District 3 E.P. Tom Sawyer Park, Louisville - Kentucky Department of ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Harvesting wild game and fish is a sustainable, renewable, resource. The department has highlighted the process of cleaning and preparing wild game with the Kentucky Afield Television show and through Kentucky Afield Magazine. The television show regularly features cooking recipes and tips with host Tim Farmer. In addition, the department produced a popular video on deer dressing and processing. Why was the Bowman Field Office closed? (3) The Bowman Field office was closed in 2004. The office was closed as a result of a mandated agency budget reduction. The office received minimal visitation and was expensive to operate. How do we survive declining license sales and continue expanding (3) Ask every angler and hunter to turn 10 non-sportsmen into sportsmen. We also need to expand our user base to include financially supportive non hunting and non-angling activities: wildlife viewing, non motorized watercraft registration fees (canoes and kayaks). Decline in license sales? Are youth and landowners counted? (3) No, however we are exploring cost effective way to encourage registration of these nonlicense purchasing user groups. Horses on WMAs – Horseback riding on WMAs (2, 3, 5) Need access to additional trails (3) Managing recreational use is a balancing act. The intended purposes of WMAs are to provide for wildlife conservation, habitat management, hunting, and other wildlife-related recreation. Other recreational opportunities are provided when economically and logistically possible, as long as they do not interfere with the primary intended purpose of the property. Currently, we have approximately 200 miles of designated horse trails on 14 WMAs in the state and one Outdoor Recreation Area. Horseback riding is also allowed on over 500 miles of unpaved WMA roadways. The Department has actually expanded horseback riding opportunity in the last 10 years. For example, a cooperative agreement was recently reached with Floyd County for over 20 miles of additional horseback riding opportunity on Dewey Lake WMA. Though not a WMA, the Department has also provided new trail riding opportunity at Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area in Meade County. Furthermore, each time the Department acquires additional WMAs, there is usually increased opportunity in the form of unpaved roadways that may exist on the properties. Birding License (3) WMAs are purchased and managed with hunting and fishing license dollars and federal matching grant funds that are by law, specifically earmarked for wildlife restoration and management. Birdwatching is a natural by-product of wildlife restoration and management that does not require additional revenue to support. Against horseback riding on WMAs – WMAs were bought with sportsman’s dollars
Horseback riding lowers the quality of a hunt. (3) Indeed, many WMAs were bought with sportsmen’s dollars. The Department also manages numerous WMAs on lands on lands not owned by the Department, such as on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' property or Coal Company lands. We manage WMAs for multiple recreational uses in addition to our primary mission. In many cases, a reasonable balance can be attained without conflict. The Department always strives to provide quality hunting opportunities while also managing lands for other recreational uses. For example, horseback riding is prohibited on WMAs when firearms season is open for deer, turkey, or elk. Some WMAs have hiking trails open to horseback riding, while others do not. On some public hunting lands that are managed but not owned by the Department, the decision on whether horseback riding is allowed rests with the wishes of that particular landowner. Regardless, we will continue to protect the rights and concerns of our primary customers, the sportsmen and women of Kentucky. We own and/or manage these lands in trust for them. Need point person on horseback riding (3) The Department has a point person, Mark Cramer, and other employees who work with the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet to help support hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, and other types of Adventure Tourism activities, such as horseback riding, paddlesports, hiking, and mountain biking. The Department is a member and participates on the Kentucky Recreational Trail Authority to help support expansion of trail opportunities in Kentucky. What is the status of free ranging horses and cattle being moved, and then elk being poached in retaliation? (3) Free ranging horses and cattle on Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) are prohibited ( KRS 150.640.) The Department attempts to contact the owner to remove cattle and horses on our land. As a last resort, the Department will remove this livestock if the landowner cannot be located or determined. Poaching of elk in retaliation of this action is difficult to prove, but remains against the law. The public is encouraged to report any and all poaching (1-800-25-ALERT) for law enforcement investigation and potential prosecution. Wanton Waste Law should be in Kentucky. (3,4) Kentucky does not have a wanton waste law that prohibits the “waste” of edible meat taken from a game/fish species. Several states do have these types of laws. Federal wanton waste laws have long been in place regarding waterfowl hunting. KDFWR can certainly entertain discussions to determine if that is viable for Kentucky in reference to other species. Anyone may contact the agency and request to be heard by its commission on any applicable issue regarding wildlife laws.
Page 1 and 2: UPDATED RESPONSES AS OF OCTOBER 30,
Page 3 and 4: Spring Season on Turkey moving to 2
Page 5: Yes. KDFWR supported House Bill 1 i

District 3 E.P. Tom Sawyer Park, Louisville - Kentucky Department of ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?