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In
response to the WI DNR's inclusion of the HSUS on a
Public Service Announcement, the following letter was
sent by FTA.
James Doyle
State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
May 20, 2010
To Whom It May Concern:
The officers, board
members, and general membership of the Fur Takers of
America have directed me to write to voice
our extreme objection to the WI DNR’s recent inclusion
of the HSUS on a Public Service Announcement regarding
wildlife in Wisconsin. We are outraged by this
association, and want to be clearly on record in voicing
this outrage.
Let us be perfectly clear: we have absolutely no
objection to the mission of the PSA announcements--it is
in the mission of the WI DNR to communicate such
important information to the public. It cannot, however,
be in the mission of the WI DNR to legitimize HSUS by
association of any kind.
We adamantly object to the DNR’s horrible decision
to allow the project to be funded partially by HSUS.
This onerous organization has spent millions in a
national effort to end hunting, fishing, and trapping.
Simply allowing HSUS to declare itself as a “partner”
with the WI DNR lends credibility to an organization
that is, in many ways, “Public Enemy Number One” for
hunters, trappers, fishermen and women, and outdoorsmen
in general. At best, this act is a slap in the face of
every outdoorsman who has ever, and who will ever,
purchase a hunting, fishing, or trapping permit in the
state of Wisconsin. At worst, it is a violation of
taxpayer trust, and can arguably be seen as an act that
encourages efforts to end outdoor recreation and
wildlife management as we know it.
In response to our preliminary objections, members
and officers have received canned replies that insist
that the PSA message is an important one, and also that
HSUS is not mentioned in the radio pieces. We find these
two points of response almost as repugnant as the
initial decision to partner with the anti-outdoorsmen
group in the first place. Again, we have no objection to
the content message, or the importance of the mission.
That is not, nor has it ever been, our issue. Second, to
argue that the DNR has somehow successfully kept the
“partnership” a secret speaks volumes as well---clearly
you recognize the damage, but apparently are comfortable
moving ahead, so long as no one finds out?
Our national association is in the process of
considering a national convention to be held in
Wisconsin in 2012 (A bid is to be offered at our June,
2010 meeting). If something significant is not done to
remedy this issue, we must, in good conscience,
carefully reconsider that option.
Our national association has a moral and ethical
obligation, stated in our mission and supported in our
by-laws, to be a voice for trappers everywhere and
certainly for those in Wisconsin. We owe it to both
Wisconsin trappers and outdoorsmen nationally to ask
that prompt, clear, and assertive action be taken to
remedy this problem. We do not often direct such letters
to state governments, but we cannot in good conscience
stand by and not register our concerns, and ask that
they be addressed swiftly.
The WI DNR has every outdoorsman shaking his head
in amazement. How could it have seemed like a good idea
to partner with an association that is currently suing
the state of WI on wolf de-listing? Who in the agency
thought it would be a good idea to do a press release
announcing “HSUS and WI DNR Partner for Wildlife”? How
can a state agency add credibility to an organization
whose expressed mission is to put an end to wildlife
management as we now know it.
We look forward to your response and we have the
highest of expectations that this situation will be
addressed with both clarity and haste.
Respectfully,
Charles Andres, President
Fur Takers of America
We encourage you to send a letter also to the following:
Randy Stark-DNR, Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921
Matt Frank-DNR Secretary, Box 7291, Madison, WI 53707-7921
James Doyle, State Capitol, Room 15 East, Madison, WI 53702
Sample Letter 1
Sample Letter
2
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