Letters
The following speaks for itself. It clearly illustrates the arrogance
of the game agencies in dealing with the public. Gregg Feigelson, Chair
of the Coalition to Prevent the Destruction of Canada Geese, a committee
of Wildlife Watch, Inc., received this response to his letter whose
questions are obvious.
Dear Mr. Feigelson:
Thank you for your inquiry regarding concerns for the hunting of
Canada geese in New Jersey State Parks. In reply to your specific
questions, I offer the following:
1. The State Park Service has not conducted any studies/surveys or
relied upon such for determining whether Canada geese in parks are
resident or migratory populations. [They claim they are not killing
“migratory” geese].
2. No State Park studies/surveys have been conducted to determine
the injuries, damages or hazards to property, public safety or public
health caused by Canada geese. [They claim geese are a health hazard]
We have received numerous verbal and written complaints from the park
visitors sharing their concerns for health, water contamination,
beaches/lawns littered with feces from the geese. [We, on the other
hand, had shocked responses from park visitors who learned of the
hunt. No one complained about goose poop.]
3. The State Park Service has not issued or relied upon any written
guidelines on the classification of Canada geese as “resident.”
4. The Division of Parks and Forestry recognizes hunting as a
legitimate recreational activity for parks and forests. The majority
of the acreage administered is open to hunting.
The Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife establishes New Jersey’s
hunting seasons, related laws, rules and regulations. State Park
Service supports and enforces these hunting rules and regulations
within parks and forests.
I recommend that you contact the Division of Fish, Game and
Wildlife regarding your interest in survey data or the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
Sincerely,
Gregory A. Marshall
Director
In case you think only New Jersey hunting agents are arrogant, here’s
a letter to our Texas member, Gayle H.B., from the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Rd. Austin, TX 78744 Phone
512-389-4800. He wrote:
Dear Ms. B:
Your recent letter to Mr. Sansom has been referred to me for
response.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. recognizes your desire to
appreciate wildlife through photography and other non-consumptive
methods. That is your right and we fully respect it. We wish that you
would similarly respect the rights of others who have chosen to
appreciate and utilize those renewable wildlife resources in a
consumptive manner through regulated hunting and fishing activities.
The interest of wildlife will best be served if all segments of the
public, both hunters and nonhunters, pool their resources to promote
proper land use practices to preserve and enhance the habitats which
are necessary to support wildlife. Hunters and fishermen fund the vast
majority of these efforts through license sales and excise taxes on
sporting goods. They would welcome similar financial support from the
non-hunting segment.
If all segments of the population combined their efforts, instead
of wasting resources in an adversarial role, wildlife would be the
primary benefactor and we would each be assured the continued
opportunity to utilize wildlife through our chosen means.
Thank you for your interest and support for proper wildlife
management.
Sincerely,
H.G. Kothmann
Public Hunts Coordinator
