Is a wildlife refuge not a refuge if people are allowed to hunt there?

[dgibson]

Here's another look at the recent FFA lawsuit attempting to bar hunting from NWR's. The FFA has been largely getting spanked over the issue, but it still bears attention and concern. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>"We believe it is obscene that refuges should be turned into killing fields," said Michael Markarian, president of the Fund for Animals. "There's plenty of public land in this country where hunters can hunt. Unfortunately there's a lot of political pressure to allow hunting on refuges."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>"Can you imagine if they had to find funding for wildlife from tax dollars?" Sexton said. "There's not enough money to fund things people need in everyday life like education, police and fire departments. The Fund for Animals doesn't have an answer for that. The very animals they seek to help would be in big trouble if it weren't for the money that comes from hunting."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>MY OPINION: Perhaps the FFA will be the next group to ostracize themselves like PETA. So far they haven't taken any extreme stances, but one can only hope.

 

[1_pointer]

IMO, a refuge can be a refuge and still allow hunting. There can be much less pressure on the animals with hunter numbers limited. To me, that is a refuge, even if it is just somewhat, from they could be experiencing on adjacent lands.

 

[dgibson]

The crux of the matter is nothing more than a matter of semantics. They're called "refuges" and the ARA's choose to interpret that to mean "refuge from man." The intention was for them to be refuges from devleopment, roads, etc., but (once again) an unfortunate choice of words or definitions leaves it open to argument. That's why lawyers get rich.

One could use the same argument against so-called "preserves." What does a "hunting preserve" preserve? An ARA would say that the word "preserve" means to protect life, which is (in their opinion) antithetical to hunting. But that's not the intention of the owner.