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I know longer contribute much to birding but I am old and parcially
disabled. However I do go through every entry to this web sight. I
have read with interest the current controversy concerning hunting on State and
Federal Wildlife Refuges. All though I do not remember a specific
statement, there is an inference by some of the people commenting that these
properties should be closed to hunting. If this is the desire of this
group of people it is the most unrealistic idea I have heard in a long
time. Why you say, because if there ever was a true statement it is
"that politician's sentiments are where the money is". The vast
majority of funds needed to support these refuges comes from hunters and
fishers not birders. A few days ago I was thinking of this and I
concidered what have I done for the refuge sistem lately. The answer I
came up with was nothing. I went right over to the post office and
purchas a Federal Duck Stamp. I am not going to hunt now or ever
again but I do intend to use both state and federal refuges for birding for
ever or until I die which ever comes first. The duck stamp purchase is my
support for that privilege. I would now like to drop the gauntlet at the
feet of every birder in the United States. Go out and purchase a federal
duck stamp. If a million or so birders buy these stamps we could send some
one who represents us to Washington to jump up and down on the desks of congress
and say "look we donate millions to this system and birders should
have a say in making the policies that control it". I know that some
will say that by paying money for duck stamps we would be helping the
humters. This idea dose not compute, It is like saying because hunter
financially support the refuge system it helps them to hunt on
it, when hirders use the system for birding and then buy duck stamps
they are helping the hunters? Lets financially support the system and
then tell Washington about it. I intend to buy a duck stamp every year for
ever or until, oh you know. I hope every thing is spelled
correctly I hate to offend any-one.
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