This commentary is by Alana Stevenson, a professional animal behavior specialist who has an master’s degree in biology education and a bachelor’s degree in biology. She is the author of “Training Your Dog the Humane Way” and is certified in Low Stress Handling for dogs and cats.
The population of moose has drastically declined in Vermont due to winter ticks, brainworm, lungworm, loss of habitat and hunting. Yet the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the Fish and Wildlife Board still support a 2018 moose hunt. For too long the department and the board (solely made up of hunters and trappers with vested self-interests) have catered to hunters and trappers at the expense of animals, wildlife, homeowners and non-hunting Vermonters.
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board’s rationale (and that of many moose hunters and hunting guides) is that if the moose hunt is suspended, it will be hard to reinstate. And this is how wildlife policy is made — by pandering to “sport” hunters and irrational, self-serving thinking.
In the 1800s, the moose population was nearly wiped out because of hunting. Now the moose again are suffering. Moose who are injured and not recovered do not even count towards a hunter’s “bag limit.” How is this justified? Why is it that the Fish and Wildlife department and board cater to the few when the majority of Vermonters want to see ethical and responsible management?
If a person is killed because they are “shot” by a hunter, it’s labeled a hunting “accident.” You can’t drink and drive, but you can drink and shoot. Hunters seemingly don’t have to follow public noise ordinances. There are many Vermonters who don’t want to hear gunshots outside their windows or near their property. The fact that the non-hunting public and homeowners have so little say in the way wildlife is managed by Vermont Fish and Wildlife is undemocratic and irresponsible.
Animals can be trapped without having to be reported. Traps can be set nearly anywhere, including on public land near walking and hiking trails. Vermont allows killing “contests” and “open” seasons on a number of animals. The way wildlife is managed — or mismanaged — by Vermont’s Fish and Wildlife department and board needs to change.
There are many Vermonters who enjoy viewing wildlife. Wildlife provides peace, beauty and tranquility to hectic lives. Wildlife watching, including viewing moose, contributes to the economy. In many states, far more than hunting does. Those who like to view and/or photograph wildlife, hike, run, rock climb, ski, kayak, bike, birdwatch, paddle board, and participate in non-consumptive outdoor recreation need to have a say in how policy is made and how wildlife is managed in Vermont.
Exposing the Big Game 
Reblogged this on The Extinction Chronicles.
Well said, and I couldn’t agree more. Vermont sounds a lot like Idaho, and pandering to hunters and trappers is the mission of the wildlife “managers,” who themselves are enthusiastic killers. It’s such a filthy and corrupt system.
Good to see you have an “accurate” assessment of the WHOLE agendas.Georgie, MS, ND
Well done, Alana. Anyone who still believes that Vermont or Massachusetts are across-the-board progressive states does not know how native wildlife is mismanaged in both states. Native predators, such as eastern coyotes, are demonized and persecuted in both states, though coyote defenders in Vermont are making some headway towards reining in this cruelty. We see from Alana’s essay, how Vermont is mismanaging a hurting moose population there. State wildlife agencies are run as if by incompetent, dishonest drunks, serving animal abusers and killers above all else, even in supposedly “progressive” Vermont and Massachusetts. Urban “progressives” do not give much thought to the cruelty and abuse suffered by native animals IN THEIR OWN STATES, perpetrated by the same kind of stupid, heartless idiots found in Idaho or Wisconsin. In the woods of New England, out of sight and out of mind of these clueless “hipsters” who are too cool to care. They do talk a good game about climate change though and support those ecologically destructive wind scam turbines that scar the land, kill thousands of bats and eagles and other birds and do not do a darn thing to reduce carbon emissions.
Absolutely. The whole system is dishonest and one-sided and stacked against wildlife and the non -hunting public.
It those KIND OF PEOPLE THAT WANTS CONTROL, and put themselves in JOBS AND POSITION so they can satisfied their own SELF-CENTERED, malignant “growth”.
Wildlife Policymaker pander, actually ‘PROSTITUTE” to hunters…..IT ABOUT HUNTING LICENSE MONEY.
Bravo!
I’ve been suggesting for years that we be allowed to buy non hunting tags to save the wildlife so we can equal footing with the 4 they get from the hunting licenses. We view and photograph them, not kill them. And they can manage them selves quite well we are the ones that can’t manage a thing including ourselves. We are in the stranglehold of the gun and killing industry and their spokespeople are he NRA ..They run the wildlife management programs around the country ..its all backwards and done for hunting as a recreation ..it is actually a sin and a crime to murder so there should be a huge sin tax …hunting should be abolished and prohibited.