HA Newsletter 30

As noted in the Draft Minutes of the May 14, 2005 Wildlife Commission meeting, then Chairman Tommy Ford had this to say about departing Wildlife commissioner Bill Bradley. Commissioner Bradley will be missed when the legislature reconvenes and he (Ford) asked him to stay on the Legislative Committee and he agreed to do so. 

NDOW produces a newsletter called "The Wildlife Almanac". It is basically produced to pat itself on the back because very few others will. In the Fall/Winter 2003 edition, there was a very lengthy questionnaire. It was a full page requiring answering or rating over 100 questions. The questionnaire was sent out to 300,000 people as an insert in the Las Vegas Review Journal, Reno Gazette Journal, Ely Times and the Elko Daily Free Press.

In the last newsletter, we reprinted a letter from Bud Sonnentag to NDOW director Terry Crawforth requesting information. In the same newsletter, we stated also that we wouldn’t get any straight answers from him. HUNTER’S ALERT wanted to prove Terry Crawforth would rather spend money on law enforcement personnel than on biologists. You can see how he ducked and dodged the questions by his evasive answers. Following are the questions with Terry Crawforth’s responses.

“Gotta have more money, gotta have more money!” This is NDOW director Terry Crawforth’s cry to the Wildlife commissioners. Of course, the commissioners buy into it without any questions. What Terry Crawforth really meant was, “Gotta have more money because of my mismanagement.”

 

Dear Fellow Nevada Sportsmen:

I was born and raised in Nevada, and I am proud to be a life-long hunter. It has been an honor and privilege for me to represent Nevada’s citizens over the years as a state legislator and congressman. I hope to also be fortunate enough to win this year’s election, so I can serve as our next Governor.

We have many challenges in our state, and one of those is to protect our right to enjoy outdoor activities, including hunting. That requires each of us to work together to maintain our wildlife habitat and access to Nevada’s outdoors. As our next Governor, I will make sure we have a Department of Wildlife (NDOW) that works to increase our deer population so that we can allow for access to a greater number of allotted tags. An overwhelming percentage of NDOW’s funding comes from us, the law-abiding hunters of Nevada who pay our fees. Under my leadership, you can trust that NDOW will be responsive to the sportsmen who fund it.

From one hunter to the next, you have my pledge that I will be a hands-on Governor and will appoint the most qualified individuals possible to each position in state government. We will do everything in our power to work with fellow sportsmen and sporting groups and associations to preserve our rights and abilities to hunt. But, I can only work with you to accomplish common goals if I have your support.

I am pleased to have earned the Hunter’s Alert endorsement. Please help me further today by volunteering, providing a financial contribution, providing sign locations, writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper, or calling your local talk radio stations. I will be a true sportsmen’s Governor, but I need your help to get there. Please contact my campaign and join us today!

Sincerely,

Jim Gibbons

Saturday, May 13, 2006
By Bud Sonnentag

Greetings! I come before this commission for two purposes. First, to put the State of Nevada, NDOW, the Board of Commissioners and the Attorney General’s Office on notice. To wit, the wildlife statutes of this state are being grossly violated today as they were 41 years ago. Second, I am here to apprise everyone in this room of this past and present misfeasance and malfeasance by establishing a public record at this meeting.

If a sportsman has an idea and wants to make a change on a hunting issue, what is the procedure? If it is an item that requires action, it must be presented to a county advisory board to manage wildlife (CABMW) three days prior to the meeting. If it is put on the CABMW agenda, it will be thoroughly discussed and voted upon.

Kevin Duffy, Commissioner
December 26, 2005
Alaska Department of Fish and Game

 

 

Dear Mr. Duffy:

I have been a resident of Alaska for 47 years. As a commissioner from my home state and as you are representing that state at the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ meetings, I find it necessary to write this letter to you. The enclosed HUNTER’S ALERT newsletter will inform you of an impending all-out war that cannot help but involve WAFWA. WAFWA chose to give Terry Crawforth a bogus award without knowing the history behind him.

I have long known that Alaska has belonged to WAFWA for many years. I am currently fighting against corruption within Nevada Department of Wildlife. Out of courtesy, I would like to forewarn you that I have grave concerns about this type of activity in my home state of Alaska. Because you are connected to Terry Crawforth (by the obvious) and what I have witnessed in my state regarding predators for the past 50 years, I see you, Mr. Duffy, as questionable. In my investigation and research of NDOW, it is my hope that I never find that you are sympathetic to Terry Crawforth in any way. This includes signatures on documents, public quotes or meeting minutes to even go so far as to say your “fingerprints” of support. I must assume that if you do not answer the letter you condone corruption and condone an anti-sportsman stance. I certainly take my home state far more seriously than I do Nevada. So please don’t give me an excuse to take on my agency.

Respectfully,

 

Jacob “Bud” Sonnentag
PO Box 72
Gabbs, Nevada 89409

PO Box 111238
Anchorage, AK 99511

In the past, HUNTER’S ALERT has been critical of some of the Wildlife commissioners, particularly the five who were appointed to represent sportsmen. Representation of sportsmen has been almost non-existent on their part. When you read the series of articles entitled It Happened that Way, it will upset most sportsmen.

“Loved your article on “Ten Most Wanted”. Cool. Keep up the good work.” E.B., Kemmerer, WY.

“Kick their ass!” D.C., Reno, NV

“Please keep sending HUNTER’S ALERT. We will get those bastards out of office.” B.P., Las Vegas, NV

“Keep it up. Lets try and clean up a corrupt department. (NDOW). Thanks.”  G.S., Carson City, NV

“Keep up the good work and thanks.” R.T., Sparks, NV

“Keep up the good fight. Thank you. You have helped open up my eyes to how NDOW doesn’t work!” B.L., Las Vegas, NV