Indiana Beagler's Alliance new letter

[jackrabbit]

Indiana Beaglers Alliance News



Thought I would just send you a little message to update everyone on what the Alliance is doing in these Dog Days of Summer.





One) We are working on our defense should Parks and Reservoirs decide to come back and ask the joint committee to make designated dog training areas on the Reservoirs. As you may know our 9 Reservoirs are the only places on state land that we can train and work our dogs freely. With the exception of campsites, boat ramps , and refuge areas we can work our dogs where we like best on Reservoirs. Our strategy is pretty simple. That being the fact that our Reservoirs are not Fish and Wildlife Areas like our Pittman Robertson funded areas are. Our Reservoirs are multi-use properties with a vastly diverse user base, and that user base is growing and becoming more diverse each year. The fact is our Reservoirs have become so diverse that managing the outlying areas specifically for wildlife only, small game and upland birds, is no longer feasible. And as new ideas and new demands, rightfully, are brought up for consideration specific wildlife management becomes less and less feasible. Our dogs are merely one small segment of that diverse user base and removing us from the landscape is not going to positively impact the resource. It would merely remove one small segment of the user base to be replaced by another, perhaps actually negative, user group.



The Alliance, to that end, is beginning to catalog all the activities that are taking place on our 9 Reservoir areas. We are beginning with the property descriptions and maps supplied by IDNR on its website. And following that up with visits to each Reservoir area to take pictures of the activities that are taking place, where they occur and how often. Many of the activities are listed on IDNR's website. Many of the activities are either not listed, not allowed, but no enforcement is taken, or they have been going on so long they are just accepted without question. THE ALLIANCE IS SOUNDLY IN FAVOR OF INCREASING EVERYONES OPPORTUNITIES ON OUR MULTI-USE PROPERTIES. so what ever the activities are, if they are not significantly having a negative impact on the resource those folks have as much right to expect to continue doing what they have come to enjoy as we do to continue to work our dogs. With complete cataloging and documentation we feel IDNR or Parks and Reservoirs are going to have a very difficult sell at the Joint Advisory Committee at the very best.



We are also beginning a similar and thorough procedure for the P.R. funded Fish and Wildlife Areas around the state. Our focus on F&W Areas is the fact that designated dog training areas are mandated by P.R. and the feeling of the Joint Advisory Committee to the NRC feels as we do that keeping dogs off of 2% of the properties is going to do nothing for critical habitat on the 98% we are not allowed on. We feel being forearmed is the best defense for when IDNR comes back to the committee in the future. The work we are doing will be an ongoing commitment. We will need to keep the information we compile current to prevent IDNR from pointing to outdated or obsolete information. We do not want to hinge our defense on obscure and irrelevant sources. IDNR fell into that trap themselves when they brought the dog training issue to the Joint Advisory Committee in April and May of 2004.



Two) The Indiana Beagler's Alliance continues to work with the Pittman-Robertson folks in Minnesota on receiving a positive audit for beagle field trials on P.R funded properties in Indiana. The P.R. folks will be traveling to Indiana in the late fall to audit one of our field trials. We have not chosen a club or area yet to host the audit, nor do we have a set date. The positive results of having an official audit stating that Beagle Field Trials do not have a negative impact on the resource, and do not violate any Pittman-Robertson guidelines is that of giving the sportsman more leverage in working with IDNR to gain larger, more usable state lands for Beagle Field Trials. All groups involved, Pittman-Robertson, IDNR, and the Rabbit hunters and Beagler’s have stated they don't feel Beagle Field trials have a negative effect on the resource or violate P.R. guidelines.



Three) Because of the large number of Beagler and Rabbit Hunter suggestions, Indiana Beagler's Alliance is actively researching the possibility of getting Rabbit Season extended to February 28 of each year rather than ending on January 31st. We have much information documented that indicates a February 28 closing date will have no negative effect what so ever on the resource, while allowing additional days of Rabbit hunting and Beagling during a time when no other hunters are in the field. Early research shows that the vast majority of states already have a February 28 or later ending date for Rabbit season. We are looking closely at an exchange with IDNR. Perhaps trade the early October hunting season on state land for the extended February 28 season. IDNR to this point seems reluctant to do work with us. The Alliance wants to exhaust every effort to work with IDNR on issues before we move forward ourselves. We would like to give our bow hunting and new turkey hunting friends a quiet place to hunt in October without losing days in the field for ourselves.



Four) The Alliance is looking at numerous other issues and ideas to make our hunting, Beagling, and field trialing experiences more enjoyable, with longer opportunities, while at the same time enhancing the resource. A joint venture with IDNR on improving habitat is one idea, Having an annual Alliance banquet and meeting is in the works, Club sponsored Alliance benefit trials, and auctions has also been discussed. As you can imagine the work of the Alliance does take long hours, many hands and minds, and unfortunately some expenses. To date the Alliance is doing well on all counts. We do have some rather expensive work to do and need to continue to gain paying members and figure out new and fun ways to raise funds for the work. On that note the Alliance would like to thank the Putnam County Beagle Club for the large donation they made a few months back. Their insight went a long ways toward helping us get to everyone in the field and having a standing room only crowd at the Joint Advisory Committee meeting. And that large turnout was no doubt the deciding factor in our keeping Dog Training open for all Indiana Sportsmen to enjoy. The Alliance has several ways to help support the work to protect and defend our hunting heritage. We have an application that can be downloaded and mailed, and even have paypal available for those who prefer the instant transfer available thru paypal. And we are always in need of more hands and minds willing to help. Indiana Beaglers Alliance is easy to find on the web. http://www.beaglersalliance.org/indiana/ and/ or email us anytime at indianabeaglersalliance@yahoo.com





Thanks so much for your continued support.



Jack Hyden

Indiana Beagler's Alliance
http://www.beaglersalliance.org/indiana/

[B.Trull]

Right on on all counts Jack. The campaign person I was in contact with quit Mitch Daniels campaign. I am awaiting response from another member to give a response from mitch as to the use of state lands for sporting dogs. The certification of non-impact will be a big winner , specially by a non partisan third party source. Good luck on the season length changing, this is from people who still have a season on coyotes

Brad
LonePine Kennels