Letter to the Editor

No to increased hunting fees in Missouri

Friday, November 21, 2008

Dear Editor,

I wanted to voice my opposition to the proposed fee increases for deer hunting as well as other types of hunting by the Missouri Department of Conservation. The following information was provided by State Representative Jason Smith from Salem about the issue. I strongly encourage everyone to write and voice your opposition to this. As a landowner, who owns a couple of smaller tracts, I will be forced to now buy deer and turkey tags amounting about a $50 cost to me each year. Seniors also will have to buy a tag with these changes. This is a huge price increase! This must be stopped!

Bob Parker

Raymondville, Missouri

According to the state constitution, the Missouri Conservation Commission is made up of four commissioners, appointed by the Governor, with no more than two of whom shall be of the same political party. The Conservation Commission has several responsibilities which include serving as the Department's policy makers, approving Wildlife Code Regulations, and working on strategic and budget issues. The Commission is currently served by the following members: Chairman William "Chip" McGeehan of Marshfield; and members Lowell Mohler of Jefferson City, Don Johnson of St. Louis and Becky Plattner of Grand Pass.

After looking at the changes approved by the commission, I am deeply concerned and opposed to several issues, including the proposed rate increases and the change that would require more Missourians who hunt or fish on their own land to have to buy a permit. Missouri is a state populated by thousands of hunters and fishermen and we should not implement changes that make participating in these activities a burden. I hope every Missourian who cares about this issue will join with me and take the time to make their voices heard loud and clear and let the Missouri Conservation Commission know they should take a second look and rescind these changes before they are implemented.

The Missouri Conservation Commission approved the changes during the Sept. 26th meeting but they will not go into effect until 2009. Approved changes include $2 to $3 increases for the majority of hunting and fishing permits; increasing the acreage from five to 80 contiguous acres necessary to receive no-cost deer and turkey permits; and creation of a Senior Forever permit for citizens 60 years of age or older.

The 30-day window for public comment will begin Nov. 17 when the changes are published in the Missouri Register. After the 30-day public comment period, all comments will be compiled and sent to the Conservation Commission for their information and consideration. At such time, the Conservation Commission may decide to rescind, alter or continue with changes as previously approved. I strongly encourage all concerned Missourians to make their voices heard on this issue by writing to the following address: Missouri Department of Conservation, Director John Hoskins, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Please feel free to also write to the commissioners of the Missouri Conservation Commission whose names were included earlier and also mail to the above address.

For a complete list of proposed changes as well as questions and answers regarding all of these changes, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation's website at: http://mdc.mo.gov/regs/permitfaq.htm

Once again, I can not emphasize how critical it is for every Missourian to join with me in writing letters to the Conservation Commission from Nov. 17 to Dec. 16 and demand that the Commissioners rescind these intrusive rules. Join me in making every voice in Missouri be heard loud and clear on opposing these rule changes. These rules will adversely affect all of us in rural Missouri, so please don't stand idle on this issue! As Thomas Jefferson once said, "government is best which governs the least!"

Rep. Jason Smith