The original is bellow and the top is the latest. I pretty sure he has no idea...

My response:

Joe,
I appreciate your concerns about the well being of the animals in Maryland. However, I believe that there are more effective ways to secure that same well being. Just as in most activities the secret to safety is knowledge. For that reason I would propose that you seeks different methods of educating the public on hunting and harvesting practices. I believe that this would get both you and this nation as a whole much farther in the pursuit of more humane hunting practices. I also believe that this would be a much more efficient, positive, effective use of your energy.

Thanks you,

Tim

His 2nd responce: ???

Tim, Beyond killing animals as the common denominator of options we currently use - especially ones that so many are opposed to --do you have any suggestions? I'm open to suggestion here. Thanks, Joe



Mine:

Hello,

I am an avid sportsman that is concerned with your opinion on bowhunting. Within my five years of bowhunting I have harvested six animals. Each one died within 20-50 yards from the point of impact. I understand why you do not like the idea of an animal going through prolonged suffering. I would like to assure you that you do not stand alone in this concern. Every respectable sportsman and especially bowhunter I know has the deepest desire for a clean and quick kill. The reality is that in any hunting tradition the hunters goal is to harvest an animal. In any hunting tradition there are miss hits, bad judgments and, mistakes made. With todays technology and the average skill of todays bowhunter, the number of miss hits, bad judgments, and mistakes is no different than in any other hunting tradition. That being said I can see no legitimate reason to eliminate bowhunting season from the schedule.

His:

Dear Tim, Thanks for not calling me a "moron" or something similiar. Ha, ha. I've had a few of those in all of this. It's been hysterical. Also, Tim, while I am confident that you are an excellent bow hunter, sir, I assure you that many others are not. No one I associate with would everwant an animal to suffer. When they see some of the same animals, day in and day out, with the broken legs and the puss coming out of their sides from knownhits by arrows, then it's time to tell this side of the story.
As the non-hunter on the commission, I'm the one who gets the calls about the wounded deer with arrows in them running outside someone's house or in a field - and much more. This is not a rare event, I assure you. And I'm now getting word from even more bow hunters and others, coming forth, willing to tell me the "other side" of this. It isnot pretty.

Sorry for the tardy reply. I've had tons of emails on both sides of the issue -- those who love me and those who well, are very "vexed" to be polite. Take care, and thanks for writing. Joe Lamp