Take Back The MDC
A Gathering Point for True Sportsmen
AREAS OF CONCERN
By Anonymous MDC Employee
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
Director: *John Hoskins*
Regarded as inept, not a leader, paranoid, does not trust employees
Deputy Director: *Denise Garnier Brown*
Regarded as anti-hunting, wants to sell the 5 manned shooting ranges, or
turn over operation to private enterprise. Said to be in-line as next
Director.
Division Administrator (Outreach & Education): *Lorna Domke*
/This Division is responsible for hunter education and outdoor
education, i.e., youth shooting, youth hunts, public shooting ranges,
and nature centers, etc. This is the largest of all Divisions within the
Dept. with nearly 1000 of the 1600 employees./
Regarded as anti-hunting and anti-shooting
Has made public statements to the effect, "less hunters may not be a bad
thing, we’d have more money to spend on things like birding,
(birdwatching), etc."
Intends to weaken the hunter education program. Will go to an internet
course this spring…. Hope is to eventually have an all internet course
without classroom or field experience… no need for 1800 volunteer
instructors (“those people who shoot guns and kill animals”)
Does not wish to host future annual conferences for volunteer hunter
education instructors. 2007 will be the last such conference, began in
1992 and attended by up to 500 instructors and their families each year.
Does not wish to spend money on hunter education volunteers.
Has dismissed very qualified men in her department whom did not agree
with her philosophy of outdoor education without hunting or shooting as
a component.
Has loaded staff with females who are anti-hunting, vegetarian, and have
no experience hunting or in shooting sports.
Micro-manager.
Appointed a female editor of the /Conservationist/ magazine who is
anti-gun, anti-hunting, no experience with such a publication sent to
65,000 Missourians.
Is placing less emphasis on youth shooting activities. Considered only
sponsoring the spring high school trap contest at Linn Creek (600
participants in 2006) every other year. Department has invested about
$5000 annually in support of this event.
Hosted a June 2006 Hunter Recruitment and Retention invited group to
consider hunting in Missouri in the future. Participants were carefully
“directed” by Dept. facilitators to get the results the Dept. wanted.
This included a “novice” hunting license for new adult hunters for up to
3 years without the requirement for hunter education. Question: What
level of hunting accidents would be acceptable with such an uneducated
group?
Less than 50% of the Outreach and Education headquarters staff does not
purchase a hunting or fishing license. Figure is 53% of all headquarters
staff.
Ms. Domke received her position indirectly as a result of a lawsuit
filed against the Director by another female employee at the time. He
needed to show he did not discriminate against females, thus appointed
this incompetent administrator to head the O & E division. Mrs. Domke’s
qualification??... she writes children’s books.
Notes in general:
1.
MDC administrators feed information to commissioners that is only
what they want them to know. Unless commissioners have outside
information, they only know part of any issue.
2.
MDC has forgotten is roots. Hunters and fisherman still buy
permits that account for 25% of the budget. How much do
birdwatchers pay for permits?
3.
Commissioners were unable to agree on rebuilding the 30 year old
Busch range. Whole project was to be a partnership agreement with
Lindenwood college for major shooting sports. Down the tubes.
Current commissioner Metcalfe didn’t want a range in the very
suitable Weldon Springs area because it would be visible from the
highway and some of her friends might be able to hear the
shooting. She suggested building the range on an island in the
middle of the Missouri river.
4.
Lake City range in KC area is months behind schedule. Problems of
some sort there.
5.
The Dept. has budgeted $3 million to bring back prairie chickens.
There will never be a huntable population. Waste of tax money!
Sen. Dan Clemens Remarks
Just last month State Senator Dan Clemens made remarks on the Missouri Senate Floor expressing his concerns with the current leadership at the MDC. Please read his remarks and forward them on to others who may wish to read them. Click Here
Report to Elected Officials
Please download and pass on the Take Back The MDC report to elected officials concerning the current state of the Missouri Department of Conservation. Please call your state elected representatives and senators and tell them that you are concerned with the Leadership at the MDC. Tell them you want change!
Download HERE
