Hunters, anglers have been footing the bill for hikers
“The state is unfairly forcing hikers to subsidize hunters, anglers,” July 15 commentary
I had to laugh when I read Virginia Ravndal’s commentary about forcing hikers to subsidize hunters. No doubt your open forum is being flooded with letters pointing out what Ravndal has most obtusely missed: Since 1937, hunters and anglers have been the primary source of funding for wildlife conservation in this country.
Any quick internet search would have shown her that the decline in hunters and increase in hikers and campers have put a terrible strain on wildlife conservation efforts. Yes, even NPR, has reported on this.
So, how do we handle the iniquity of a small portion of the populace (hunters) subsidizing a larger portion of the populace (non-hunting outdoor enthusiasts)? It is as simple as having those enthusiasts help contribute to the conservation efforts. And would you look at that! We already have a system in place to do that.
I have been a hunter in Colorado for over 20 years. I rarely do small game hunting, and I’m lucky if I go fishing once a summer, but every
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year I buy my combo license because I know how much the money is needed to maintain the lands that I love. As an outdoor enthusiast, I have also seen the damage thousands upon thousands of indiscriminate feet can do to a wildlife area. Non-hunters may bristle at having to buy a hunting or fishing license, but it is really just a case of semantics. Every license is a conservation license.
Louise Hughes,
Ravndal conveniently omitted the most important fact in her criticism of the requirement that users of State Wildlife Areas possess a hunting or fishing license for entry: These lands are leased or purchased with hunter and fisherman funding — not funding from hikers, bird watchers, horseback riders, nor dog walkers.
She accuses the state of forcing hikers to subsidize hunters and anglers. The truth is, hunters and anglers have been subsidizing nonhunting hikers and “wildlife watchers” for decades, and it’s about time those user groups start paying their fair share.
Louis Phillippe,