[VFB] Leases

[Jeff Frye]

How often do you go to your local public fishery and find trash in the form of cans, worm containers, etc.? A lot in the places I've been look just like that. I would not care to have my property trashed for the sake of providing public access for the sake of "freedom". I am free to choose who gets to come on my property, the same as you get to decide who you invite into your home. Landowners control access whether it is through leases or just letting certain fish their property line. Most folks that are fishing actively around here, have access to ponds that are owned by farmers, who provide limited access to outdoorsmen who they know to have a healthy respect for the land. The same goes for leases. The landowners know who is using the land and have their names on contracts. This is controlled access to the resource, same as permission for use, only with a contract. From the outdoorsman's standpoint, a good lease is something that is cherished and requires diligent stewardship. For what it's worth, Herb Kohler is not getting rich on the lease and I would consider what Kohler does for the community. It probably costs at least that amount for attorneys to draft the terms, pay somebody to administrate and manage the upkeep of the property. I don't see the difference in these fees and the costs I pay annually for fishing licenses in Kansas (resident), Missouri and Arkansas (non-resident), park permits, trout stamps, camping fees and the like. The person using the resource is paying to use it. You don't just get to fish anywhere you want without a cost.