Published: May 02, 2008 05:03 pm         

Our Readers Speak - Saturday, May 3, 2008

Bad management, high fees hinder hunters



I couldn’t help myself not to respond to the bills that they want to introduce concerning a one-time senior citizen hunting and fishing license fee.

First of all, if the fees were more in line, they would have no problem selling more hunting and fishing licenses. They have gone up over 100 percent over the last 15 years, and there are a lot of sportsmen that just can’t afford them, especially when they have children who hunt and fish.

And as for the coyotes which have got out of hand, they can be blamed on the same organization that is now wanting to pass the cost on to the hunters and fishermen to control them. With a state as small as West Virginia and its dense forested land, the coyotes are now running around like dogs in backyards eating cats and dogs. Any dummy knows they reproduce rapidly, so what are they griping about now? The fox population was enough of a problem and they keep introducing game that went extinct years ago in West Virginia because of improper habitat or food source and now 75 years later, they are trying to restore them with even less habitat and food sources because our forests are being clear cut all over the state so they are now living in our backyards.

I remember just a few years ago you could see a rabbit any time you looked out your window. That’s in the past because coyotes have found them easy prey. At least you could eat a rabbit, but a coyote is a worthless predator.

We finally got a reasonable amount of turkey population all over the state, but you’ll find they will start to dwindle as the coyote takes its toll on them.

My point is that if not for the people we put in charge with all of the biology degrees who probably never went into the woods until they got out of college and went to work for the DNR or some other government agency, we probably wouldn’t have all these problems and have the impact thrown on the backs of the true hunters and fishermen with higher license fees, plus all the other stamps you have to buy to enjoy hunting and fishing.

I’m one that can afford whatever the price is, but there are a lot of sportsmen that can’t, and I’ve talked with a lot of them that said they quit buying a license and just take their chances because they can’t afford the outrageous fees. I know in my area hunters are hunting on their own property or farms with permission and not buying a license.

So, want more license fees? Get the fees back in line and you won’t have to put your burdens on the backs of most senior citizens who live on Social Security with an annual income of $10,000. You should be ashamed!



Lee R. Tincher

Fayetteville