Originally Posted by
Tanya
Here is my letter to the editor of the Cowichan Valley Citizen. If you like hunting there, get on it.
Dear Editor;
This letter is in response to the piece that appeared in your opinion column submitted by Julia Star and published in your January 16 Cowichan Valley Citizen. I am actually very surprised that any editor would publish such an outlandish piece full of misconceptions and untruths.
Ms. Star obviously does not believe in hunting and that is her prerogative. It is interesting that she chose wait to submit this piece until just prior to the end of the duck season ( January 18th). Cowichan Bay has been open to waterfowl hunting since Thanksgiving weekend, the usual opening for many, many years.
I would like to address some of her statements. 1) Yes, prime shooting time, and legal time is one half hour prior to sunrise...it closes one half hour after sunset. Many hunters work all week and the weekend is their time to hunt.
2) There are more swans in this valley and on Vancouver Island than there has been ever, just ask any farmer that has them devastating their grass fields. Drive by next week, or check out some of the scenic back roads of the Valley for swans. Also, they can be seen year round at Somenos marsh.
3) Migrating ducks do what migrating ducks do, and that is usually head out on a high pressure system just before big storm and head south. A large amount of mallards did this back in November. At the estuary you can still see mallards, widgeon, pintails, teal, bluebills, buffleheads, scoters, mergansers and more.
4) Birders still do come and see the above birds. Hunters also contribute monies to the local economy, especially those of us who live here. In addition through the purchase of licenses and the Canadian Migratory Bird permit contribute monies to waterfowl enhancement. Then of course there are all those that belong to groups such as Delta Waterfowl and Ducks Unlimited, both groups contribute millions to wetlands enhancement projects.
5) "Teach children that to be a man or macho woman is to destroy the lives of others for the pointless activity of killing wild animals. This is perhaps your greatest success! Most serial killers begin by killing and torturing animals. So let's breed more serial killers! More terror! More fun!" This statement alone discredits anything the woman had to say that came anything close to reality. As a woman I like to hunt, I cook what I kill and feed my family. Nothing macho about it. I know many women who hunt that are as feminine as they come. I suppose Ms. Star does not eat. Anyone who eats contributes to the death of animals, yes even vegetarians. As for serial killer, that is possibly the most outlandish statement Ms. Star made. Hunters come from all walks of life, doctors, lawyers, businessmen, farmers, writers etc. It is not the kids that hunt and fish that become these raving lunatics. Kids that live in the unreal world of video games and have no contact with the realities of life and death are far more likely to commit these types of crimes.
6) Endangering lives of people walking. First rule of hunting is "know your target and what is beyond". I am not saying everyone is perfect, but I do know that Cowichan Bay is closely watched by both the RCMP and Conservation Officers and that if there were offences committed I am sure your fine paper would jump to report them.
7) Leaving garbage. Yes, it happens. Unfortunately like any other group of people the hunting community has it's polluters. I know that we always clean up, and also pick up after others, including items that have nothing to do with hunters or hunting.
Cowichan Bay is one of the very few public waterfowl hunting areas on Vancouver Island. Hopefully, the hunters of Vancouver Island that enjoy the bounty Cowichan Bay offers will get equal press.
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