Ladies & Gentlemen I have fielded many e mails over Spring Turkey Hunting & Spring Mushroom Hunting this year and have taken the time to address them with input from everyone. Over 3000 responded to the subject in the first week and it is an indicator to how serious the issues truly are. My first proposal was real radical in nature that caused many to respond. It was that large response that permitted me to refine the suggested legislative proposal.
Spring Mushroom hunting just so happens during spring turkey season and it seems that conflict between the 2 are consistent and increasing. We do have a dangerous situation during this time period as foliage in the woods starts to get green. Turkey hunters are in full dress camo and very hard to spot by mushroom hunters. On the other hand you have mushroom hunters who wear general clothing while out in the woods picking mushrooms. All Turkey hunters know that in the world of turkey hunting you have three articles of clothing you do not wear in the woods. White, Red and Blue. These are colors found on a Gobblers head and if your picking mushrooms in the woods during spring turkey season those colors can lead to serious or fatal injury. Many mushroom hunters will in fact wear any of those colors in the woods during the spring turkey season or in combination.
We have been lucky in Iowa thus far not to have an accident but we should not leave this to utter luck. With more people in the woods picking mushrooms during the spring than we have Turkey hunters, it is a question of time before we have an accident.
Please read the legislative proposal that would add a few laws to Spring Mushroom Hunting. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me any time day or night at 712-253-0362 Cell, 712-239-0891 Home, e mail - [email protected]
Below you will find the Final rewrite of the Legislative proposal I will be submitting for the 2009 legislative session. I also added the exact fines and that includes court cost. I used the fines already associated with the subjects by current Laws.
The purpose of this legislative proposal is to make sure that all who harvest or take / Mushrooms from public lands have a valid state habitat stamp in possession.
People who harvest and sell rough fish and ginseng in the state of Iowa must obtain a permit that is the present law. Harvesting and selling Mushrooms from public lands or private should not be treated any lesser.
Blaze Orange serves many purposes but most noted is the safety of mushroom hunters who are out on public lands OR private lands during spring turkey season. It is certainly an added measure to protect mushroom hunters and certainly aids spring turkey hunters to identify them in the woods. Accidents do happen and this is a very serious issue in Iowa that can be easily addressed by requiring mushroom hunters to wear a blaze Orange vest or hat.
Blaze orange will also help identify those who trespass onto private lands more easily. The fact of the fines related to the blaze Org issue will aid and help curtail trespass violations more easily than present conditions allow.
Breaking the law is no lesser ,if your excuse is " it's only a mushroom". Again trespassing on private property without permission is a violation of state law. The text in this proposal is to increase the ability to protect private landowners and their Rights. The text also helps protect law abiding sportsmen of Iowa, maintain a good image with private landowners and to the greater public. During the spring mushroom hunting period, we have many who show no consideration for the Law or private property. By making it mandatory the measure can and will aid CPO'S or authorities enforce state law.
Mushroom Hunters Safety & Resource Support- Legislative Proposal.
1. Any person or persons harvesting mushrooms in the state of Iowa must obtain and have a VALID HABITAT STAMP in possession.
Violation of this would result in a $76.40 fine.
2. Any person or persons who harvest mushrooms in the state of Iowa and whom sells them must obtain and possess a permit of $25.
Violation of this would result in a $182.00 fine.
3. Any person or person hunting mushrooms on public lands or private lands during spring turkey season must wear a blaze Org vest or hat.
Violation of this would result in a $116.00 fine
4. Any person or person harvesting mushrooms on state public lands must utilize a mushroom net sack when harvesting mushrooms from public lands.
Violation of this would result in a $25 fine.
William J. Smith
Sioux City Iowa
5309 hwy 75n lot 44
51108
712-253-0362 c
712-239-0891 h
[email protected]
What are your thoughts to the final draft?
Again I thank everyone for their help and ideas.
Spring Mushroom hunting just so happens during spring turkey season and it seems that conflict between the 2 are consistent and increasing. We do have a dangerous situation during this time period as foliage in the woods starts to get green. Turkey hunters are in full dress camo and very hard to spot by mushroom hunters. On the other hand you have mushroom hunters who wear general clothing while out in the woods picking mushrooms. All Turkey hunters know that in the world of turkey hunting you have three articles of clothing you do not wear in the woods. White, Red and Blue. These are colors found on a Gobblers head and if your picking mushrooms in the woods during spring turkey season those colors can lead to serious or fatal injury. Many mushroom hunters will in fact wear any of those colors in the woods during the spring turkey season or in combination.
We have been lucky in Iowa thus far not to have an accident but we should not leave this to utter luck. With more people in the woods picking mushrooms during the spring than we have Turkey hunters, it is a question of time before we have an accident.
Please read the legislative proposal that would add a few laws to Spring Mushroom Hunting. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me any time day or night at 712-253-0362 Cell, 712-239-0891 Home, e mail - [email protected]
Below you will find the Final rewrite of the Legislative proposal I will be submitting for the 2009 legislative session. I also added the exact fines and that includes court cost. I used the fines already associated with the subjects by current Laws.
The purpose of this legislative proposal is to make sure that all who harvest or take / Mushrooms from public lands have a valid state habitat stamp in possession.
People who harvest and sell rough fish and ginseng in the state of Iowa must obtain a permit that is the present law. Harvesting and selling Mushrooms from public lands or private should not be treated any lesser.
Blaze Orange serves many purposes but most noted is the safety of mushroom hunters who are out on public lands OR private lands during spring turkey season. It is certainly an added measure to protect mushroom hunters and certainly aids spring turkey hunters to identify them in the woods. Accidents do happen and this is a very serious issue in Iowa that can be easily addressed by requiring mushroom hunters to wear a blaze Orange vest or hat.
Blaze orange will also help identify those who trespass onto private lands more easily. The fact of the fines related to the blaze Org issue will aid and help curtail trespass violations more easily than present conditions allow.
Breaking the law is no lesser ,if your excuse is " it's only a mushroom". Again trespassing on private property without permission is a violation of state law. The text in this proposal is to increase the ability to protect private landowners and their Rights. The text also helps protect law abiding sportsmen of Iowa, maintain a good image with private landowners and to the greater public. During the spring mushroom hunting period, we have many who show no consideration for the Law or private property. By making it mandatory the measure can and will aid CPO'S or authorities enforce state law.
Mushroom Hunters Safety & Resource Support- Legislative Proposal.
1. Any person or persons harvesting mushrooms in the state of Iowa must obtain and have a VALID HABITAT STAMP in possession.
Violation of this would result in a $76.40 fine.
2. Any person or persons who harvest mushrooms in the state of Iowa and whom sells them must obtain and possess a permit of $25.
Violation of this would result in a $182.00 fine.
3. Any person or person hunting mushrooms on public lands or private lands during spring turkey season must wear a blaze Org vest or hat.
Violation of this would result in a $116.00 fine
4. Any person or person harvesting mushrooms on state public lands must utilize a mushroom net sack when harvesting mushrooms from public lands.
Violation of this would result in a $25 fine.
William J. Smith
Sioux City Iowa
5309 hwy 75n lot 44
51108
712-253-0362 c
712-239-0891 h
[email protected]
What are your thoughts to the final draft?
Again I thank everyone for their help and ideas.
