Newton County Landowners & Leaseholders Association
T his is the second opportunity I’ve had to write about TP&W bringing in additional support, and I hope it’s something that I’ll get to continue to write about.
Another intense enforcement operation began last November, and ran 8 weeks throughout the hunting season. Twelve wardens from 9 regions across the state were brought in to assist our three assigned wardens, bringing the number to fifteen enforcement personnel riding the roads of Newton County. There were somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 hunting related cases filed, including but not limited to; criminal trespass, improper tagging, hunting from a road, public lands violations, the list goes on!
If you were a poacher in Newton County, it wasn’t all that great of a year…and this illegal hunting thing isn’t quite as simple as it used to be. This operation like the year before was not only a huge success for those of us that care about this county and the wildlife, but also shows that others recognize we have a problem and are willing to step up to the plate.
***************** ‘2004 NCLLA Meeting *****************
For 2004 we have decided to change things up and hold our public meeting this fall. Everyone will be in the “ hunting mode” by then, and hopefully it will be a lot cooler. We will be holding the meeting at the Newton County fairgrounds October 9th, 2004 at 10:00/am. We have an excellent line-up of guest speakers this year, and will be a perfect chance to get to know your NCLLA neighbors and wardens, and to show your support for the NCLLA.
******************* Membership Drive*******************
Our membership drive for ‘2004 has begun April 1st and will extend to October 9th of this year. We are asking all hunting club contacts to send an updated list of their club members when sending in their NCLLA dues. Remember, it only costs $5.00 a year to support the NCLLA and be a part of a voice in Newton County that has your interests in mind! For the second year; for every hunting club that has 100% of their membership signed up, they will receive a large metal “NO TRESPASSING” sign with the NCLLA and Texas Parks & Wildlife logo. These signs are really nice, and even have a place to put your club’s name to personalize it. We will also have the yellow NCLLA posted signs at the meeting, which are still only a dollar, or our “new” NCLLA stickers for signing up, in addition to the “NCLLA business cards”, with our warden and officer contact information.
***************** Texas Parks & Wildlife******************
We have gone from one warden in 1999 when we began the NCLLA, to now being designated a four-warden county. Things like this just don’t happen, and it was largely your support and participation in the NCLLA that helped to make that occur! Most of you have had the opportunity to meet and get to know Warden Landon Spacek, and fortunately he will be here to help this upcoming season. We have also received our new wardens from the academy, and they are all settled in and have all hit the ground running. They will all be on hand to meet everyone at the meeting, and I encourage everyone to invite them out to your lease and get to know them personally.
************ Newton Hunter’s Extravaganza *************
This year the Newton Hunter’s Extravaganza and Chili Cook-off will be held the same day as our NCLLA public meeting. We encourage everyone to attend, and show your support for the sportsmen of Newton County. Judging for the chili cook-off will be at 2:00/pm…with a turkey shoot, live band, and Daisy BB Gun Championship. The time will be from noon ‘till 10:00/pm at the Newton County Fairgrounds, with plenty of activities and things to see…BRING THE ENTIRE FAMILY! (Entry forms available @ Toledo Realty, Force Abstract, and Automotive Glass Works) office: 409.379.2180 or 409.379.2631
****************** How You Can Help ********************
· Sign up new members: With dues of only $5.00 per membership (which includes a NCLLA window sticker) the NCLLA is a bargain. Do your part and sign up new members!
· Report poachers: report all game violations to our local wardens or phone it into Operation Game Thief @ 1-800 792-4263 (poaching can not thrive in an area where the local people will not tolerate it)
· Vote: When election time rolls around, use your vote to support the elected officials that back NCLLA goals….make your vote count!!!
· Meet our members: Remember we share the same goals.
· Your opinion: Attend the meetings and express your thoughts on ways to improve the association. Help be a part of the solution!
· Got any problems or issues that the NCLLA needs to be aware of? Let us know, we may be able to help...remember… there is strength in numbers!
********************** Kid’s Event ************************
The Sabine County Landowners and Leaseholders Association (SCLLA) will be sponsoring a “Kid’s Event” at the upcoming Deerfest in Hemphill on October 16, 2004. The event will be open to all children 6-16, and will use presenters from Texas Parks & Wildlife Biologist and Game Warden ranks. There will be plenty of outdoor related prizes, and I can assure you it will be a fun and informative program.
***************** State and Local Issues *****************
It’s no secret there have been a lot of changes going on in East Texas, and it’s got more than a few of us worried. We have seen some changes in ownership of many of our hunting leases, and with it a whole new set of faces. We are beginning to see the lease prices increasing, and in some instances substantially. Even some of the existing timber companies are beginning to treat our hunting leases as a business venture, and gone may be the days of “an affordable hunting opportunity”. Many of us are worried how this will affect our local hunters, and it could prove to be one of the most important issues we will face.
· We have some very important elections coming up, and we encourage everyone to be a part of this process. Remember…When election time rolls around, use your vote to support the elected officials that back NCLLA goals….make your vote count!!!
One of the goals of the NCLLA is to keep our members aware of issues that may affect their rights as a sportsman. Though we try and keep our ears to the ground, don’t hesitate to contact any of your NCLLA officers if you have any questions or concerns.
For contact information for your legislators, go to the NCLLA website at www.nclla.com and look for the State Legislature Online link, or contact me at rustygoates@nclla.com
********************* Don’t Forget ***********************
The NCLLA is a non-profit organization, and we depend on your membership dues to stay in operation. There aren’t many organizations out there looking out for our Newton County sportsmen, and it would be a shame to give up now. We’ve all had our taste of the way it was, and the NCLLA is the only voice we’ve all shared in getting things done. If you haven’t gotten your ‘2004 dues in (check with your club representative to make sure your club is a part of the NCLLA), it’s only $5.00 a year to support the NCLLA and help us move forward. Rusty Goates fall ‘04