AgdaPkt 2000-09-18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DUCK LETTER 12A-\\ Tue, Jul 4, 2000 1 :55 PM state and federal duck stamps, whose revenues go directly to wetlands resto...~~ion. We doubt there is any other group of individuals as dedicated as hunt- ..:; in supporting the resource. Paragraph 6 Bair Island is indeed divided into two areas, one administered þy the California Department of Fish and Game and the other þy the U.s. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, hunting IS allowed in both the state and federal areas east of Corkscrew Slough, and both the California DFG and the U. S. Fish and wildlife Service manage these areas with that use in mind. To call the areas "reserves" or "refuges" does not mean that hunting is disallowed. In fact, waterfowl hunting is practiced in many state and federal refuges across the U.S., and the local fish and game jurisdictions participate in their management for that purpose. Paragraph 7 Hunting is allowed on Greco Island, which is well marked þy signage posted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a public hunting area. Any individual can read the posted signs around the perimeter of Greco Island. Paragraph 8 Waterfowl hunting indeed predates Redwood Shores þy at least 100 years. The entire San Francisco Bay, both north and south, enjoys a long history and tradition of waterfowl hunting. To this day, hunters are following generations of their forefathers in this vital connection to their roots and practice waterfowl hunting in the greater South Bay and San Pablo Bay. Paragraph 9 Many residents do not know that hunting is legal in the wetlands; their complaints do not indicate that any rules are being broken. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no incidents of any kind involving the discharge of firearms by waterfowl hunters in the last 25 years. You imply that hunters encroached into the 500-yard setback, which may not be true. Actually, only during certain wind conditions will sounds even reach the residential areas. Paragraph 10 You imply that police officers are at risk by trying to approach hunters. This portrays hunters as irresponsible, which is highly disrespectful to the many hunters who practice safe and sportsmanlike conduct. The greatest risk to the police is getting stuck in the mud. Paragraph 13 We do not represent all hunters, and there are always individuals in society that might break the rules. However, society does not close the freeways when we suffer the consequences of a poor driver. The enforcement of our laws must not remove the rights of the law-abiding citizens. Paragraph 18 Yes, hunters have dogs, and they are usually the best-trained dogs to be found. The walkers and joggers who bring dogs to Bair Island all through the year are probably more threat than hunters during the short waterfowl season. Additionally, a very large portion of the local wetlands is literally inaccessible to humans due to the difficulty of travel. Paragraph 22 Yes, the wetlands are in proximity to residential areas. This relationship has coexisted for many years. Only recently has this debate been sparked by restrictions on the usage of the levee along the bayside perimeter of Redwood Shores. We still have the riaht to en;ov these wetlands and to Page 2 of 3 T'-- ._-,