Clem,

I've been with DCNR 2 months short of 25 years. Our current commissioner, Gunter Guy, has never been employed by DCNR as legal counsel. You may be thinking of Will Gunter - I don't know.

Unless I misunderstand your post, the statement regarding his serving in that capacity is not factual. Just trying to set the record straight.

Generally speaking - not directed at Clem,

It has been mentioned that Charles Kelley was in power at a different time and that is perhaps the best assesment of what's really going on now. It is true, Charles was one of the most astute political animals to ever have been associated with DCNR. Issues were much simpler then, his political prowess notwithstanding. Corky, in my opinion, rode on Charles' inertia to begin with but it became evident in his last years he saw the handwriting on the wall. He was opposed to turkey decoys, it happened; he was opposed to antler restrictions in Barbour County, it happened; and he was opposed to buck limits of any kind, it happened. Despite his best (and IMO misguided) efforts these things were run over him like a bus.

If you ask me, and I am aware no one has, it's kind of like saying Bear Byrant would've done this and done that. He was a man for a different time - I don't think he would've negotiated college football with the same results in 2015 as he did in 1978.

These guys are trying their best and have been forced to deal with issues that other commissioners and directors have not faced. I think Chuck would be the first to tell you he did not come into the job as a politician - he's not. Consequently, he tells the truth instead of what folks want to hear. I have seen his poltical skills develop during his time as director but he hasn't become a politician. I hope he never does. If you dismiss this as a$$ kissing that's fine - but keep in mind I'm 58 days from official membership in the KMA club and frankly, I've never kissed any a$$ in my tenture with the department. That's not my style.

Lastly, I do understand the frustration out there regarding "the government". But I can tell you if you are angry with the present state of affairs nationally, or statewide, that's OK - so am I. However, whether anyone will believe this or not, my agency truly just wants to do the best job we can do without screwing over our customers. We consider our hunters and anglers customers because they are - they don't have to purchase our product and if they hunt on their property, they can still use the resources and services without buying a license.

But the things folks want cost money. Money for protection, money for public land and the upkeep of that land, and money for management; and a whole other lot of services that many never even consider. The desire to get deer and turkey reporting is not now nor has it ever been viewed as a law enforcement tool. We've gone far too long without good information to assist us in making decisions. That's all we want - good information. I've frequented this forum since the old days when you didn't have to log in - we're damned if we do and damned if we don't. "Y'all don't have any data - what the hell? Y'all are trying to intrude on my privacy and take a big dump on me with this plan to get data!" Hell, which is it?

I hear all the remember when - well remember when was easy - we had so many deer we didn't know what to do. There's no consensus of the hunting community that is just happy seeing lots of deer now. We have a very broad spectrum of desires now.

I ask you to consider this: Hunting and fishing is a 3 billion dollar economy annually. If someone gave you 3 billion dollars or a 3 billion dollar gross business, or hell, $500K - would you not want competent finanical managers armed with the latest financial data managing that asset? Would you instead, just let grandaddy's buddy Charles take care of it using good ole tried and true principles like half a percent interest down at the First National Bank of Yesteryear? I don't think many folks on ALDEER would opt for the blind hog option given that scenario. Why then, are we asked to just that as if that's a good thing?

Some will never believe this, but in our case, yes, we are from the government, but we really are here to help. Misplaced anger about the current and sorry state of government is no excuse to criticize an agency staffed by folks that love wildlife and wild places as much as anyone on here; folks that have devoted their lives to working in this field and serving our fellow hunters and anglers; folks that aren't getting rich doing so and if the truth were known, likely share many, many of the same values as those on here taking us to task. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not their own set of facts. If you take exception with our policies that's fine - just don't do so on half truths and enuendo.