I am not talking about a kill tag but harvest tag. We need hard numbers (science) to back up any move for banning spearing on certain lakes.
When a fisherman buys his license he can get an optional Musky tag.(free) like it is today. The only difference is he needs one on the fish for transport. If returns and gets another tag than we have proof that at least one musky has been harvested. As it stands today we have zero data. I am saying that after one year we can count the tags issued and then count the double,triple and so forth . Just the numbers of issued tags would give us an Idea of how many people are planning on killing one if they catch one SAVVY? These are hard numbers that we currently do not have. Multiple tags per person is hard data that this person has harvested at least every tag he got until the last one. We have zero data now. If we just issue them free and tell the truth(these are for harvest records) no one will bitch about it. It will finally give us the data we need to act in the proper manner. It could prove that we need to ban all harvest of Muskies. It could prove that we need higher size limits or that lake -x needs a spearing ban. It would show where stocked muskies need to be put . It is the Data we need to act . Mike
Not to beat this dead horse but… [smilie=deadhorse.gif]
To get good data on harvest would not require a tag. The questions can be asked at the license terminal and during on-line license purchase much easier/cheaper than it would be to change the current regualtions and implement a tag system.
The questions would be:
1. Did you harvest a muskellunge in 2007? If the answer is no the survey is done, if the answer is yes they continue to #2.
2. Did you harvest: 1-3, 4-6, 6-10 or more than 10?
3. Where did you harvest the (majority) muskellunge – East UP, West UP, NE LP, NW LP, SE LP, SW LP?
4. What method of harvest did you use? Hook and Line (open water), hook and line (ice), spearing.
In my opinion, data collection should not be a reason to implement a tag system.
I checked into getting questions added (similar to above) when someone purchases a fishing license. Much to my surprise nearly those exact questions were proposed by someone in the DNR to be asked as someone purchased a license. Unfortunately it was shot down. It will be checked into again but it looks like paper surveys are the only option.
57
29
1 Guest(s)