Well to say I have been involved in the discussion, and purchased an equity membership in a local club. To me, it is less than 30 miles from home, the members are congenial, it is preserved for life, it is managable for wildlife, can be willed to the next generation, the birds are "wild", not some pen-raised chicken. I have been an almost exclusively an upland bird hunter, even though I had opportunities to do more waterfowling, I walked past ducks, by thousands in the rainwater basin, never fired a shot. Now, not as spry as I used to be, frankly, I doubt that the upland bird numbers will surprise me, they haven't since the 1980's, mostly quail. I'm speaking of, wandering the pheasant belt searching for cover and populations, with high dollar gas, time is an issue to, the inevitablity seems obvious. I won't try to re-assure you that the upland life can be at replaced, maybe agumented is appropiate. It won't for me, but it's better than nothing. This might be the best waterfowl year in history, period, if you have water. At least that is a reason to get excited about. We'll tell the grand kids about it. Maybe!
