Those Who Care About Wildlife

First & foremost I want to thank you for your solid & continuing support of the Phoenix Chapter/Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation & allowing us to be included on your website. That was a very generous gesture on your part, not to mention your ongoing help & support on our local committee. I do believe that being involved in a committee of this caliber is a very educational process. Nobody really realizes how much work, thought, travel & expense is involved in our endeavors to preserve & save wildlife from man himself. If not for wildlife management & wildlife conservationists there would be no wildlife at all. In spite of what the anti-hunters really believe, hunting plays a vital role in wildlife conservation. Without hunting all species of wildlife would fade into extinction within a short period of time. Not everyone will would want to hear this but, this is a fact. Hunting wildlife keeps the balance of nature in check whether you believe in the harvesting of animals or not. Without it wildlife will slowly expire specie by specie from disease, starvation, overpopulation & displacement by development. If the anti-hunters would understand that we love wildlife as much, if not more than they do we would stand united in the same cause. We have many, many members which I have met personally at our RMEF National Conventions. In the past couple of years I have met some young high school students who have been educated properly by such teachers as Mrs.Carol Biletnikoff who heads [HSH]High Schools for Habitat. I asked these students if they liked to hunt? Most of the responses were very similar. I don't hunt but I do realize the need for conservation and that without it we will have no wildlife. I was surprised at their response because the old school of thought by non-hunters was always something like, I don't believe in the killing of animals. These young people, many of whom were female are wise enough to realize the reality of the situation.

Sincerely,
Harry Carlson
PHX Chapter#25 Committee Member/Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

AZOD responded to Harry's Letter:

Thank you Harry for your kind words. They are greatly appreciated. I agree with your opinions and also believe that our Nations youth is the key to pulling all the factions involved together for the good of conservation. Its really not just the Hunters and Fishermen's heritage that's at stake here. Its campers, hikers and bird watchers. It's a grandmother telling her granddaughter about a humming bird in her honey suckle bush. Its about the Outdoors and the ability to experience it. Its every American's heritage. Its just would not be right not to fight for it. My complements Sir, for your dedication.

Robert G. Willis, Editor, AZOD