Chapter IV - Block Management Effectiveness 



The current payment system structure also does not recognize 

 landowners' attempts to control the number of hunters on the land to 

 potentially increase the "quality" of the hunt. Regional staff 

 indicated hunters told them some BMAs have so many people 

 hunting on the area all the animals were driven into surrounding 

 ranches and it was a waste of time to go to the BM A. A payment 

 system based on impacts and hunter days does not create an incentive 

 to landowners to limit the number of hunters on land since the fewer 

 hunters a landowner allows on, the lower the total compensation. 

 By creating a system that provides an incentive to limit hunter 

 numbers, the quality of the hunting experience for the sportspeople 

 that do hunt on the land could increase. 



The enhanced Block Management Program has been in existence for 

 four hunting seasons. While the current system provided for a basis 

 to establish the program, we believe the department should re- 

 evaluate the base payment system used to compensate landowners 

 enrolled in the Block Management Program. 



In response to our recommendation, the department indicated as a 

 result of Senate Bill 338, (Chapter 459, Laws of 1999), which 

 extended the Block Management Program until the year 2006, the 

 department appointed a committee of hunters, landowners, and 

 department staff to advise the department about how to improve the 

 current program. The committee (the Block Management Working 

 Group) was appointed in August 1999. Department staff indicated 

 the committee will focus its efforts on such things as the current 

 compensation system. 



Recommendation #4 



We n mmend the department re-evaluate the current base 

 payment system used to compensate landowners enrolled in the 

 Block Management Program. 



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