Alright already. Addressing the "duck stamp" angle: No one has to pretend to be anything or anyone in order to buy a "duck stamp". Yes, waterfowl hunters are required to purchase one and attach it to their hunting license. The back of the stamp reads: "We are in a new era of conservation working with partners with whom we are finding common ground and forging solutions to the complex natural resource issues of our times." (Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, May 2009) "For more than 75 years, waterfowl hunters and stamp collectors have been the mainstay of the Federal Duck Stamp program, providing the revenue used to conserve some of the most important wetland and grassland habitats within the National Wildlife Refuge System. But these preserved habitats benefit many other species - plants, fish, amphibians, and even butterflies - as well as many other families of wetland and grassland birds - a fact recognized by America's birders. Please join waterfowl hunters, stamp collectors, and birders as members of our conservation community by purchasing Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps. Remember, when you buy a duck stamp, you get a return as great as all outdoors." " Put your stamp on conservation... Buy a Duck Stamp!" Also the method to report bird bands is on the back. (www.reportband.gov) Did you know that some National Wildlife Refuges charge admittance fees? Of those that do the fee is usually entirely or partially waived (no do not have time to look them all up) waived. Even though I do not see it stated here, The "duck stamp" is essentially a "season pass". Renee On Tue, Dec 14, 2010 at 5:46 PM, Tom Hissong <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I 100% agree! It is time for birders to contribute to conservation of the > resource. > > Tom Hissong > > > In a message dated 12/14/2010 1:08:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, > [log in to unmask] writes: > > The non-financial participation of birders in the acquisition and > management of exceptionally fine birding areas that were paid for by > hunters and > fisherman is always a contentious one, on all sides of this many-sided > issue. > > > The fact that the Ohio Division of Wildlife gets the vast majority of its > operating funds from the sale of hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses > has been noted. > > But what hasn’t been mentioned are the excise taxes on firearms, > ammunition, archery equipment, and fishing gear allowed by the > Pittman-Robertson Act > and the related Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act. These taxes on > sportsmen have were instigated by hunting and fishing groups, and are > fully supported by them. > > Should there not be, then, a similar conservation excise tax on > binoculars, bird guides, and bird feed? Why not? > > –John Blakeman > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. > Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. > Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at > www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. > > You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS > Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. > Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. > Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at > www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. > > You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS > Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] > ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]