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Written by Hunters Alert
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Thursday, 28 October 2004 |
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The Nevada Department of Wildlife is a prime example of the typical bureaucratic scheme out of control. Mr. Terry Crawforth, the head of this rogue department of Nevada’s executive branch of government, is primarily interested in acquiring additional funding (direct or indirect taxation through fee increases, licenses, stamps, permits, etc.) expanding the size of his dominion and promoting his own agenda (his background is law enforcement) with little or no input from the thousands of sportsmen he is sworn to serve. Rather than focusing on the traditional priorities of a wildlife department such as the propagation of fish and game, safeguarding sportsmen’s rights to enjoy the resource and a myriad of other positive pursuits, he seems determined to turn his department into a “law enforcement” agency under a “trumped up” concern with poaching which he would have others believe has reached epidemic proportions. And why not? Most of his immediate crew would much prefer the glamorous life of sitting in a new Excursion (their vehicle of choice) in a freshly pressed uniform with gun and badge - talking on a radio, compared to venturing out into the desert with shovel in hand or driving a front loader to create a water project for game. Evidence of Mr. Crawforth’s obsession with law enforcement is readily available. Several months ago he and a few of his cronies proposed a ban on four wheelers (ATV’s) when used in hunting off roads or trails. In addition, he has promoted the concept of licensing all off road vehicles, with his department receiving a share of the proceeds. This would, of course, require substantially more law enforcement to check thousands of vehicle registrations and keep violators from trespassing on what is presently open land, freely accessible. This restriction on ATV use and the licensing of such will be presented to the State Legislature in a package of desired bill drafts at the next session. Also included in the request for legislation will be an expansion on game wardens’ authority to establish “administrative roadblocks” virtually anywhere they please, rather than on state highways only, as the law presently provides. Mr. Crawforth’s preoccupation with law enforcement is obvious as the latest published report shows him spending $2.8 million on game and $2.3 million on law enforcement which produces no revenue. That priority comes at the expense of biological programs and habitat studies and projects which would create more fish and game. The irony, of course, is the fact that hunters and fishermen are asked to fund that which will be used to regulate, restrict and control their involvement in the sport they love. (Sportsmen’s money comprises approximately 97 percent of the department’s revenue) As mentioned above the sportsmen have very little say in the situation. One would think that the Wildlife Commission which has oversight over Mr. Crawforth and the Department of Wildlife, would give balance to his excesses, in fact, just the opposite is true. You see, Mr. Crawforth is the “secretary” of that commission - a body which is charged with regulating his department. In reality, The Wildlife Commission has “rubber stamped” practically every goal or priority he has submitted! While it is true that “citizens” are allowed to be heard at Commission meetings, the comparative few that can take time from their employment to speak are virtual voices in the wilderness when compared to influence of the Commission’s “secretary” whom they look to for guidance. The concerns of the “people” are drowned out as Mr. Crawforth hobnobs with the commissioners during lunches, retreats, parties at commissioners’ homes and other “off the record” contacts. The sportsman’s voice is relegated to the status of nuisance, something which must be endured at official meetings. Then, that which has been contemplated, if not actually agreed to, can be instituted as if the process were actually legitimate. The whole procedure is a scam and has led to a wholesale lack of confidence in a structure which was originally devised to produce fish and game and a wholesome recreation for the sportsmen of the state. With this type of leadership, the sportsmen and the natural resource continue to suffer.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 23 October 2006 )
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