I see a ad here on this board asking us to donate to them , here in Mathews there are two large marsh lands that they and DCR control . For the most part one can only walk on the beach saying "leave only footprints take only memories" . There rules are many , like no camping, no fires, no hunting , no fishing , on dogs off a rope , no walking on the beach grass or in the marsh .
Now Why in the Heck or they here asking for money from us ?
I know of a few nature conservancy lands in the tidewater area where you can hunt. I assume that the rules vary by land tract, and are probably a result of whoever donated/sold the land to TNC. Google "nature conservancy" and "hunting," and I think you'll find a few places where TNC owned lands are also hunted, either by a paying club or the public. IMHO, they are one of the more moderate mainstream environmental groups out there. Essentially they are about buying land and preventing development. That's gotta have some benefit for ducks in our area.
The rare Least Tern and the federally threatened northeastern beach tiger beetle is why the two Natural Area Preserves here in Mathews are a joke . Dang good thing TNC & DCR wasn't around back in the BC times for we might still be the hunted . Over on the shore must really bit with no hunting on most of the seaside islands between Assateague Island south to Fisherman Island NWR .
Nope I still can't see any reason we need them holding their hand out on these hunting forums .
Sure is 'Lew.
Those stupid bugs have been on Bethel Beach engaging in sexual activity looong before Eve ever picked the apple :yes:
It's silly.
If they want to "save the bugs" then they should set up a man made barrier offshore to break up swell from every single Northeaster that blows.
It ain't people walking on the beach that's the problem-
It's erosion, loss of habitat.
My dog doesn't wake up in the a.m. and ask for a Northeastern Beach, Tiger Beetle to munch on either
understand they are a bit over the top but I am kinda with Marshrat on the fact that at least you dont have a bunch of corporations trying to fill in the seaside of eastern shore and build a golf course and timeshares. Long as i can float hunt next to their land im fine with them owning it.
Yea its great that they have preserved unbuildable land/marsh. What a joke. TNC has kept any hope for new, good jobs out of Northampton County for the past 40 years. I like hunting but some things are more important. Not to mention the "off limits" areas to the public are typically shot by the higher ups in the TNC as their own little private hunting grounds. Self serving bunch of want nothing a holes.
Most of the people here are so stupid they dont know it either. Many of the higher ups there are members or have the ear of county board members. They even started another local org just so the bad taste that TNC had given everyone wouldnt stop them from pushing their agenda. (see CBES). Shady things like having their personal farms plotted for 1 acres lots and then passing a moratorium to only allow 5 acre lots on all future developments. All in the name of conservation; which only does one of two things. Raises the price of their one acre lots above what they should be due to the cost of a 5 acre lot and the areas average income, or two gobbles up land at a faster rate than would have happened with one acre lots. Not to mention the county in the end would have gotten more tax revenue from (50) 1 acre lots with homes than they do from (10) 5 acre lots with homes. Nice guys they are. I'll send them money when its for fuel to get the hell out of here.
Here in NC they have done a lot of good things. A lot of Game Lands were purchased by TNC and transferred to the state. I know of one Game Land owned by TNC that is 13,000 acres in size that is open to hunting everthing but bear. It is a state posted Bear Sanctuary that provides protection for sows to breed. One other GL (5,000 acres) was purchased by TNC and has 5 waterfowl impoundments and a lake, all open to hunting. There are even some Audubon Society islands here that are open to duck hunting after Sept. 1. So, it depends on the staff of these organizations in the respective state that decide whether hunting is allowed. A lot of their lands were purchased strictly to provide habitat for rare critters and are closed to people. I don't have a problem with that either. People aren't rare and most aren't worth a crap anyway. :lol:
Don't want to sound like TNC's mouthpiece but TNC was instrumental in the VDGIF's acquisition of Doe Creek WMA, a waterfowl WMA discussed previously on this board. Same thing for the Big Woods WMA in Sussex County. They also had roles in the acquisition of Cavalier WMA and Chickahominy WMA. I am not sure what percentage of their properties are not hunted but virtually all that I am familiar with have deer hunting leases on them. TNC also makes its lands on the North Landing River open for quota deer hunting through the VDGIF's quota hunt system (sorry LD). They also have float blind stakes in the Princess Anne draw for their North Landing properties. I am aware of the Eastern Shore issues concerning land zoning but I think those occurred in the 90's. They cleaned house there after and hired new leadership as a result. True that they do own most of the seaside islands on the shore but I don't think anything would preclude you from float blinding the marsh edges around those islands. One last observation is they often take big wigs hunting as stated earlier. Their purpose is to entertain those people so that they will contribute money, become benefactors, and hopefully support future land conservation efforts.
I grew up with the people. Live with the people, and no it was not in the 90's. It was passed around 04. Just in time for the peak of the housing boom.
Deadrise as I stated before there are things much more important than hunting. If it were up to TNC the entire shore would be a bird sactuary and all of us would be out of a job and home. You obviously havent been to a county meeting, but most certainly work for the VDIGF.
TNC hug trees as good as the best of them and having rules and enforcing them are two different things and a ad is just another ad I don't pay no mind to as I visit these forums so I'm over it .
swampbilly 1980 said:
LEWDOG said:
The rare Least Tern and the federally threatened northeastern beach tiger beetle is why the two Natural Area Preserves here in Mathews are a joke .
Sure is 'Lew.
Those stupid bugs have been on Bethel Beach engaging in sexual activity looong before Eve ever picked the apple :yes:
It's silly.
If they want to "save the bugs" then they should set up a man made barrier offshore to break up swell from every single Northeaster that blows.
It ain't people walking on the beach that's the problem-
It's erosion, loss of habitat.
My dog doesn't wake up in the a.m. and ask for a Northeastern Beach, Tiger Beetle to munch on either
The stupid bugs are the main dish for the Least Tern and the old LT spend the day working the beaches TNC has signs all over keeping the bad people away from.
HGWT is TNC having any luck with the worms that they are using to get rid of the Permit? (plant growing all over the bay )
Interesting to hear the local's side of things. Isn't there another ES land trust pursuing conservation easements on private property? I know I've seen their website before. Can't remember the name. What's their deal? Are they legit, respected, hated?
Interesting to hear the local's side of things. Isn't there another ES land trust pursuing conservation easements on private property? I know I've seen their website before. Can't remember the name. What's their deal? Are they legit, respected, hated?
Are you speaking of the CBES? There are several. Anyone who is business minded, not retired, or has a brain ignores them. Unfortunetly for Northampton Country the board does not fall under any of these. Hence reason 167 I grew up there but bought in Accomack. :lol3:
Found it now. I was asking about VESLT. For what its worth I'm considering easement options on my own property. But, it seems your opinion on the matter is clear, regardless.
Are you talking about an easement or zoning? We have ours in Ag/forest for tax purposes, but it restricts us from building anything more than a dog house on it.
Don't want to sound like TNC's mouthpiece but TNC was instrumental in the VDGIF's acquisition of Doe Creek WMA, a waterfowl WMA discussed previously on this board. Same thing for the Big Woods WMA in Sussex County. They also had roles in the acquisition of Cavalier WMA and Chickahominy WMA. I am not sure what percentage of their properties are not hunted but virtually all that I am familiar with have deer hunting leases on them. TNC also makes its lands on the North Landing River open for quota deer hunting through the VDGIF's quota hunt system (sorry LD). They also have float blind stakes in the Princess Anne draw for their North Landing properties. I am aware of the Eastern Shore issues concerning land zoning but I think those occurred in the 90's. They cleaned house there after and hired new leadership as a result. True that they do own most of the seaside islands on the shore but I don't think anything would preclude you from float blinding the marsh edges around those islands. One last observation is they often take big wigs hunting as stated earlier. Their purpose is to entertain those people so that they will contribute money, become benefactors, and hopefully support future land conservation efforts.
Always been a fan of The Nature Conservancy, for (as a previous poster noted) someone has to do what they do! But to Deadrises' post, I use to hunt the Cumberland Hospital property in the early eighties with a friend...for you young thangs on here, this time period was before the current easements (and the aforementioned Nature Conservancy leases), when it still had a privately owned/used/hunted marsh. It was not hunted much, except for the M.D. owner of the hospital. ABSOLUTELY THE FINEST MALLARD HUNTING IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA back then! Multiple flocks of a hundred were the norm, you just had to gut it out through the marsh muck to get out to the water to hunt. Commonplace to see thousands of puddle ducks coming off the bigger water into the marsh in stormy conditions.
Kahunna,
I've had the opportunity (read: damn good fortune) to hunt that club with a friend of mine. It was just before Christmas in 2010 when we had ice and snow everywhere. Never seen better hunting in my life. I know in my short 24 years that isn't saying much, but I don't know if I'll ever see it that good in Virginia ever again. 3 man limit of mallards, redheads, and pintails. Dog got a hell of a workout that day. What a great memory. I've hunted it on what was considered a slow day, and there were still decent numbers of birds around. But when the ice hits that place, man it makes the ducks stupid. We'd knock down a few out of a flock and were able to call another one or two back to the spread to get shot at again.
Sorry to digress, but I enjoyed reliving that memory. Season needs to start soon!!
vmr - Sounds like you have the same good memories of that marsh as I do! Course we could not hunt he doc's blinds that were built...just the marsh, but that did not bother the ducks. We just used the brush/grass as cover and never saw/killed anything but mallards when we hunted. Cumberland in blustery weather was the closest thing to watching the big flocks of mallards swarm the layout blind hunters in Canada field hunting on the tv shows that are on now that I have ever seen...hard to pick a bird and stay with it, there were some many in the flocks!
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