Wealthy Bid on Big Horn Sheep Tags, New Hunters--Take a Number
I'm not a hunter, except for good deals on cheap food and drink. However, it appears that the state's Department of Fish and Game runs a bit of an auction for the wealthy--with the highest bidder winning big horn sheep tags. Okay, the deer tag lottery is really complicated, with preference given to those that continue (it seems at no avail) to send in their requests for certain prime areas in northeastern California. But when it comes to getting big horn sheep tags, all you have to do is attend a fundraising dinner, and have some green backs handy. There are three big horn tags available this year. Last year's big spending dinner raised $132,500 for sheep management, and the total for the year was $433,600....I want in on that fundraiser. I mean honestly, I'll parade around like a big horn sheep if someone will bid on my management! Truthfully, I know the DFG doesn't need more money for their programs, they just need to manage the money citizens are already forking out--better, and for josh sake--be accountable for how our fees, licenses, and permits are handled and processed. For a track record about how this hasn't worked well, just look up AB 7 the Fishing Enhancement bill that has lingered on for years, without full implementation, and then check out what Mono County subsidizes for the DFG's programs at Hot Creek Hatchery and other places. Former congressman, Dave Cogdill, now State Senator, is a good source about this region's presence in the world of the DFG, and he's also a great source for the history about how the DFG's audit was implemented or didn't as the case was.