DERBY: Step in right direction
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 12 years, 8 months AGO
In response to Ann Sydow’s letter, just a few comments:
I don’t know what hunters or sportsmen you are talking to, but as a hunter and having many friends who also hunt, I have not talked to a single person who was against the derby. In fact, the majority of them are in favor of a much smaller population of wolves in Idaho or complete eradication of them.
As far as Idaho’s “lax” animal cruelty laws, I suggest you read Idaho Code Title 25, Chapter 35 (25-3515 in particular). Look it up on the internet.
As far as not having a big population of wolves in Idaho, I invite you to check out www.fishandgame.idaho.gov. If you even care to look, you will see the wolf population in Idaho exploded from 2001-2009 to a point where wolves in some areas were out of control and responsible for up to a 56 percent drop in elk populations. In 2010-2012 there have been small drops in the overall wolf population due to hunting by sportsman. The first Idaho hunt ended in 2010.
As far as economic damage caused by hunters, I invite you to www.sportsmanslink.com. I do hope you will take the time to look at this, but just in case you won’t, let me throw out a couple numbers for you. Last year American sportsman contributed $70 billion to the economy, with $179 billion in ripple effect (non-sporting related items such as airfare, hotel rooms, restaurants, etc.). Last year 196,543 Idaho hunters contributed $319 million in retail sales, which created or supported 6,197 jobs that paid those workers $125 million and generated more than $21 million in state taxes. Your point is invalid.
Look, since I can remember, we here in North Idaho have had salmon derbies, bass tournaments, big buck contests and drawings at our local sporting good stores for hunters who enter themselves with a picture of their harvest. Now, all of a sudden, the opportunity to do the same with a different animal comes along and some people get all up-in-arms over it. I understand your views, and though I may disagree with them I respect them. However, if you’re going to criticize it, at least take the time to do a little research and figure out for yourself why you’re against it. The more you know …
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