Off a dog list.
As most of you are aware, the USFWS has given the Michigan DNR verbal advice to the effect that field trialing is no longer acceptable on WMAs purchased or supported with Pittman-Robertson funds. This has caused the DNR to cancel all trialing at Holly, Sharonville, Lapeer and Allegan WMAs; this includes bird dog, retriever, beagle and NSTRA trials and NAVHDA/AKC hunting tests. Ionia, Gladwin and Highland are not impacted as no P-R moneys are involved there.
The purpose of this communication is to lay out some the dispute's background and to ask you and your hunting friends to get involved in blocking this federal action. While this USFWS ban started in Illinois in 1998 over horseback bird dog trials, it has spread to Michigan and now involves virtually every sporting dog game played. We need every dog owner in Michigan to speak up, now!
The USFWS's Region 3 office and perhaps nationally, is convinced that field trialing (i.e. any dog game) is contrary to the goals of the Pittman-Robertson wildlife restoration act. The P-R Act recycles sporting firearm, ammunition and archery equipment sale excise taxes to the states for approved wildlife and hunter-safety projects. About $140 million annually is involved, $3.5 billion to-date. If the USFWS staff decides it doesn't approve the way a state handles P-R money, it forces a change by threatening to turn off the spigot. $2.6 million for Illinois, $5.3 million for Michigan. The decision as to what wildlife management practices are consistent with P-R is entirely up to USFWS.
This is your money that USFWS is controlling. The 11% excise tax that you pay on guns and ammo is matched 1 to 3 by the states, usually out of hunting license fees. That's over $185 million per year of P-R wildlife restoration funding by hunters. The USFWS appears to take great delight in publicizing the fact that hunter use-days on P-R lands are less than 50% of the total and approach zero on some tracts. Wildlife observation, nature study, photography and environmental education are normally compatible uses during the non-hunting/trialing seasons, but none of these users have paid the bills since 1938!
I was personally puzzled by USFWS's action in Michigan, largely because I perceive Michigan's sportsman as well organized and politically active, but most of all because of John Dingell's congressional leadership. Rep John Dingell (D-16thMi) is a giant of man, physically and intellectually. He is also very senior in the House, a committed sportsman and has a vested interest in the P-R Act. Mr. Dingell's father was a contemporary of A. Willis Robertson, the Act's cosponsor as they were both freshman congressmen in FDR's first administration. John also personally sponsored P-R amendments to include handgun and fishing tackle excise taxes in the funding formula. WE NEED JOHN DINGELL'S ACTIVE SUPPORT.
Write, E-mail and call your state delegate, Governor, Congressman and Senators. Include a copy to Rep Dingell on everything, please. Those connected democrats and constituents in Dearborn and Monroe, call John's local office at (313) 846-1276 & 243-1849
See http://congress.org/main.html
for help with names, addresses etc.
The time for subtlety is behind us. Tell them:
1) You're mad as hell about USFWS's action,
2) It's your money USFWS is threatening to withhold from DNR,
3) DNR knows what's best for Michigan wildlife, not some federal bureaucracy,
4) You expect them to do something about the situation and to write
you back telling you what's happening.
I'd appreciate copies of any and all response that you receive. Thanks and good luck. Sportsmen across the US and your grandchildren are counting on your grassroots effort.
Robert J. Kane