Hunting Declines in Urban West

My compliments to Tosches for his well-researched article. One aspect of the situation he failed to mention, however--the irony of it all.

For many decades, long before concern for wildlife became trendy, the license and permit fees, the special excise tax paid on hunting and fishing equipment, as well as the millions of dollars contributed by Ducks Unlimited and similar sportsmen’s groups have been the means of support for efforts to save wildlife from extinction.

The ill-informed urban sentimentalists are newly arrived upon the scene and so far have provided much zeal but little financial or practical help. Their indignation toward hunters is misdirected.

Loss of habitat is the real threat to wildlife. It takes money, and plenty of it, to preserve or restore vital wetlands and upland terrain necessary for the survival of wild creatures. Suburban development and commercial exploitation are the real enemies. With limited habitat remaining, controlled harvesting of fish and game is a necessary part of the equation. JOSEPH S. PALMISANO

Taft