There are couple things I take issue with in this editorial. The first is the statement made that says, "Maine is the only state in the country to allow bear trapping putting the state outside the hunting mainstream, something that should be of concern to those who hope to draw new visitors and residents here."
Oh give me a break! New vistors and residents don't sit down and ask whether a state allows bear trapping before they decide to visit or live there. Let me get my priorities straight - First, does Maine allow bear trapping? Second, does Maine allow bear baiting? Third does Maine allow hunting bears with dogs?.............53rd, Does Maine have good schools? 54, Does Maine have any jobs?
The editor may present arguments that the majority of Maine residents would believe but he makes an idiot out of himself by making such an absurd statement.
The other issue is his contradiction about the entire bear trapping issue. He first talks of how it should be stopped because it is socially unacceptable. But then tries to have it both ways by saying there is no biological, ecological or managerial reason to allow bear trapping.
Bear management, including trapping, hounding and baiting, should be a MDIFW decision based on the best available science, which includes consideration of all sound management practices not some editor who obviously knows very little about any of it. Basing decisions on social ramifications is no different than suggesting nose piercing should be banned because the majority of people don't find it socially pleasing. (BTW, I wouldn't base my decision on where to visit or live on whether nose piercings were or were not allowed).
As far as the comment goes by Bill Randall, when someone whom I assume is a hunter and trapper, at least he was a trapper cause he said so, makes comments like this:
I have one more question. Can someone explain to me when it became "chic" to call trappers hunters? Don't get me wrong, I take no issue with trappers. I generally support all that they do. I want to know if this is a deliberate attempt to negatively lump all hunters and trappers into the same category with bear trappers. Out of their own ignorance they will call those trappers who catch fisher cats, fishermen.
Oh give me a break! New vistors and residents don't sit down and ask whether a state allows bear trapping before they decide to visit or live there. Let me get my priorities straight - First, does Maine allow bear trapping? Second, does Maine allow bear baiting? Third does Maine allow hunting bears with dogs?.............53rd, Does Maine have good schools? 54, Does Maine have any jobs?
The editor may present arguments that the majority of Maine residents would believe but he makes an idiot out of himself by making such an absurd statement.
The other issue is his contradiction about the entire bear trapping issue. He first talks of how it should be stopped because it is socially unacceptable. But then tries to have it both ways by saying there is no biological, ecological or managerial reason to allow bear trapping.
Bear management, including trapping, hounding and baiting, should be a MDIFW decision based on the best available science, which includes consideration of all sound management practices not some editor who obviously knows very little about any of it. Basing decisions on social ramifications is no different than suggesting nose piercing should be banned because the majority of people don't find it socially pleasing. (BTW, I wouldn't base my decision on where to visit or live on whether nose piercings were or were not allowed).
As far as the comment goes by Bill Randall, when someone whom I assume is a hunter and trapper, at least he was a trapper cause he said so, makes comments like this:
With people like this around, the terrorist actions of groups like HSUS, PETA and Defenders of Wildlife can close up shop. This guy can do more to destroy any image problems than they can.
I have one more question. Can someone explain to me when it became "chic" to call trappers hunters? Don't get me wrong, I take no issue with trappers. I generally support all that they do. I want to know if this is a deliberate attempt to negatively lump all hunters and trappers into the same category with bear trappers. Out of their own ignorance they will call those trappers who catch fisher cats, fishermen.