Hunters are the real conservationists

To the editor:

I appreciate your coverage of the recent Fish and Game Advisory Council, which I attended. The story that referred to the “sea of camouflage” definitely brought out a chuckle from me and I felt that the previous article was fair to the opposing sides mentioned as any good news article should be.

What I did what to point out was the characterization of the conflict as being between “hunters and conservationists.” In fact, hunters are the real conservationists, in thought and in deed. Take a look at the nationwide and international conservation organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, Grouse Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Quail Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Safari Club International, Wild Wilderness, U.S. Sportsman’s Alliance and National Wild Turkey Federation, to name a few. These groups have been raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for habitat development, education and conservation. What is as important, if not more important, is how much of this money they are raising that they are actually spending on habitat, education and conservation. I guess they have been going about this work so quietly that some people don’t notice it.

The groups of people the Frontiersman seems to have deemed the “conservationists” are better termed the “environmentalists.” They are against the real conservationists because they reject all aspects of habitat and predator/prey management, including all forms of “consumptive” use like hunting and fishing. This is why conservationist sportsmen and sportswomen react so strongly to the ideas of environmentalists.

Thanks for listening to my side of it.

Sean Ridlon

Wasilla