Here We Go Again!

[bclift65706]

about 1 good river party a year is all I am good for and yes I will miss the jello shots and the beads. I can see were the trout would eat the beads and jello shots trashing the river but what is wrong with a beer bong cans go in the trash bags and if someone lanched it to another boat and it landed in the water they surely would not leave it.

[bigredbirdfan]

I like all of freedoms that this " ___________ in a punch bowl" seeks to restrict. How about tackling real issues at the state level like roads? Thank god for the good people of Lowry City this guy will get a good dose of term limits in the future.

[techo]

We love float tripping. We have always taken our kids camping and have floated rivers. This is the first time or place where I was concerned about what we were going to float into. I think it has a great more deal to do with time than place. My kids are older now, but we seldom if ever enjoy a weekend trip. We head down to the Buffalo early every year for a trip there. We try to go early so we can be farther up river and it is cooler. My friend's kids are a bit young to be seeing the things you see on the creeks and rivers later in the summer.

It would seem that the drunk (sometimes )naked people disrespect the very nature and experience that God created. They also disrespect themselves and people that have to see or be around them. If their purpose is to drunk and stupid......I wish they would just rent a person's land who would appreciate that sort of thing and believe it is okay. If it is okay with you JD....we can post which section of Missouri you own at the colleges and high schools. As long as you are in favor of it we can send them your way.

It is actually a problem that I have experienced and has caught the attention of the lawmakers. So what would the answer be? I am not sure we can legislate rudeness and disrespect. I can't go back and teach them to respect themselves and other people. I am not sure if I agree with the particular law, but at least someone is trying to do something.

I enjoy discussions such as this on this forum. Most folks are like minded and want what is best for the fish and their habitat. We all enjoy the outdoors and want to pass it on to the next people who come along. I try not to say something is wrong or not working without an alternate solution. So if you think this particular law is a waste of time......how do you suggest we fix the problem?

If we have to legislate respect regarding the use of clothes and liquor.....how about dry sections of the river for families? It would take the occasional beer out of the hands of Dad, but it would still give particular sections of the river to drunks and bead throwers. I wouldn't have to tell my wife and sixteen year old daughter to put their shirt back on! Scares the fish.

That seems like a silly law too. Somebody do something!!!

[bigredbirdfan]

Techo: I believe we already have laws prohibiting public nudity and public drunkeness. Maybe just some enforcement of existing laws and concerned citizens phoning in such behavior.

Or maybe just legislate a bunch of laws and then never do a darn thing about any of them. This is where our country is going whether anyone will admit it or not. Here in Springfield there is a law that anything moving with wheels is supposed to have a pooper scooper inside. Can they write us a ticket for it? Absolutley. A left over law from the horse an carriage days.

Here is some news for everyone, laws are worthless if not enforced.

Our group of canoes actually got pulled over on the Elk river one year.

Part of the problem is that most colleges are dry so the kids plan every kind of party in every place imaginable. I can't blame them for that.

[jdmidwest]

Techo: I believe we already have laws prohibiting public nudity and public drunkeness. Maybe just some enforcement of existing laws and concerned citizens phoning in such behavior.

Or maybe just legislate a bunch of laws and then never do a darn thing about any of them. This is where our country is going whether anyone will admit it or not. Here in Springfield there is a law that anything moving with wheels is supposed to have a pooper scooper inside. Can they write us a ticket for it? Absolutley. A left over law from the horse an carriage days.

Here is some news for everyone, laws are worthless if not enforced.

+1 for BRB. Our elected officials need to spend more time on important legislature. I really wish the kids could float the stream through our properties like I did when I was a kid, but due to poor forestry and land management, it is choked up with gravel. But, legislature and government does not worry about things like that. When I was a kid, you could float a john boat thru the entire length, now you could not even float a kayak empty without dragging it. Throughout the entire watershed, timber has been stripped off, farms cleared to the creek banks of timber, and poor soil conservation has killed my stream. And it is killing alot of streams. Its not the beads or jello shots that is hurting the majority of float streams in MO.

[Buzz]

Down in McDonald county they have been actively addressing the problem for some time now. Every year they have several police officers that watch the put in's and take out's ( and even hide in the woods along the creek) for this kind of behavior. They issue a lot of tickets and haul many off to the jail. Mostly it is underage drinking, nudity,drugs, and other types of lewd behavior. They have gotten a name for themselves and I believe some of it has slacked off a little bit.

Have any of you guys noticed that most of these people are renting their canoes? Not to get on the outfitters, because it is their livelihood, but they see all of it before it ever hits the water. Basically, I believe that these problems can be handled locally without statewide legislation. Canoes will still be rented and local stores and campsites might even do a little better in the long run. I know several people who have stated that they won't take the family to those creeks because of the craziness that goes on. I just stay away. I know where to float and fish without having to deal with it. Besides, I like to drink a few beers while I fish and I don't want some politician telling me that I can't be a responsible on the water.

Buzz

[bigredbirdfan]

I also really doubt they would hit the water at 9 am on a weekday either. That is when I take my family floating, not saturday at 3 p.m.

[techo]

I always enjoy the lack of enforcement issue discussions. I am not aware much of what laws are on the books regarding behavior in public on the rivers. I agree that if we actually have those laws, then a similar law is overkill.

Now back to the lack of enforcement issue.....everyone seems to think their problem is the most important. Drugs in the school are running rapid....do something, people speeding on my street, meth labs, sexual assaults, and so on. It is unfortunate that there are so many problems and so few people to solve them. It is also unfortunate that erosion and other issues have ruined the opportunity for JD to enjoy this behaviour he is so in favor of.

Bottom line is a little self respect and courtesy to others would help alleviate some of these issues. Of course I was wrong once before....

[Chief Grey Bear]

techo stated:"I always enjoy the lack of enforcement issue discussions."

That reminds of that silly poll that was conducted a while back to make the MDC look bad. It asked a number of loaded questions such as how many times you have been checked by a conservation agent and then gave you multiple choices. But one key choice was not a choice. That being: I don't know. You don't always know you have been observed by an agent.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Down in McDonald county they have been actively addressing the problem for some time now. Every year they have several police officers that watch the put in's and take out's ( and even hide in the woods along the creek) for this kind of behavior. They issue a lot of tickets and haul many off to the jail. Mostly it is underage drinking, nudity,drugs, and other types of lewd behavior. They have gotten a name for themselves and I believe some of it has slacked off a little bit.

Have any of you guys noticed that most of these people are renting their canoes? Not to get on the outfitters, because it is their livelihood, but they see all of it before it ever hits the water. Basically, I believe that these problems can be handled locally without statewide legislation. Canoes will still be rented and local stores and campsites might even do a little better in the long run. I know several people who have stated that they won't take the family to those creeks because of the craziness that goes on. I just stay away. I know where to float and fish without having to deal with it. Besides, I like to drink a few beers while I fish and I don't want some politician telling me that I can't be a responsible on the water.

Buzz

Well put Buzz