I read with interest the complaint (BDN, Jan. 20) by the executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine about declining interest in hunting and fishing and the need for some strong marketing. SAM is a vibrant group, active and well-led, and I think George Smith’s comments are worthy of note. I think that instead of promoting more state resources – they’re already seriously stretched – that there are a couple of options.

SAM is, I think, an administrator or at least a participant in the administration of the Outdoor Heritage Fund and I think there’s enough elasticity in that fund to suggest that some of those monies could be used for the appropriate marketing purposes.

SAM, too, has embarked on a very substantial building program to construct a new headquarters in Augusta and perhaps SAM could revisit those plans, downsize a bit, and use some of the money for marketing – all of which would be good economic bread on the waters. SAM’s belt-tightening could serve as an example to others and would without a doubt please its members.

Just a couple of thoughts for something that important to our outdoor heritage.

Jon R. Doyle

Augusta