I kind of took the remark the same way (seemed like a dig). But it's really easy to take things the wrong way with e-mail type communication. Humor, irony, sarcasm, etc all can all fall flat. If it wasn't a dig, a thousand pardons, please. If it was, uh, can we try to be a little nicer here? We're a small enough group as it is, we really don't need to splinter...



Back to the topic - state-agency websites can really suck. Frankly, I'd say of the 56 or so (I'm including Guam , Puerto Rico, USVI, etc), most of them kind of suck: early-gen user interface, out-of-date content, broken links, etc. Sometimes one wonders "Are you trying to hide the info, or what?" (See, that's sarcasm, I don't think they're really trying to hide it, I just wish they had websites that better conveyed the info they want & need their constituents to have.) So, don't feel bad if you can't find what you're looking for. Info & education is usually the first thing to get cut, and have you seen state budgets lately?!? It's gonna get worse before it gets better.



As for phone calls, well...that's no sure thing either. You need to make sure you're talking to someone who can give you the full, up-to-date answer. Sometimes a long-time admin in a field station might not be up-to-speed on an admittedly esoteric topic. The date of the general-gun deer hunt opener, yeah you bet. But venomous keeping? Maybe, maybe not...so get ready for what might feel like the run-around, getting transferred all over the state. Or within a big office building at the capital.



The downer in all this is, "ignorance is no excuse". You can do your best to keep legal and still run afoul of the law. I'd document everything I did to get the info, where I looked, what I found there, who I talked with, what they said, names, dates, all that jazz. Sounds kinda paranoid but...it might come in handy some day in court. The judge might look more kindly on your honest (but inadequate) efforts to stay legal, and less kindly on the other side's lackadaisical efforts to help you stay legal.



I have found it takes more and more patience and care to exercise our hobby in full compliance with the law. Best of luck to you, and all the patience and care you can muster.

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