Guest editorial: Take action to stop elimination of game animals

Hunters … I am going to suggest something that many will say is controversial.

Some will think I’m some kind of activist who is out to get Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Nothing could be further from the truth. We, as hunters in this state, have reached a crossroads.

For decades our sportsmen and sportswomen dollars have gone to create and enhance wildlife habitat. Our dollars have gone to making sure our wildlife populations are kept at manageable levels or increased. All that has changed in 10 short years since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service forced the re-introduction of the wolf onto Montana’s landscape.

Many of us remember when the late season hunt at Gardner would produce not only memories in the field but thousands of opportunities to harvest one of the grandest species in Montana – the elk. Now, with the introduction of wolves, that late-season hunt no longer exists. It’s gone!

Some wolf lovers have even entered into the discussion indicating the reason why elk numbers are dropping is because of development. I don’t recall getting the memo allowing development inside Yellowstone Park. That is where all this started.

A few months ago the experts came out with a study indicating wolf numbers are dropping in the park. They attributed the losses to disease and other deaths. What really is going on is that the wolves are following the food source. We didn’t need any experts to come to that conclusion.

The State of Montana had a choice back when the discussions first took place. The state could have told the federal government to go fly a kite on the wolf re-introduction idea. New York didn’t get force-fed wolves. California didn’t get force-fed wolves. But the good old State of Montana said, bring ’em on … just like the grizzlies.

Now comes the controversial part of this editorial. Fish and Game doesn’t care about all the whining that goes on about wolves at the coffee shops. They don’t care about the fancy websites that show the wanton killing for sport that wolves do. They don’t care about all the threats that hunters have mentioned about killing wolves on sight.

What they care about, and all they care about, is revenue. My suggestion is too late to do this year as hunters have already purchased most of their hunting permits for this upcoming hunting season. But, next year, if hunters all across Montana refused to purchase or apply for any special hunting tags for the 2010 hunting season, it would virtually cripple Fish and Game.

That’s where they get their revenue. If enough people refused to participate in their little shell game anymore, they would get the idea that maybe, just maybe, they better start listening to the people who pay their salaries and pay for the programs.

I know we have become a selfish society and would love to lie back in the weeds and let someone else do all the work, but as stated before, hunters and hunting opportunities are at a crossroads. We can continue the status quo and watch our elk and deer herds dwindle to nothing, resulting in lost hunting opportunities, or we can take a stand and force the department to finally listen to us.

The elk and deer herds belong to Montana residents. We can’t sit back and idly watch the federal government simply eliminate our game animals.

To clarify, I didn’t say we don’t continue to hunt. I’m just saying, write a letter if you wish, or don’t write a letter to the Montana FWP, stating you are done buying licenses or permits until things change.

One last thing … wolf permits have always been on sale. They come 20 to a box at any sports shop.

Anyone interested in joining this cause, contact me at the addresses listed below.

(Don W. Wilkins has lived in Libby since 1966 and is a second-generation bowhunter and lifelong hunter. He can be reached via postal mail at P.O. Box 335, Libby, MT 59923).