To the editor:
I am tired of being portrayed as a threat to society or that I am unfair and unethical. I own guns and I hunt. I got my first .22 for Christmas 52 years ago when I was 10. My three boys got their first guns between the ages of 10 and 12.
They show great respect and safety with their firearms and I am proud to share the outdoors with them.
In a large part of this country, it has become “politically incorrect” to admit to being a gun owner. While I respect everyone’s right to have an opinion or strong view on this subject, I am not going to be made to feel guilty or like I am a second-class citizen for having mine. I own guns.
For the last 34 years I have been a registered Maine Guide. Three to seven months out of each year since 1980, I have taken people hunting and fishing.
I am not going to let anyone or any group make me feel ashamed of this. I am proud! There has not been a single day in the last 34 years where I felt that I had been unfair or unethical in my pursuit of any wild fish or game. In fact, many days I felt the game had been unfair with its lack of cooperation.
This brings me to the main reason for this letter, the 2014 bear referendum.
For the last 25 years, I have managed or guided bear hunts over bait for two major sporting camps in northern Maine. These hunts are always a challenge — never the sure thing some would have you believe. It’s easy to get bears to come to bait; the same as they will come to beechnuts, raspberries, apple trees, oats, garbage barrels, bird feeders, or any other food source. They are so opportunistic.
But get them to come to that bait during daylight hours with a hunter there? The bears know this is not a natural food source; they come in very wary. The hunter must be aware of wind, his movement and any noise he might make.
Now, it becomes like any other big game hunt, no matter the method. You have to beat the bear’s nose, ears and eyes to win. The bear wins much more often than the hunter, just ask the thousands who go home each year without a bear. This hunt is far from unfair or unethical.
I do not hunt big game with dogs, nor do I trap. However, I am willing to bet the farm that if you opened your eyes, ears and mind to the people that do, or went along with these people just once or twice, you would find them both fair and ethical. Even if you do not want to participate in these methods of game management, “do not judge” others who do.
I am proud to learn of the strong coalition that is coming together to fight this referendum, and I promise to do my part to help — including putting what money I can where my mouth is.
But the sad part that I am hearing about this is there are a few among us (guides, hunters, trappers) who are siding with these strong anti groups.
All I can say is, “Be careful who you crawl in bed with.” If this referendum is successful, just maybe they will come for your part of the sport next. They want to stop all hunting and trapping.
I say, stand shoulder to shoulder, all guides, hunters, fishermen, trappers, environmentalists, and anyone else who wants to protect our outdoor heritage. We should, and will, vote this referendum down. My kids and now grandkids deserve the privilege to make up their own minds about these methods and our IF&W should have these tools of management to work with. Vote no on One.
Mike Langley, Maine Guide
Ashland
