Dear Honorable Senator Sanders, Leahy and Representative Welch:
I’m writing today to ask for your help. The help that I need is to stop the restrictive actions from the Federal Government concerning the usage of the nearly 30,000 acre plus preserve known as the Silvio O. Conte Nulhegan Basin Division for hunting and recreation purposes in Essex County.
When the Preserve was formed in 1997, all types of promises were made to Vermonters that their input would be vital before any restrictive plans were made regarding their hunting and recreation needs. This just doesn’t happen. It is nearly impossible to even get a phone call returned to ask a question and when there is a returned phone call, the action that’s being called upon has already been decided with no recourse allowed.
Recently, it was decided by the powers that be that running hunting dogs on this vast area of mostly uninhabited area would be restricted to almost nothing. With the pressures of the anti hunting movement coming from outside of our state, this group of people who dictate what policies are best for the preserve and Vermonters have forgotten or just don’t care of the long traditions of Vermont sports women and men.
I can’t think of any area that is better for this type of action. Hunters are very conscious of concerns from private land owners of hounds people and dogs crossing their properties and see this large parcel of land as an alternative from creating negative feelings within their communities.
I ask humbly for your help to rid this policy made by people who either don’t understand the rights and needs of the Vermont Sports Women or Men or simply don’t care who they affect when these decisions are made.
Senator Russ Ingalls
Essex/Orleans District