The recent illegal killing of several moose and deer in Soldiertown Township is a tragic reminder of how serious a problem poaching remains. According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, it is estimated at least half of the deer killed by Maine hunters are killed illegally.

Maine’s game wardens place their lives on the line virtually every day they are on the job and they are to be commended for their efforts to apprehend the person(s) responsible for this horrible killing. Unfortunately, they have been hampered in their efforts by an ongoing effort by George Smith and the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine to make enforcement of Maine’s fish and wildlife laws more difficult. In addition, SAM’s ongoing criticism of Maine game wardens has undermined enforcement efforts and fostered an anti-warden mindset. According to Smith, “the top priority of Maine game wardens appears to be to protect the revenue sources of their department, rather than the fish and wildlife resources of our state.” Smith could not be more wrong.

As a sportsman, I think the leadership of SAM has gone too far to promote its own agenda at the expense of Maine’s fish and wildlife resources. It’s time for a change. Maine’s sportsmen and women deserve better. Maine’s fish and wildlife resources deserve better. John M. Glowa Sr. South China