Ward should go shoot some quail

As a student dedicated to the preservation of nature, I feel it is my civic duty to reply to Jon Ward's article, "The Smarter Animal." I enjoyed the comic insight on what he calls "toothless trailer trash," but when he compared this man to a hunter, I was very insulted.

The tradition of hunting is older and more American than apple pie. Hunting has nothing to do with "feeling a power from murdering a defenseless creature" as Mr. Ward states. It in fact has nothing to do with killing. Hunting is about experiencing nature, and being part of a cosmic equation that until you have experienced it, you cannot truly appreciate.

I acknowledge that times have changed since the day when people had to hunt for survival, but hunting is no less important today. Due to human expansion into rural areas, wildlife has less habitat on which to live. When these animals are harvested by sportsman (i.e. - legal tax paying, and moral hunters) the animal population is able to coexist with humans. In areas where hunting is disallowed animal populations explode and starve off very rapidly. This drastic change in the ecosystem leads to tragedies like mountain lions hunting children to eat since their normal prey, deer, are slowly disappearing.

Mr. Ward, the bottom line is hunting is the most appreciative, respectful and intimate way to show appreciation for nature. National Hunting and Fishing Day is coming up in a few weeks, try to attend one of the events. Hunting is not for everybody, but it is for conservationists. I hope you give careful consideration to what I have written here.

On October 9th, quail season opens up statewide, give it a try. Then you can consider yourself a true sportsman and conservationist. In the meantime, I have an elk hunt this weekend.

Dan Adler

History Senior