Fern Ridge Duck Hunters please show up to meeting!!!

[gustav]

Wayne Morrow has sent out an e-mail to please attend a meeting where they will review the proposed long range management plans for the area for the next 10 years. Last year at a meeting like this one there was a good mix between those who wanted to have hunting stopped on the area and those that wanted to keep things the way they are.

Let's make sure that we have a good representation from the Duck Hunters there! I have a feeling that the Bird Watchers will be there like last year.

Here are the details for the meeting.

On January 23, 2009 at 7 PM there will be a public meeting to review the plan and
accept additional public comment. The meeting will be held in downtown Eugene at
Eugene Water and Electric Board - North Headquarters Building - 500 East 4th Avenue,

Eugene, Or.

Here is the e-mail that he sent and a link for more information. If you can please let you friends who duck hunt in this area know about this.

Greetings - Your e-mail address was on file relating to development of the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area (FRWA) long range management plan. E-mail addresses were extracted from sign-up sheets at public meetings a year ago and also from comments provided electronically to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Your address remains confidential.

Attached is a letter outlining the revised time line and process for continued development of the wildlife area long range plan. Your review and comment is welcome and encouraged.

As noted in the letter, the draft plan is an agenda item at the January 9, 2009 Commission Meeting in Salem, followed by a public meeting in Eugene on January 23, 2009 for a more thorough plan review and additional public comment opportunity.

If you are a member of an organization or agency, feel free to distribute the attached letter to key members or staff.

A draft version of the FRWA long range management plan will be available soon at the ODFW Commission meeting link below (follow table to January 2009 meeting materials)

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/

[Mossyhorn]

If the birdwatchers feel so strongly about how the refuge should be run then maybe they should pay for it. They get the benefit of using the refuge and they aren't the ones footing the bill for projects and maintainence, hunters are.

I grew up out there in Veneta and hunted there quite a bit, but don't anymore. I don't like competing with people for a spot that much and now you can only hunt till 12 or 1, no thanks. With that, I'd hate to see anything happen to that area, it's a good place that provides one of the only opportunities for people to hunt in that area.

One thing that always ticked me off about the birdwatchers...they would always be out there when the signs said NO ACCESS during such and such times. It said plain and simple no access on these dates at these times and there they'd be.

[gustav]

Please help get the word out. Last year there were as many birdwatchers as hunters.

Thanks

[gustav]

Bump; What is up? Do I need to add nude pictures?

This is going to be a show down to keep hunting rights; sounds interesting to me. Oh well, I hope somebody shows up.

[Mrduckman]

I will be there and am bringing friends.

[Benny]

I'll see if I can swing down. Haven't hunted fern ridge in a while but I'm willing to argue for the sake of hunting rights. Is that what is at question in this meeting?

[shawfowl]

Originally Posted by Benny

I'll see if I can swing down. Haven't hunted fern ridge in a while but I'm willing to argue for the sake of hunting rights. Is that what is at question in this meeting?

Here is the draft plan...


http://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/co...Mgt%20Plan.pdf

[tbrass]

Originally Posted by shawfowl

Here is the draft plan...


http://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/co...Mgt%20Plan.pdf

I will be there and will have some comments prepared. Lets just make sure that our (hunters) comments remain on topic, save the scaup limits for another discussion.

[Old Guys Rule]

If you can't make it in person send comments to ODFW. The draft plan has hunting as a top priority. Keep up the pressure.

[Old Soldier]

I will be there. I can take three more with me. Though I would offer to leave Sportsman's Warehouse parking lot at 5:30 to be there on time.
If you want a ride PM me.

[gustav]

Thanks to everyone who showed up; both sides showed up, but there were quite a few more hunters.

If you have the time, send in an e-mail to the ODFW link and express your support for continued hunting on the area. There is a link in the first message.

[BlacktailBowhunter]

Thanks for the heads up. I went there last year, but have been away from the puter for a few days and missed this one.

[elkslayer24]

I wish I would have seen this earlier! How do you guys think it went?