Quick and humane

Sharon Cockrell’s commentary (BDN, March 1) takes any number of shots at trapping and those of us who trap, and draws any number of conclusions that aren’t worth taking the time to respond to again. She refers to a piece written by another trapper as “trying to defend the indefensible.”

I’m not going to defend the fact that I trap because I don’t have to and it’s a waste of time trying to convince animal rights activists otherwise anyway.

I use 160 Conibear traps in box sets five feet off the ground, catch marten, fisher and an occasional weasel, and can be assured of a quick and humane kill.

I enjoy the sport of trapping. So did my dad as does one of my sons and hopefully one of my granddaughters, and what’s more, I’ll continue to trap for as long as I’m able. I hope there’ll be many more good memories of being high on a mountain with my son, checking our traps and enjoying each other in an ever-shrinking world of personal options.

So have at it. We’ll still be here.

Loren Ritchie

Greenville