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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FishinRN" data-source="post: 195389" data-attributes="member: 1226"><p>In my eyes this all boils down to opportunity. For those who state that available doe tags in far corners of the state translate into "equal opportunity" to participate I sadly disagree. Traveling in some instances 300 plus miles to an area with no personal or land contacts to stay in a hotel merely to be given opportunity to participate in a hunt is not the same. To state that anyone who plans accordingly can take time off work to pull off a hunt including travel is not accurate people have responsibilities both know and unforseen that can get in the way. Having the ability to sneak away even if for only an afternoon or day or two within a reasonable days drive is valuable. I know people, even some of whom I hunt with are able to benefit from the current gratis system without personally farming an acre themselves. Of these people some are stewards of the land doing as able to improve habitat while others are not. I am fortunate I myself may find my name titled on a quarter of land someday due to an estate. Those few who have financial resources to go out and buy a quarter with decent deer potential aren't exactly an average Joe and have above average means or extraordinarily driven. I don't feel the intent of the gratis tag was ever for weekend warriors with a little extra monies or the many with fortunate inheritance or trust to benefit, but rather those who make an actual living from the land which we all know today needs to exceed a quarter. I have drawn 1 riffle tag in last 5 years in whitetail only part of the state and been fortunate enough to fill it in the company of both family and friends. I have spent the remaining 4 bow hunting less than desirable minnesota area my family owns filling just one tag. I have spent considerable time on this property attempting to improve habitat primarily food without much to show for it. With current farming practices and corn commuting off this late in the year even the average bow hunter doesn't have a great deal of opportunity especially without baiting. In my eyes bow hunting is not much of a handicap, good land access and time and resources to bait within the legal right is just about as easy as using a gun under the right circumstances. I purchased my first ND archery tag is probably 10 years this year Sat a couple of times and did have an opportunity at a doe which I did not take and can't complain about given I was granted access to some nice area. The truth is that everyone is given an opportunity in this state to participate but it is certainly not the same for all. The system certainly favors those with more time/desire whichever you rather and those with earned/provided land resources not fiscally available to all. My concern going forward is not if I will deer hunt, because I have already found alternative opportunity to get me afield, but rather for my children to look forward to deer season the way I did as a kid able to get out to some capacity 10 plus days of the season. Pegging deer drivers vs stand hunters, spot and stalk, and road hunters isn't the answer. The most fond memories I have getting into the sport and to this day are not my first or biggest kill but rather riding along when I wasn't even old enough to walk through the snow in the ditch. It is opportunity that is being lost here whether it is "fair" to one or all or not.</p></blockquote><p></p>

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