Re: Sunday Hunting in Maryland

Ellen Paul (epaul@dclink.com)
Mon, 29 Mar 1999 20:58:33 -0500 

Norm - 

You may as well take your time.  There is nothing more to be done during
this legislative session.  

Your message prompted me to take another look at the MOS statement and
it's hard to imagine what should/could be changed with the exception of
the statement about the "day off" for wildlife.  I don't think anyone
should make such a statement without citing scientific research.  The
rest of it seems fine - it's a nonconfrontational statement about the
reasons that the folks who use the outdoors for other than hunting
need/want a day without hunting.  I'm curious to see just what you feel
needs to be changed.  I hope you will share the responses you have
received.  

I can assure you, after reading the many messages on MdOsprey and
sitting through HOURS of testimony on all 19,846 sides of this issue,
that it really isn't all that complex, that the MOS statement holds up
well, and that if any of the conservation issues involve the need to
reduce deer populations - well, give me a call before you spend a great
deal of time on this issue.  I've got a ton of info on that topic.

Ellen Paul





Norm Saunders wrote:
> 
> Since this issue first arose and since MOS put together and sent
> out a rather hurriedly-written position statement, I've been receiving
> a small but steady stream of thoughtful, coherent, and courteous
> responses to that position from people who are hunters, birders,
> and conservationists...from people who think we should be
> cautious about how we word some of our objections to Sunday
> hunting.
> 
> Probably the most telling criticism is that we, collectively, failed to
> adequately research what turns out to be a somewhat complex set
> of issues.  I'm not going to back off from my personal feelings
> about hunting but I do think that many of the points raised to me by
> people I consider to be responsible conservationists need to be
> considered carefully.
> 
> To that end, I am working on a thorough re-wording of the MOS
> position statement regarding hunting on Sundays and will present
> that statement to the MOS Board of Directors for their
> consideration at the June Board Meeting.  Prior to that time I will
> likely be in touch with many of you who have been most active in
> your concern over this issue in order to elicit your continuing input
> and also to share with you some of the materials (at times
> voluminous--you know who you are--grin) I have been sent.
> 
> I want to thank everyone for the support that was forthcoming on
> this issue despite the very short notice involved.  Now, hopefully,
> we can all take a deep breath and do the research necessary to
> make an informed and responsible decision regarding the position
> MOS should take on this topic.
> 
> In the meantime, I urge each of you to continue to write your
> legislators in Annapolis and make your personal feelings known.
> There is no substitute for active participation in our democratic
> process!
> 
> Best,
> Norm Saunders
> 
> =============
> 
> Norm Saunders
>   President, MD Ornithological Society
>   Editor, The Maryland Yellowthroat
>   Listowner, MDOsprey, the Maryland Birding Discussion List
>      http://www2.ari.net/osprey/mdosprey/mdosprey.html
>   Colesville, MD    osprey@ari.net

-- 
Ellen Paul           
Executive Director
The Ornithological Council
Mailto:epaul@dclink.com
Ornithological Council Website:  http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET
"Providing Scientific Information about Birds"