I have some very good friends who are hunters and fishermen and I applaud their love of the outdoors and their $$ contributions to various wildlife causes via their license tags.................The philosophy that I want to encourage further among all who shoot, trap and fish is that their love of nature must extend to the entire natural system,the carnivores and the non-game animals-----not only the animals and fish that they pursue in their outdoor endeavors............Once again citing the person who hits the nail squarely regarding the importance about optimizing the circle of life is our great 20th century naturalist Aldo Leopold -----“The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant, "What good is it?" ..........."If the land mechanism as a whole is good, then every part is good, whether we understand it or not"............. "If the biota, in the course of eons, has built something we like but do not understand, then who but a fool would discard seemingly useless parts?"......... "To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering"

From: AZGFD [mailto:e-news@azgfd.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 1:43 PM
To: Meril, Rick
Subject: Contributions of hunters, anglers benefit everyone

GAME AND FISH NEWS Sept. 21, 2016  Contributions of hunters,  anglers benefit everyone  Gov. Doug Ducey signs proclamation  honoring original conservationists PHOENIX – Even if you don't actively participate in the  time-honored traditions of hunting or angling, National  Hunting and Fishing Day is a day of celebration for  everyone. Whatever your interest in wildlife, hunters and  anglers – the original conservationists – have made  countless contributions over the decades to the  conservation of fish and wildlife through sound,  science-based management. Gov. Doug Ducey recently signed a proclamation celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day on  Saturday, as well as recognizing the role that the  state's hunting and angling community plays as  an economic driver. It's important to understand how those outdoor  pursuits benefit wildlife. Since 1939, hunters and  anglers have generated more than $15 billion  toward wildlife restoration through an excise tax  imposed on the sale of hunting, angling and  shooting-sports equipment. Those funds are administered by the federal  Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR)  program, one of the most significant programs  benefitting wildlife conservation and outdoor  recreation. WSFR funds, along with the sale of  hunting and fishing licenses, provide a substantial  portion of wildlife conservation funding for activities   such as fish and wildlife population management,  habitat management, research, surveys, land  acquisition, hunter education, shooting and  archery ranges, boating access, and more. Who benefits? The general public gets better  stewardship of natural resources. Hunters and  anglers get more and better places to hunt and f ish. State and federal agencies receive more funds  to meet their conservation needs. More than 786,000 Arizona hunters and anglers  certainly are doing their part to keep the state in t he black, spending more than $1.2 billion annually  and supporting 18,220 jobs, according to the latest  report (2011) by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. As a result, $132 million in state and  local taxes, and another $155 million in federal  taxes, are collected annually. "I want to thank Gov. Ducey for this proclamation  that recognizes hunters and anglers as the  cornerstone of conservation in Arizona," said  Edward "Pat" Madden, chairman of the Arizona  Game and Fish Commission. "They are being  recognized for job creation, financial impact,  conservation efforts and wildlife enhancement. "On their day, the citizens of Arizona should take  a moment and thank a hunter or angler for their  contributions to our state."    As part of National Hunting and Fishing Day, the  Arizona Game and Fish Department will be  hosting a free public fishing event as part of  "Verde River Days" at Dead Horse Ranch State  Park. For more information, including a listing of  additional free public fishing events statewide in  October, visit https://fishazblog.com/free-public-events/. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------