Just home from the Advisory Council mtg. Here are my notes:

1. No issues with high power rifles. Approximately 20% of the deer taken were with an HPR. No one knows if the legislature will revisit the statue this session.
2. No Law Enforcement @ mtg so I couldn't ask about injuries etc. from this season. I'll find out next week.
3. TB update: 3 cattle herds have been affected. 2 of those herds have been depopulated and negotiations are on-going on the 3rd. 1 whitetail and 1 raccoon were found to have TB. 2000 hunters submitted samples in the management/surveillence zones. DNR staff stated that the strain being found is from captive cervid high fence outbreak. Costs to DNR were approx $200k in manpower and $100k in testing. Because of the public response supplying TB samples the sharpshooters have been called off. Could have cost upwards of $1,000,000 if they had been used.
4. Extensive discussion on new fee increases. Short term fix until a new funding plan can be designed. New 3 year licenses seem to be a large part of this initiative. Since the fee increase is not a rule change but a non-rule policy change it doesn't have to go through a public hearing. If you wish to make comments on this change either attend next week's NRC meeting or contact one of the Commission members with your comments. Advisory Council passed the fee increase forward with a favorable reccomendation. Fees would become effective on April 1, 2017.
5. Discussions going on about bobcat season.
6. John Davis spoke about Goose Pond Shooting Range possiblity and about trail funding.
7. Chris Smith mentioned the legislature and the upcoming forestry bills which will inhibit the existing forestry plan; also mentioned the DNR omnibus bill which has mainly corrections the DNR usually makes.


Jack