The feedback regarding Mike Veile’s letter to the editor (see the June/July issue of EHJ, page 98) regarding big game auction tags has been tremendous. As expected there have been some readers condoning the practice and even more opposed to the idea. Below we have posted some of the more articulate responses we have received thus far regarding this very controversial issue facing our hunting heritage here in the West. If you would like to comment on the article please send me an e-mail to guy@eastmans.com and we will get your comments posted as soon as we can.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to drop me a note stating their views and concerns on this subject.

Reader Feedback:

Mike Higgins

Guy,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the letter by Mike Veile in the current EHJ. I agreed with most of the points that Mr. Veile has wrote. I am also the “common” hunter you mention in your Scoping It Out section of the magazine. I live in Arizona and I was born and raised in Idaho. Just having the opportunity to hunt is most important to me and all the threats like the “conservation tag” need to be addressed. Our sport is changing. It is bitter sweet. We need continued interest in hunting and the outdoors by generations to come, but the more people who apply means the lower chance of drawing a tag. Every tag I am lucky enough to draw is “coveted”. This word seems to pop up in the first few paragraphs of every story I read. The story of the “auction tag” holder is the last one I would want to read. (I thought you might want to know this). The EHJ was not founded to put those with the most money on the cover. I would rather read a story which is interesting or humorous, ending with the taking of a personal trophy or meat buck than the typical story of how I was dragged along by my guide just to be able to pull the trigger….but you already know that. DIY is the best way to go!

I am mostly a solo hunter, not by choice, but I have small children, and finding a good hunting partner can be as hard as finding a good wife. That is why she is my best hunting partner. Sorry for the lengthy email, just wanted to say nay to these auction tags unless auctioned by the wildlife management agencies. The costs to provide the best management and opportunity to hunt should come from the license and tag fees..If they need to be increased than do it. The resident tag for deer here costs about the same as 10 gallons of milk these days. The real cost of a hunt is the gasoline. I laugh when I hear people complain about an out of state deer tag for $400. Heck, I have spent thousands on optics, I need to use them don’t I? Last year in Colorado, that was the best $300 dollars I have ever spent for my buck license. We had a great time and that is what is all about. Keep up the great work,

Loyal Subscriber,
Mike

P.S. great hardcore video, and tell Cameron he never has to apologize for the score after his hunt I have never taken anything very big. When I have not shot an elk by day 4, I have to think real hard about pulling the trigger because the last one took three more days to get it off the mountain. (I hunt San Francisco Peaks N of Flagstaff) because it is the easiest draw odds.

Thanks again,
Mike

JERRY GILLUM

Guy, I have been a fan and subscriber of your magazine for a long time. I was also a friend of your grandfathers, and was in his video “Deer Hunter”. Your concerns and those of the gentleman from Idaho ,in turn ,concern me. I feel he is way off base on some things and probably legit on others. I preach to my young daughters to work hard at being positive in a world of almost total negativeness. Everybodies glass is half empty instead of half full! I also feel that most all are so into their own desires, that they take very little time to concider the needs of others. If we as sportsmen combine our efforts and work together, we might have the resources to fight the anti-hunters. There is the problem; self interests and selfishness. To the fellow from Idaho; I happen to be a member of SFW WYO and I would welcome you to one of our meetings to really get to know who we are and to see the great things we have done for sporstmen. We may not be perfect, but we are trying combine efforts of all sportsmen to protect our sport and heritage. I do not underestand why RMEF has not taken a stand against wolves, or I don’t particularly feel that long-range hunting is ethical, but

it is what others enjoy, so who am I to criticize. Please, befor you feel inclined to criticize someone or some organization, try to at least be a little more informed on their goals and desires. You might be suprised that they are very much like your own!

Jerry Gillum, Chairman
NE WYO Chapter Sportsmen For Fish and Wildlife

David Qualls

Guy,
I really enjoy your magazine and your TV show. The TV show is, in my opinion, one of the very best. Since very few Texans seem to hunt mule deer in our state, your show is the only one I can rely on to view footage and gain information about mule deer and elk hunting. Your show is very educational as well as a pleasure to watch. Keep up the good work.

I specifically emailed in your response to your editorial called “Scoping It Out” in the Jule/July, 2007 issue. Texas is certainly no different about selling high priced, one of a kind trophy hunts, which only the wealthy can afford. The “common man” or “family” can hardly afford the price of a deer lease, since 97 % of the land in Texas is private. This problem will only continue to accelerate. We are blessed with a lot of state parks and public hunting areas in Texas, but the competitiion for special hunts (deer, hogs, etc.) is intense. It was easier for me to draw a non-resident elk license in Wyoming (with no preference points) than it is to draw one of these tags to hunt on public land in Texas. The only good news is that the cost of the tags is cheap, and the hunt itself is inexpensive.

The same is pretty true of fishing in our state also. Unless you have a boat, hire a guide, or want to fish from the bank, access to quality fishing places is pretty limited.

Sportsmen’s conservation groups, SCI, RMEF, NWTF, NRA, and all of the others acknowledge the fact that unless we provide opportunities for all hunters, especially young ones, that our great sport will diminish in popularity as our population ages. Lack of access, the high cost of tags, the expense of gas and travel, and lack of time all contribute to the problem. It doesn’t seem that many of these groups are working hard to make public access a reality for the average person.

Maybe they are, and we don’t really hear much about it. I know that DU at least publicizes their efforts.

Good luck,
David Qualls

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 12th, 2007 at 2:34 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.