Hunters and recreational activities are unhealthy mix

Advocacy for humane and respectful appreciation and care of our state’s wildlife is beautifully articulated by Charles Fox in Sunday, July 30’s paper. I will add that I think the Department of Game and Fish has been needing a complete reassessment of wildlife care and management for decades. It is doubtful that an accurate assessment of the natural and sustainable dynamics of each and every ecosystem including the integrated health of predators and prey balance is or has been completed that supports removing any of the top predators in the state’s ecosystems. Especially given the challenges and changes caused by excessive droughts.

Outdoor recreation including hiking, photography, kite flying, fly fishing, camping, art painting and drawing, bird watching, bicycling, canoeing, kayaking, and a myriad of activities that contribute over a billion dollars a year to our economy do not in any way involve hunting down bear or cougar or elk or deer. And, in fact, during those very same activities that people want to participate in … there is an unhealthy mix with hunters.

This state needs a much better biologically based plan to address hunting that is not simply driven by large hunter fees and trophy hunts which seem to be the primary determining factors considered when the designated kill numbers are decided. This policy is more in keeping with bygone eras of the 1800s and early 1900s when thousands of animals were simply slaughtered for sport. It’s cruel, backwards and unethical, in my opinion. Thank you for your sensible article Mr Fox. MARTY STRIBLING Albuquerque