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Re: Duck hunters

From:

Ole Buck

Reply-To:

Date:

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 10:45:01 -0500

Frank,

As a birder, conservationist and hunter your comments really ruffle my 
feathers. The idea that what hunters do for wildlife is merely 
propaganda  shows that you need some help with some proper research of 
the subject. So pardon my being so forward as to do that research for 
you but...


US Fish & Wildlife website about Pittman-Robertson Act
full text here http://www.fws.gov/southeast/federalaid/pittmanrobertson.html
(emphasis mine)

"Then a remarkable thing happened. *At the urging of organized 
sportsmen*, State wildlife agencies, and the firearms and ammunition 
industries, Congress extended the life of an existing 10 percent tax on 
ammunition and firearms used for sport hunting, and earmarked the 
proceeds to be distributed to the States for wildlife restoration. The 
result was called the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration act, better 
known as the Pittman-Robertson (or "P-R") Act after its principal 
sponsors, Senator Key Pittman of Nevada, and Representative A. Willis 
Robertson of Virginia. The measure was signed into law by President 
Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 2, *1937*.

Since then, *numerous species have rebuilt their populations* and 
extended their ranges far beyond what they were in the 1930's. Among 
them are the *wild turkey*, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, *wood 
duck*, beaver, black bear, g*iant Canada goose*, American elk, desert 
bighorn sheep, bobcat, mountain lion, and several species of *predatory 
birds.*"

 "In the more than 50 years since P-R began, over $2 billion in Federal 
excise taxes has been matched by more than *$500 million* in State funds 
(*chiefly from hunting license fees*) for wildlife restoration."

"Various kinds of land have been acquired, including winter rangelands 
necessary for big game animals in the North and West, and *wetlands, 
essential to ducks and geese for nesting, wintering, and stopover 
feeding and rest during migrations.*"

"Although Pittman-Robertson is *financed wholly by firearms users and 
archery* enthusiasts, its benefits cover a much larger number of people 
who never hunt but do enjoy such wildlife pastimes as *birdwatching*, 
nature photography,"

"Fortunately, the Pittman-Robertson act *does not restrict use of funds* 
to game species, but instead allows their use for *any species of wild 
bird* or mammal."

Since 1937 it's the sportsmen and women who have put their money where 
their mouth is to conserve wildlife and habitat. Wildlife and habitat 
that all outdoors enthusiasts have been able to enjoy. So the next time 
you're enjoying some good birds in a state forest or county park or 
wildlife management area keep in mind that there's a good chance hunters 
footed the bill that create that place for everyone to have access to.

Good birding (or hunting),
Chris Ordiway
Accokeek, MD





Frank Boyle wrote:
> As I was doing one 3-mile section of two that I cover for the annual C&O
> Canal Count, I encountered a few hunters on the river, also.  Call me crazy
> (ok... no snickering from the peanut gallery!), but there is something
> inherently depressing about counting birds and then realizing they may be
> blasted out of existence for "sport" the next instant.
>
> I have heard the age-old propaganda about how much valuable habitat is
> preserved by groups like Ducks Unlimited, and it's ringing rather hollow
> now.  There are better ways to conserve wildlife & their habitats than these
> unholy alliances and I think it's time to stop sport hunting of waterfowl.  
>
> Yep, I just don't like killing animals for sport, and yep, I am very
> opinionated.  
>
> ***********************
> Frank Boyle
> Rohrersville, MD
> 
> ***********************
>  
>
>
>