Tony Dean apologizes?

[Liberty Belle]

I don't know... does this sound like an apology to you?

About that State Rep. Olson

I am amused Betty Olson, a state rep from Prairie City, spends so much time observing me.

I made an error in a story I wrote for the SF ARgus Leader, when I attributed her sponsorship of some horrendous anti-sportsman legislation. I mistakenly took her to task for stuff she'd actually authored a year earlier.

Oh well, her legislation was stupid then and remains so.

However, her support and pushing of a proposed law that would require the state to reimburse motorists for collisions with deer takes the cake for absurdity.

Here's a woman who spearheaded the failed, anti-hunter SD Lockout, now saying there are too many deer, and it's the states fault.

Betty isn't stupid, but she just doesn't get it, and she doesn't understand the fact South Dakotans tend to see right through her radicalism.

She takes advantage of everything I pen, mostly out of context, to suggest I am anti-ranching. She does this regularly on the Ranchers.net website. I visit the site on occasion and have discovered that ranchers elsewhere, wonder why SD ranchers take such a dim view of hunters and the GFP. Truth is, they do not represent all ranchers, and as is the case with nearly all websites, they are the radicals who post incessantly, under the cloak of anonymity.

Ranchers have a tough go of it these days following almost a decade of drought. I spent a day last week with one, who has graciously given me permission to hunt turkeys on his ranch, and his fears are real.

He needs to generate additional cash flow to keep his ranch solvent, and is leaning toward commercializing deer hunting on his land. I have no problem with that, other than it tends to shut out folks without the means to pay big fees.

Anyway, Betty's continual attacks on me on the Ranchers.net website are a source of amusement for yours truly. I suspect they mean I have finally gotten her goat. Good, that's what I intended to do.

Moreover, I think Betty is learning, albeit slowly, that her radical ideas haven't played well in the legislature.

And yes, her ideas tend toward the radical side.

I have consistently called the SD Lockout a "failed" effort.

As evidence, in response to claims that the Lockout has ended big game hunting in Harding County, I point out that there is considerable high quality public land available there, and the GFP has added thousands of acres of Walk In land in that county. However, Betty continues to crow about the success of the lockout. She's wrong. It's been a failure.

What that says, eloquently, is that not all ranchers agree with her thinking. Especially those who have participated in the walk in program.

And Betty has no response to that. (and he's not even kidding!?!)

Perhaps the good folks in her legislative district will eventually come to the conclusion that she may talk big, but actually delivers little.

April 13, 2008

http://www.tonydean.com/issues2.html?sectionid=9745

[Frank in West Dakota]

I applaud your effort Liberty Belle, and yes, it is the state's fault there are too many deer, and they need to start paying for it.

[Southdakotahunter]

Ya, dont let people hunt, then complain
You need to try to take care of the problem yourself. If your not allowing reasonable hunting, your the problem!
Maybe someone should introduce some legislation that says if you dont allow hunting and i hit a deer on a road next to your land, you pay $200

[Frank in West Dakota]

[publichunter]

Well you do have to admit it is pretty far fetching Legislation. I disagree with you Frank I THINK THE HUNTERS ARE HAPPY TO HELP WITH FENCING, AND PROTECTING STORED FEED, BUT THEY SHOULD ALSO expect some sort of access to shoot deeror what ever critter is causing the problems. IF FEE HUNTING IS INVOLVED THEN i WOULD SAY NO TO FENCING AND PUBLIC HELP. iT IS A FACT THOUGH WHEN THERE IS little or no access to harvest deer or other stuff you will have an over population and the landowner should shoulder the burden.
It is the two extremes that make all the noise, the rest of us get along pretty good........

[Frank in West Dakota]

[publichunter]

Yes we are talking abourt the same fencing. It is to bad that some in your area take advantage of the fencing and then dont allow hunting or charge for it and only shoot the big horns......
I think things can happen with working the Gf&p and not come to meetings with a chip and lines in the sand drawn before any talking is done.

[Southdakotahunter]

If the gfp puts up the high fences and you dont allow hunting, reasonable hunting im talking, not the fee stuff, then the landowner will get a bill. There was a case,,,,i believe in Faulk county, but not for sure, where that exact thing happend.

[publichunter]

LB where does he say he is apologizing to you?
I guess you do watch what he prints on his website, you have always acted like you didnt or it didnt matter what he said..
He doesnt speak for me nor are my beliefs are like his, but just as you he has the right to say what he wants, as you and I do, even though we rarely agree.lol

[Frank in West Dakota]

[Southdakotahunter]

I believe a hunter turned them in.

I have also heard if a landowner does not give you permission, you let the gfp know and they go on a "do not give assistance" list.

[Liberty Belle]