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Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013 | 2:02 a.m.
Another view?
View more of the Las Vegas Sun's opinion section:
• Editorials - the Sun's viewpoint.
• Columnists - local and syndicated writers.
• Letters to the editor - readers' views.
Have your own opinion? Write a letter to the editor.
In response to Evan Bryce’s letter “End slaughter of state’s wildlife”:
I have been a hunter and a fisherman for more than 40 years, and I am proud of it. I don’t know if the letter writer is aware of the fact conservation in this country isn’t financed by taxpayers. Every time hunters such as myself buy a gun, ammunition, bows, arrows, etc., they pay an 11 percent excise tax on those purchases that goes toward conservation. We hunters and fishermen also buy licenses that provide money for game and nongame species alike.
I also belong to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Last year, we purchased our 6 millionth acre that can never be used for anything but wildlife habitat. I also belong to the Colorado Bowhunters Association and other hunting organizations that do the same.
Last year, I bought hunting licenses in Nevada; Alberta, Canada; and Indiana; and spent thousands of dollars in my hunting pursuits.
I believe that until you rise to the task and put money where your mouth is, you deserve no spot at the table.
Lastly, as far as senseless slaughter, I prefer wild game to beef or pork, and I eat what I shoot.
Writer Robert Gardner is spot on about our country's outdoor sporting community doing their parts in conservation. These good citizens promote positive behaviors that will preserve habitats and all the species in those habitats. We are fortunate to have so many volunteer to help out wildlife and the environment, with not only their time, effort, but also by funding such conservation endeavors.
Although I don't hunt, I sport shoot, fish, and ride the trails (by horse, bicycle, quad, dirt bike, or walk). If it weren't for the efforts of those whose clubs and organizations include conservation in their mission, we would see wildlife areas decimated. They do a fine job policing themselves and others around them to preserve the quality of the sport for now and generations to come.
Many thanks to those who enjoy their sport, and preserve the tradition of keeping our wilds in pristine condition for all who follow.
Blessings and Peace,
Star
Many people in the US are blissfully unaware of the benefits of hunting....everything from promoting good health to maintenance of open rang, clean water and natural resources. Here on the Colville reservation many people are subsistence hunters and fishers, so the Tribe allocates many resources to preserving habitat.
Hunting and game management can be sources of revenue for the state and communities. Our local paper up here in NE Washington just reported that a special big game tag for a ram was sold over the border in British Columbia for $275 thousand dollars.
The letter writer mostly makes sense and hunters play a role in society, always have and hopefully always will.
Where I part ways is his interpretation of who sits at the table, he said "I believe that until you rise to the task and put money where your mouth is, you deserve no spot at the table."
This is over the top, all Americans deserve a seat at the table. Mr. Gardner would be looked upon as an expert and his opinions as more valid than those who do not hunt, but to say that his paying for his hobby gives him special rights and the ability to uninvite people to the table is a reckless statement in an otherwise fair letter.
I wonder if these idle rich also lobbied to have wolves removed the endangeered species list.
I meant from the endangered species list; also these conspicious consumers are the Gun Lobby which greatly increases the murder rate in this country.
-Money is speech and only people with money should speak-there you have it.
notice too the mulinational nature of the war on wildlife and workers.