Thursday, September 10, 2009
Elk hunting ban applauded
Bill Cochran
Recent mail
BILL: I am glad that board members Charles Yates and Ward Burton have persuaded the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to ban elk killing in far Southwest Virginia.
Hopefully the state’s coalfield counties will some day host a sustainable heard; compensation funds will be established for affected landowners; trophy-size bull elk will be routinely viewed at the Breaks Interstate Park and our residents will take pride in the return of an animal that evokes images of the wildlife paradise our region use to be and is slowly becoming after decades of habitat destruction, poaching and lukewarm management techniques.
Deer, turkey, bear, fox, bobcat and squirrels now abound. Some say that the deer and bear are too plentiful, a much better problem than when I grew up and none were to be seen. The VDGIF has come a long way in managing our wildlife and responding more quickly to stakeholders and conditions in the field. I applaud the new leadership and direction.
FRANK KILGORE
BILL: Don’t forget that Hunters for the Hungry is a United Way organization (in many areas) and folks can donate through payroll deductions, as I do.
PENN RIGS
