Mike Mitchell
Active member
I hope this request is ok with the forum moderators. Ladies and gents we need your help here in Mass in the form of public comments to ensure the future of hunting programs at three Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuges. A few years back three Eastern Mass. National Wildlife Refuges (Oxbow, Great Meadows, Assabet) were opened up to hunting including waterfowl opportunities. From now until April 11th public comments are welcomed on a revised draft environmental assessment (draft EA) that a federal judge ordered in response to a national lawsuit filed by the Fund for Animals. The refuges preferred proposal is plan D, which is the current hunting program already in place.
To view a press release by the USFWS with more information about this issue including links to the draft EA's:
http://www.fws.gov/...tme...ewsrelease.doc
If you could please take a minute or two out of your day to send in an email in support of hunting at these refuges I along with hunters in Mass would appreciate it. Lawsuits by these anti groups are a national problem. While they are targeting refuges in Mass today they could go after your refuge's hunt program next season.
Please address your comments to:
Libby Herland, Project Leader
Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex
73 Weir Hill Road, Sudbury MA 01776
(978) 443-4661 x11; libby_herland@fws.gov
Here is what I sent in:
__________________
Dear Ms. Herland:
I am writing to you today to comment and respond to the revised draft Environmental Assessments at Assabet River, Oxbow, and Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuges. As an avid waterfowl hunter and conservationist I strongly support Alternative D –The Current Refuge Hunt Program (Preferred Alternative) at these three refuges.
I had the opportunity to hunt some of these lands in 2006 with my Dad and it was a great experience. It was nice to finally be able to hunt on land that my duck stamp dollars may have supported over the years. I truly hope that we will be able to hunt there again next year and for years to come so that the next generation of hunters will have the same opportunities to hunt on public lands that I have. Having worked in the natural resource management field for several years I understand how difficult your job can be at times.
Thank you for the hard work that you and your colleagues do day in and day out.
Sincerely,
Michael W. Mitchell (Very Important** please remember to include your address so that your comment will be added to the official record)
To view a press release by the USFWS with more information about this issue including links to the draft EA's:
http://www.fws.gov/...tme...ewsrelease.doc
If you could please take a minute or two out of your day to send in an email in support of hunting at these refuges I along with hunters in Mass would appreciate it. Lawsuits by these anti groups are a national problem. While they are targeting refuges in Mass today they could go after your refuge's hunt program next season.
Please address your comments to:
Libby Herland, Project Leader
Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex
73 Weir Hill Road, Sudbury MA 01776
(978) 443-4661 x11; libby_herland@fws.gov
Here is what I sent in:
__________________
Dear Ms. Herland:
I am writing to you today to comment and respond to the revised draft Environmental Assessments at Assabet River, Oxbow, and Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuges. As an avid waterfowl hunter and conservationist I strongly support Alternative D –The Current Refuge Hunt Program (Preferred Alternative) at these three refuges.
I had the opportunity to hunt some of these lands in 2006 with my Dad and it was a great experience. It was nice to finally be able to hunt on land that my duck stamp dollars may have supported over the years. I truly hope that we will be able to hunt there again next year and for years to come so that the next generation of hunters will have the same opportunities to hunt on public lands that I have. Having worked in the natural resource management field for several years I understand how difficult your job can be at times.
Thank you for the hard work that you and your colleagues do day in and day out.
Sincerely,
Michael W. Mitchell (Very Important** please remember to include your address so that your comment will be added to the official record)
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