To the editor:
The bobcat hunt has been rescinded by the Fish and game Commission.
Following a rejection of the hunt by the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules, which acts in an advisory capacity only, JLCAR sent the matter back to the commission and to the Fish and Game committees of the House and Senate for comment.
These comments would also have been advisory only since there was no specific bill involved.
In their decision, JLCAR sited the lack of protection for the related Canadian Lynx, the cost of the program and the public interest. By sending this back to not only to the commission but also the committees of the House and Senate, an unprecedented move, they signaled a desire for broader input on the issue. By rescinding the proposed hunt, the commission has done the right thing.
This issue has brought out more citizen activism than any other this year. Hundreds of people attended hearings of the commission, JLCAR, and even presentations on the scientific study itself. The overwhelming number of those people are against the hunt. A large proportion of my emails have been devoted to this issue. I applaud the citizens for getting involved and hope they will rally for other issues as well.
The Fish and Game Commission meetings, like all other committees, are open to the public.
Until now, few people have availed themselves of that opportunity.
This issue has brought new scrutiny to the operations of the commission.
Some have come to question it and even how the commission is set up. Change may be in the future for the commission. Do we have the bobcat to thank for that?
Jon Manley
State Rep. (D-Bennington) Hillsborough District 3, House Committee on Fish and Game and Marine
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