The best opportunity to sportsmen to air their grievances toward the DNR is upon us.
Monday, March 15 and Tuesday, March 16 are the dates for the annual Sportsmen’s Sectional Meetings around the state of
Both nights, from 6pm to 8pm, representatives from all branches of the West Virginia DNR will be available to speak with members of the public on a range of topics. Generally, most comments center on proposed changes to hunting and fishing regulations proposed for the coming year. However, issues of law enforcement, stream access, or any other subject involving DNR oversight are fair game for public comment.
"They allow sportsmen and women to come up and talk one-on-one with our staff," said the DNR’s Paul Johansen. "It gives them a real informal type setting to sit down and talk."
The meetings are required by law and the input made by sportsmen individually and Conservation Organizations as a group are given consideration when the Natural Resources Commission is asked to vote on the final approval of the agency’s proposed regulations, season dates, bag limits, or other regulation changes for the following years.
"I think folks will see the regulations are pretty comparable to past years," said Johansen. "We’re not making any major changes to our big game proposals."
The meetings will be held at the following locations:
Monday, March 15, 2010
Fairmont – East Fairmont High School (Commons Area)
Martinsburg – James Rumsey Technical Institute (Cafeteria)
Summersville – Summersville High School
Lewisburg – Brier Inn
Milton – West Virginia Pumpkin Park (4-H Building)
Spencer – Spencer Community Building
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Glen Dale – John Marshall High School
Moorefield – Moorefield Middle School (Cafeteria)
Buckhannon – Buckhannon-Upshur High School
Mullens – Twin Falls State Park (Chinquapin Room)
Logan – Chief Logan State Park Conference Center
Parkersburg – City Building/Lobby