HAPPY NEW YEAR ED

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> From: Ed Schulz <eschulz at gte.net>
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: Re: Conservation License (was Green-tailed Towhee).
> Date: Monday, December 29, 1997 10:36 PM
>
> Tweeters,
> Ruth Sullivan tells of her encounter with a game warden
> requesting her Conservation License. I hear through the
> grapevine that game officers will be checking for these and I've
> also noticed that on the north (WSDF&W) half of Spencer Island
> it is now posted that everyone must carry a license. The
> license is available wherever hunting or fishing licenses are
> sold, cost $10, are good for the calendar year, and are the same
> form as the hunting/fishing license only the block
> "Conservation" is marked rather than one of the fishing or
> hunting categories.
>
> Arguments for the licenses include the fact that there is a
> record of who is paying what for which use of the F&W lands and
> that is one way for birders to gain political clout relative to
> the hunting crowd. A birder could also purchase a Duck Stamp to
> support habitat acquisition, but I don't think there is a
> distinction made in the final tally of who is buying them (could
> be wrong on that point). One argument against the policy of
> checking birders is that there is already scant enforcement
> coverage of the hunting areas. As public policy do we want game
> officers to be chasing poachers or birders? If you were a game
> officer who would you be more inclined to confront?
>
> Timing on Ruth's posting is right as the 98 licenses will be
> required in a couple days.
>
> Ed Schulz
> email: eschulz at gte.net
> Phone: (425) 259-6877
> Everett, WA
>
> ----------
> > From: Ruth Sullivan <GODWIT at worldnet.att.net>
> > To: tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> > Subject: Green-tailed Towhee, still in skagit WRA.
> > Date: Monday, December 29, 1997 8:06 PM
> >
> > Hello Tweeter,
> > After reading Richard Rowletts Adventures Trip to the Okanogan
> Highlands,I
> > will make it realy short,what I have to report. This morning
> when i
> > arieved at the Skagit WRA,i was ready to go in to the fields,
> there come a
> > Man driving a truck.I first thought it was a hunter.Wrong!!!
> He approched
> > me and ask:what i intend to do up here.I told him that i was
> going
> > Birding.So he ask me if i had a CONSERVATION LICENSE, my
> question was
> > wy?The man was not on ordinary man,he was the Game-warden.He
> told me on
> > sunday there where so manny birders and the Hunters
> complained, so he have
> > to enforce the Law which states in order to go on federal land
> you must
> > have this license.He was kind enough to let me birding
> today,but in the
> > future it will coast $94.00 FINE.I don't mind pay the $10.00
> at all, and i
> > am glad to find out from this warden.because it cost the
> hunters almost
> > close to $100.00 a year to go hunting. Most of you Birders
> proable already
> > got this License.This Warden lives in the house on the
> REFUGE.
> > I had onother good look at the Green-Tailed Towhee, run in to
> Scott, he was
> > so exited seeing the Swamp Sparrow,it got late for me so i
> will try another
> > day with more time to get The photo
> > Ruth
> > GODWIT at worldnet.att.net