As you may or may not know, I have been representing FOB at meetings of the West Virginia Wildlife Federation since January of this year. I have come to know and appreciate all of the people who are involved in that group. They come from all walks of life and are both male and female. They are hunters and fisherman. They are retirees, former military, scientists, and about everything else you can imagine. Above all else, they are West Virginians and they love this state. This group of people represent sportsmen and conservationists. And while we do not always agree we do all respect one another.
There is however a great misconception regarding how FOB feels about sportsmen as a whole and I would like to take this opportunity to clear the air a bit. FOB has no issue with sportsmen at all, in fact we view this as another way in which people can get out and enjoy everything wild and wonderful about West Virginia. While we do not support unethical hunting or fishing practices, we do support sportsmanship. Sportsmanship takes on many different forms and we appreciate them all.
There is also the matter of the push for a National Park. There is even a survey on our website. This seems to be the biggest issue that sportsmen have with us. And we can understand that this is viewed as a means to further cut off lands to those that enjoy hunting and fishing. Please, please understand that this is one method of protecting the land that we feel so strongly about. We have even been accused of trying to make the entire Monongahela National Forest a National Park. This is not at all true. In fact the survey does have a map of the entire Mon to allow people to state their opinion as to what areas, if any, could or should at some point in the future be deemed eligible for a National Park. In this matter, public opinion will always weigh heavily in any decision and this is an opportunity to speak out and bring to the table all the questions surrounding this possibility. So I am issuing a challenge to the sportsmen out there to take the survey and tell us what you think, what you want, and ask any questions. As always will answer them honestly and to the best of our ability.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
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2 comments:
Lots of wild places are open to hunting, but still protected from destructive practices such as logging and mining.
Hunting and fishing by humans need be no differnt than that by other predators such as bobcats, coyotes, otters, etc. All of the wilderness areas I frequent are also open to hunting and fishing. Wilderness designation may be the best way to save Blackwater, if the idea of a National Park cannot be realized.
Of course nothing would be greater than the whole of this nation honoring the state of West Virginia by designating Blackwater Canyon as the hub of a new National Park. West Virginia is overdue for a National Park, being as it quite probably the most beautiful state in the East.
Well said! Thank you Hemlockman!
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