It is so that I hunt or fish for purpose of being afield, but it is the things I experience while afield that I hunt and fish. To live life, feed upon the wild flesh. Not to hear the wild wolf howl in the night, but to experience the struggle of life itself. Be quick and clean not to cause fear or pain, pray for forgiveness, pray for thanks, do the most possible to preserve the magnificent creature intended for consumption. There is no waste.
Why is that considered such a horrid crime by so many today? Sustained harvest is my personal choice.
Harvesting wildlife from the ecosystem monitored by a biologist is not wrong. Sustained harvest based on science works to benefit the entire ecosystem whether it is trees, fish, small game, big game, fur bearing animals or rocks in the ground.
It is the science of ecology, not the sympathy of the anti-everything crowd but the anti”s are winning through politics and the ballet box over regulation, permits and fines. Are there weapons of choice as those who hunt and fish are dying out there is very low recruitment of the young, until there will be none?
Although the anti”s are very efficient at making new law or rules pertaining to take they”re not very good at funding law enforcement of their new laws that is left to the honest consumptive preserver of wildlife to fund through tag and permit fees. Does not seem fair the anti”s pay through political representation to make laws tougher and those who hunt and fish pay to enforce them. It is becoming so frustrating that a lot of us are stopping what we”ve done all our lives. While the anti”s, so proud of themselves, are sitting back thinking up other ways to file lawsuits to tie-up state and federal dollars in court, preventing important habitat work that benefits all wildlife and the entire ecosystem.
Once while speaking to a prominent business woman I suggested her group pick a coastal stream to adopt and work to restore the Coho salmon in that watershed. Her reply was simply that you would just eat them; well yes fresh fish is pretty good.
This is the attitude of the anti-everything crowd. Stop the only people who work so hard to increase wildlife populations to a point of permitted sustained harvest, make laws so ridiculous that people stop doing what they have done their whole life. I”m old and tired, not strong enough to fight anymore. So I picked up a pen to express my opinion. But the quick young cat has dug its claws deep into my back and is biting down into my neck in an instant the pain of life is gone.
Hunters and fishermen saved the wildlife in this country. If the anti”s stop us, who is going to fund the Department of Fish and Game, law enforcement or habitat work?
Mother Earth can feed the planet. We must all work together to enhance and make a better world. We must all work together to take care of it.
In the United States we have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Personal choice does not mean the greater majority can dictate to the minority how they choose to live their lives. That”s called prejudice and discrimination.
I wish I had all the answers. I do not. I know it is better to work together than fight.
I hope the anti”s live long enough to see the error of their ways. As for me, until I die or I”m stopped by some ridiculous new law, the inshore Chinook fishery is looking pretty good and those fresh abalone steaks are indeed wonderful. Until next time.
Joe G. Welz
Clearlake Oaks
