Thanks Mona,

I agree!  DU has been a great resource in support of waterfowl habitat protection and improvement.  We belonged for many years (although I think my membership is not current), and have many trinkets from auctions at DU dinners scattered around the house.  There are also many duck stamp prints hanging on our walls.

To be clear to everyone, like you, I'm not advocating an "us vs. them" position.  Many who participate in non-harvesting enjoyment of the outdoors, and many of the great thinkers on the environment (Leopold, et.al.) were / are both sportsmen and conservationists.  I have no interest in working against their activities.

But I also think that the decision-making table is missing a group of "users" and a "point of view" that should be represented.  And I think that that group (non-harvesters) won't be represented until they can put some skin (money) in the game.  Hence the idea of a separate user funding channel that could be offered up to justify expansion of the F&W focus beyond a narrow range of habitats and species.

Thanks for your note.  I think / hope we're on the same path.

Scott

On Nov 14, 2013, at 9:39 AM, Mona Bearor wrote:

> The facts you state in your second paragraph are why I continue to support
> Ducks Unlimited.  Many birders abhor this organization, but they have done
> more to protect waterfowl habitat than any other national organization.  I
> do not hunt, but am grateful for their continuing work.  I also purchase a
> duck stamp each year and will continue to do so until a "wildlife watcher"
> or Birdwatcher" stamp becomes a reality.
> Just my thoughts; not intending to start a hunting vs. birding war.  :)
> 
> Mona Bearor
> S Glens Falls, NY
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vermont Birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Charlie La
> Rosa
> Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 8:44 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Hunter question
> 
> Most of you probably know this already, but for those who haven't
> encountered the information yet...waterfowl hunters use shotguns, not
> rifles. Rifles fire a single bullet, which can travel long distances at
> speeds approaching 3000 fps and are not suitable or legal for hunting
> waterfowl. Shotguns fire about an ounce of small steel (steel or another
> amalgam to prevent waterfowl from being poisoned through eating spent lead
> shot that falls in the water) pellets that spread out and cover an area of a
> couple of square feet, thus one can hit and kill a flying duck or goose, if
> one is pretty good.
> 
> Vermont Fish and Wildlife Access Areas, including the access areas at places
> like Dead Creek and Sandbar, are purchased and developed using funds
> generated through taxes levied on hunting and fishing equipment sales at the
> state and federal level and probably from hunting and fishing license sales,
> as well. It is true that the primary purpose of these areas is to provide
> access to lands and waters for hunters and fishermen. Activities like
> picnicking, swimming, or parking your car while biking are generally
> prohibited at boat launch areas. If people are able to use these access
> areas for launching kayaks and canoes or other pleasure boats or for other
> purposes, like parking and birdwatching, they should keep in the back of
> their minds the source of the funds to make it possible. These lands would
> otherwise be in private hands and often totally off limits to us.
> 
> While hunting ducks at a busy place like the Shelburne access is not my cup
> of tea, I am aware of the right of others to do so. Remember that almost all
> hunters pursue their sport safely and responsibly. If you see someone doing
> otherwise, please report it to your local game warden. It's good for all of
> us.
> 
> If we all are familiar with the guidelines, we should all be able to enjoy
> these areas together to the benefit of all.
> 
> An enthusiastic fisher, hunter, and birder, Charlie La Rosa Brattleboro
> 
> 
> On Wed, Nov 13, 2013 at 7:09 PM, Nancy Goodrich <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
> 
>> Thanks for the informative replies; there were other cars and people 
>> around so perhaps some cautionary signage would be in order.
>> 
>> 
>> On Wed, Nov 13, 2013 at 6:39 PM, Bruce MacPherson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> 
>>> Indeed hunting from the "rock" is legal. I was in the same situation 
>>> a
>> few
>>> years ago, ie I observed a hunter on the rock with gun in hand near 
>>> sundown. I visited the Shelburne police to inquire about the 
>>> legality of this activity. They in turn contacted the VT F&W Dept, 
>>> who responded that it was legal to hunt from the rock as long as the 
>>> hunters do not point their guns toward the parking lot.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Nuff said.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Bruce MacPherson
>>> South Burlington
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Nancy Goodrich <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: VTBIRD <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Wed, Nov 13, 2013 5:35 pm
>>> Subject: [VTBIRD] Hunter question
>>> 
>>> 
>>> At the Shelburne Bay fishing access today at 3:00pm 2 hunters got 
>>> out of their separate trucks , each with a rifle and walked to the 
>>> big rock at
>> the
>>> end of the parking lot and then walked out of sight down toward the
>> water.
>>> Is this an area that is open to hunting ??  Nancy Goodrich, 
>>> Shelburne
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
> 


Scott Sainsbury
Beacon Associates
P.O. 1660
Waitsfield, Vt.  05673
802-496-9393 ext 13
802-249-0525 (mobile)
www.beaconassociates.com