these species; allowing walleye to flourish in this fishery will do precious little to harm the already compromised native fishery. It is no small secret that Thompson Falls and adjacent communities have been hard-hit economically over the recent past. It is also common knowledge that anglers will willingly travel from larger adjacent communities (Missoula, Kalispell, Idaho, etc.), to target walleye in Noxon. It makes perfect sense to marry these two parts together so that local citizens can benefit from the added tourism. In fact, MTFWP should not be targeting suppression of walleyes in Noxon, but rather should be reviewing ways to grow the fishery in healthy and sustainable ways, this is what the public wants.At a time when budgets are tight and growing potentially tighter, WHY would MTFWP spend large sums of money on a ‘gamble’ to rid Noxon of walleyes, even when reality dictates that elimination of walleyes is not possible and that continued suppression efforts would be required, at additional cost in the future? Not only will MTFWP proposal cost money, but that money will be spent completing a task that the local citizens disagree with! I understand that significant funds will be spent from special interest groups; MTFWP should be leery of using such funds to complete projects in their constituents’ backyards against the wishes of the neighborhood. MTFWP has a strong and proud tradition in Montana and has gained a solid reputation over time. Having traveled and lived in multiple states, I can confidently say that MTFWP are the envy of most other state game management agencies within the nation. At this juncture however, as a result of this and other management decisions, MTFWP is on a dangerous trajectory that will soon sour their reputation and ability to work with local populations. Listen now and heed the desires of your local communities or the agency will be eventually undermined and forever damaged. I support MTFWP, I support their personnel and their passion; I don’t however support MTFWP ignorance towards local citizens. I don’t support walleye suppression efforts in Noxon. I certainly don’t support elevating special interests and outside monies to destroy a fishery that is strongly desired by the local community!In closing, please, please, please listen to local input. Don’t do it for Noxon reservoir, do it because it is the right thing to do for both the local community and for the agency and its dedicated staff.
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Topic: Noxon Reservoir Walleye - public comment period (Read 9546 times)
