Goal: To pass legislation that would replace the current politically driven method of establishing the number of nonresident waterfowl licenses
Objective #1: To develop a science-based or otherwise objective criteria to replace the current method of determining the number of nonresident waterfowl hunters
Task #1: Establish a work group within the SDWA committed to putting in the effort necessary to develop a new alternative
Task #2: Through the workgroup, develop alternative proposals to the current method of establishing the number of nonresident waterfowl licenses
Task #3: Meet with GFP technical staff and seek out their comments on alternative proposals
Task #3: Submit the alternative proposals to the SDWA and Wildlife Federation Boards for review
Task #4: Build a consensus around a single proposal
Task #5: Seek formal adoption of the proposal by the SDWA and Wildlife Federation boards
Objective #2: Collect data that responds to the arguments made by proponents of increasing nonresident licenses
Task #1: Gather data on the economic power of resident waterfowl hunters vs nonresident waterfowl hunters
Task #2: Gather data on how many residents hunt waterfowl outside their immediate residence and that challenges the validity of the survey taken by GFP (anecdotal if necessary)
Objective #3: Build a consensus among waterfowlers statewide regarding the new methodology
Task #1: Write a public education plan
- Core message
- Talking points
- Web site/Facebook/Twitter/ other social media
- Buy/borrow email lists of SD waterfowlers
- Meetings with small town mayors regarding the economic value of resident waterfowl hunters
- Develop a timetable for the release of data gathered on hunting pressure by geographical area, economic power of resident waterfowl hunters
- Coordination with Wildlife Federation education efforts
Task #2: Create “official” volunteer positions in local areas to represent the campaign
Task #3: Establish a public awareness budget and finance it
Objective #4: Create support for the new methodology in the GFP Department, the GFP Commission and the Governor’s office
Task #1: In coordination with the Wildlife Federation, meet with GFP management to explain the proposal and ask for departmental support
Task #2: In coordination with the Wildlife Federation, meet with the GFP commission members individually and ask for their support
Task #3: In coordination with the Wildlife Federation, submit the proposal to the GFP Commission and ask for support
Task #4: In coordination with the Wildlife Federation, meet with Governor’s staff to explain the proposal and ask for their support
Objective #5: Complete the campaign to educate legislators on the new nonresident waterfowl proposal by December 31, 2016
Task #1: identify a legislator in the House and Senate who will aggressively work to pass legislation
Task #2: collect information on the votes of each Senate and House member on the nonresident waterfowl license issue
Task #3: identify those legislators voting with proponents who may be willing to support the new proposal
Task #4: develop a plan for one-on-one meetings between potential supporting legislators and official campaign representatives from their districts.
Objective #6: Develop a plan that coordinates the lobbying efforts of the High Plains Wildlife Federation, the SD Waterfowlers Association, local sportsmen’s organizations and individual waterfowlers during the 2017 legislative session