HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-09-24 Public Comment - J. Orr - Sourdough Drainage CommentsFrom:J.D.O.
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Sourdough Drainage Comments
Date:Monday, September 9, 2024 10:33:53 PM
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Dear Bozeman Commission,
I’m sending this email to ask that you do not ban trapping in the Sourdough drainage.
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING
I am nearing 70 years old now. I am 2nd generation Montanan, and I love what this state isand has been. I now have third and fourth generations Montana in my family. 10 of which are
my grandchildren who live here. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize what this state can offerthem.
I used to trap in the 70s and 80s. I have again, since raising a family, gotten back intotrapping. This is a tradition, long steep in the history of this state, and quite literally in the
Bozeman area.Getting into the backcountry for big game now, at least for me, is prohibitive. However, I am
able still to get out and do some trapping. Limiting the ability to trap in these areas thatproduce fur quite frankly just takes away any desire or ability for Montanans like me to get
out into the wilderness.I can tell you from first-hand experience that neglecting the management of wildlife and
forests ends up in catastrophe. Our forests, no longer maintained, are nothing but a tenderbox every season to burn. As a result, there is more Carbon residue deposited into the
Atmosphere annually, then could ever be cleaned out by any attempt by mankind to limit theiuse of fossil fuels. I’m not debating whether this is right or wrong. The fact of the matter is this
is truth.I see this as a comparison, a direct comparison to the lack of management to wildlife. We have
a responsibility to these animals to keep them healthy and managed. To let them overpopulatean area and die of disease because of lack of food or habitat is simply cruel and poor
stewardship.The management of these animals has been done for generations by people who respect the
animals and in fact, respect all animals in active ways more important than simply claimingthey do, and creating lawsuits and legal actions.
As best as I can tell, this is a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. There are already
setbacks in place in this area, and it isn’t known for high volume of trapping to begin with.One only has to look at California to realize taking away any form of wild game management
can have unintended consequences in the long run.
Montana K9 Safety, with some input from the Montana Trapper’s Association, has beenproviding an excellent public outreach regarding educational clinics on how to avoid and/or
release pets from traps. If you’d like, I’d be happy to ensure more classes are done in theBozeman area.
Statistically speaking, you have a better chance of being in a fatal car accident in this state
than you do having your pet caught in a trap. Even then, there is an above 90% chance yourdog will sustain zero injuries. It’s worth noting nearly all fatal instances, and all instances
where serious injuries were sustained but weren’t fatal, were due to the fact an animal was atlarge and not within visible/verbal distance of the owner.
I appreciate your consideration in this matter.
Respectfully,
Jerry Orrhighlandgilly@pm.me