Hunters, much like other hobbyists - are pooling their resources with environmentalists, instead of other folks who use the land. That's a problem.
The other problem we face - as people who use the land - is that people like treasure hunters (us) won't join forces with others - like 4 wheeler enthusiasts, or horse-back riders, etc. They figure they should be able to use the land, but that 4 wheeler enthusiasts just wreck it - or hikers don't like horse-back riders because they leave poop in the trails - etc., etc., So, they join up with the environmentalists.
What they are missing, is the point that environmentalist groups - big ones especially - don't want the hunters either - what they want is everyone off the public lands - they use the support they get, and then, eventually, manage to get full control over that acreage, and then do whatever they want - usually by starting to charge big fees (for maintenance, according to them), unless they price it out of the range of the average person's pocketbook.
When it became legal for private organizations to control our public lands - I don't know - but, control it they do. Even the "innocent" groups - and I can be specific - "Ducks Unlimited" - great organization - but, we had acreage with great waterfowl habitat. We did not have the huge sums of cash to make it the hunter's paradise that we would have liked. (being designated wetlands-after we bought it), the state and some environmental groups were making it super expensive to "meet their standards". We donated it to "Ducks Unlimited" - who - eventually, also got legislated out, and now - Nature's Conservancy has it - through them bringing Ducks Unlimited to court a number of times - and guess who hunts on it now?......................Nobody. but, for some reason, every single year, Nature's Conservancy has a 4 day outing there - complete with all their families. And what roasts my butt even more - they filled in about 5 acres of it for a pavilion and picnic tables and some bbq grills and a parking lot. Something they would NOT let me, or Ducks Unlimited do. Figure it out. Better to throw your lot in with another outdoorsman, then the environmental groups.
Hey - it depends on who you are, and how much money you have - that day that VP Dick Cheney shot his friend? He was hunting in a place that You or I could NEVER get a permit to hunt in.
I have two major pet peeves in my life - and they've been there for as long as I can remember.
The first is public toilets that are so tall my feet don't touch the floor (like I'm a kid, and no, not the handicapped ones)
The second - and biggest - is our public lands. I have been involved in the politics of it all for at least 40 years - geesh - I cannot believe its been that long. I've done everything from letter-writing campaigns to going to Washington, to being involved in elections that have people running to hunt, fish and metal detect - I fought in two major land-grabbing schemes - one in California and one in Alaska - and spent probably 10 years between the two - I have a filing cabinet that has probably 30 full folders of legal crap. Both were lost. - for the public. And the saddest thing is that the GOVERNMENT was on our side in Alaska - and the ungovernment entity won----------------------how can you figure that one out.
So, who has the "power"?
Of course, instead of making me give up - I get involved in every single thing that comes along, in any state - and do whatever I can. PLP has been one of the most helpful groups for us regular folks - I am always trying to raise money for them. They have been to every court case we have been involved in. And, honestly - they put out a lot of money on our behalf.
I better stop while I can.
Beth
PS - A "proper" letter - is any hand-written letter just telling them what you think, and why.