Hi all,

In light of the recent flames against hunting, I would like to commend Mr. 
Strobel and Mr. Ordiway for their posts. The fact of the matter is-like it or not-
hunters are responsible for a substantial portion of conservation activities past 
and present. Hostility between birders and hunters is neither constructive nor 
appropriate in today's world.

While hunters do indeed kill wildlife, they do not want to see species decline or 
go extinct any more than non-hunters. Carefully controlled, scientifically-
backed hunting seasons result in sustainable yield. Sustainable yield provides 
citizens recreational opportunities, generates funds for game and non-game 
conservation, and provides resource managers with an effective management 
tool. Hunting is a unique tool for wildlife managers in that it generates money 
rather than costs money.

Birders and hunters are not two distinct user groups. Rather to the contrary, 
many hunters are also birders, and our conservation goals are quite similar. 
Instead of fighting amongst ourselves, it is imperative that we focus our 
attention to the real environmental issues--climate change, population 
growth, habitat loss, etc. In today's growing environmental crisis, tension 
between user groups has no place. We have a common vested interest-the 
integrity of our environment. 

I am a hunter and a birder. Overall though, my foremost goal is conservation.

Thank you,

Dave Kazyak
Frostburg, Maryland