Sportsmen get the word out

Tuesday, at a gathering for hunters and anglers held in conjunction with the Republican National Convention, the buzz was not so much about whether Sen. John McCain would defeat Sen. Barack Obama in November, or whether Gov. Tim Pawlenty (he spoke to the group) would have been the best choice to share the Republican ticket with McCain.

Instead, the subject that captivated most who were in attendance was the provision on the November ballot to amend the Minnesota constitution and dedicate a fraction of the state sales tax to saving what's left of Minnesota's lands and waters, and to aid and sustain hunting and fishing in the process.

To that end, a "Sportsmen's Bash" will be held from 2-8 p.m. today at Treasure Island Marina in Red Wing, between Hastings and Red Wing (next to Treasure Island Casino). About 20 sporting groups, including Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, will have booths. Information about the amendment will be shared. The Lamont Cranston Blues Band will play. And fundraising auctions will be held, including one for an ATV and a Warrior duck-hunting canoe. (More information can be found at www. sportsmenvoteyes.org.)

Can't make it to the bash?

"We've come up with another idea to help people, particularly hunters and anglers, spread the word about the amendment in their communities," said Garry Leaf, executive director of sportsmenforchange.org.

Leaf said he and others charged with organizing support for the amendment hear regularly from people throughout Minnesota who want to tell others in their communities about the proposal.

The problem: They have no literature to hand out. So all communication has to be 1-to-1, individual to individual.

In response, he and Ken Martin, coordinator of the Vote Yes campaign, have developed information packages for volunteers. In the packages are lawn signs, a DVD explaining the amendment and its importance, calendars listing Minnesota hunting seasons, bumper stickers, Vikings and Gophers football schedules, and brochures.

Each has information on it about the amendment.

"We've set up two basic packages," Leaf said. "One is for individuals, the other for groups, such as Pheasants Forever or similar chapters, gun clubs, hunting groups -- any person or group that wants to do the important work of informing people about the critical need to pass the amendment."

Package prices are $30 and $125. Payment can be made by sending a check to the address below or phoning (651) 644-2088 with a credit card number.

The individual "Sportsmen Vote Yes" kit includes one 2-by-4-foot yard sign and everything listed above, including special "Vote Yes" bobbers to be handed out.

Credit cards are preferred, Leaf said. But checks are OK. Mail them to Vote Yes, 2334 University Ave., Suite 150, St. Paul 55114.

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A major challenge for Martin, Leaf and their supporters in gaining support for the amendment is educating people about it, what it will do and how funds flowing from it will be managed, should the amendment be approved.

Example: At Game Fair, held a couple of weeks back, an event that is attended almost exclusively by hunters and anglers, only about 50 percent of people even knew about the amendment, according to estimates by Vote Yes volunteers working in a booth there.

"We tried to talk to everyone who came by, and we did talk to most everyone, and only about half of the people even knew what the amendment was about," said Jim Cox, a former president of the Minnesota Waterfowl Association. "Once we talked to them and explained how it would work, they walked away supporting it."

Additionally, local sportsmen's and conservation clubs could apply for matching funds each year from the approximately $90 million that will be dedicated annually for fish and game habitat.

Another $90 million will be used exclusively to clean up the state's waters, and another $90 million will be used for parks and trail development, the arts and heritage preservation.

Again, citizens will oversee allocation of hunting and fishing habitat funds. Not the DNR.

Cost to the average Minnesota family of an increase to the state sales tax of three-eighths of 1 percent to intensify conservation in the state? About $1 per week.