Don't let hunters control DEC conservation fund advisory board: Letter
From Animal Defenders of Westchester (ADOW)

We advocate on all animal protection and exploitation issues, including experimentation, factory farming, rodeos, breeders and traveling animal acts.

Don't let hunters control DEC conservation fund advisory board: Letter

Letter as published on USAToday.com
September 6, 2017

Re "Hunting and fishing licenses on sale," Sept. 1 article:

Hunting, fishing and trapping license sales are key to funding the fish and wildlife management duties undertaken by the State Department of Conservation, the article states; in other words, the DEC's Bureau Of Wildlife funds itself off the blood of wildlife. A pitiable truth that says it all.

Most of the non-hunting public who care about and take pleasure in the natural beauty of New York's wildlife alive don't have a clue how wildlife's fate is controlled by what amounts to a private hunting club run by the state DEC, and their clientele, which would be less than 5 percent of the public that is licensed to hunt.

Legislation (S3327/A6519) introduced by Sen. Tony Avella to change the requirement that any member of the inaptly named "conservation fund advisory board" have to hold a hunting, fishing or trapping license to serve on the board is a blatant inequity. The bill has languished in committee. New York residents should ask their senator and Assembly members to co-sponsor and support the bill.

The public needs to know about Sen. Avella's bill. There is something horribly wrong in the way this agency depends on getting its funding and it's high time for some change.

Marilyn Leybra
Pomona

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