I have signed this petition , though I do believe there is a time and place for humane sport
https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&pa...
Wolf-Killing Predator Derbies
Dear [Decision Maker],
As someone who cares about protecting our wildlife and wild places, I am deeply concerned by your company's sponsorship of recent predator derbies held in Idaho by Sportsmen for Wildlife.
I am particularly concerned that the entry fees for these events are now being used to support Sportsmen for Wildlife's Wolf Litigation Fund to keep wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the northern Rockies off the endangered species list.
Like many who enjoy the outdoors, I believe that the decision to remove wolves in Idaho and Montana from the endangered species list was premature and that the legal wrangling of groups like Sportsmen for Wildlife jeopardizes the future of wolves in the northern Rockies and the benefits for other wildlife that come with healthy local wolf populations.
Since wolves were reintroduced to Greater Yellowstone and central Idaho fifteen years ago, we've seen local ecosystems rebound as these top predators helped prevent overgrazing of foliage by elk and deer.
According to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, there are 150,000 elk in Montana, compared to 90,000 in the mid 1980s when wolves started to make their way back to the state. Wyoming's elk population is up 35% since then to 95,000, while Idaho's is up 5% to 115,000.
For all these reasons, I strongly urge you to withdraw your sponsorship and all support of these predator derbies so long as they target wolves.
Thank you for considering my comments. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]