I can't stand it any longer... I'm amazed that people appear to believe
that conservation licenses and more taxes are an effective means of
raising money for state government conservation expenditures. If this
so called conservation license has been around since 1981, why has the
implementation of issuing them failed so miserably? I firmly believe
that a license will keep new-comers away from getting interested in
wildlife viewing. For conservation efforts to be successful many, many
people have to care about the quality of habitat. For people to care
about habitat, they need to have access to it so they can watch and
learn. If we make them pay for that privledge, they'll stay home and
watch TV and it won't be Wild America. Sure, hunters have paid because
they like have blinds built and waiting for them and lots of animals to
kill. Plus you have to have money to regulate the activities of people
running around the great outdoors will weapons so they don't kill each
other and all the remaining wildlife.

And more tax!!!! My guess is that many retailers are going to have a
hard time supporting this (hello, REI). They will just loose sales to
people like me who will order their next set of binos from Focus. I'd
rather see that whopping 8% I'm already giving the gov'ner get used for
something useful like conservation programs.

I gladly forked over $25 bucks this summer to the forest service so I
could park at a trail head. I also gladly donate my time to do trail
work. My reasoning here is that we have the opposite problem on our
trails; overuse and abuse. Charge them money to keep some away and
invest in much needed trail work. I've never had trouble parking at a
wildlife refuge or have been overwhelmed with the numbers of birders
stepping on my toes.

I think this whole issue should be re-visited. Education is the key;
and oh, by the way where do all those lottery dollars go?


--
Debbie Feinman < "A raven in Desolation Canyon? Why >
North Bend, Washington < those two-bit, no-good, lunchmeat- >
debraf at isomedia.com < breathed, bunny-sucking anarchist >
< featherbombs, they slip in as soon as >
< we are out the door." >
< >
< E. Meloy from Raven's Exile >
........................................