[Bill M]

I received this reply from Mr. Smith. I'm posting to show other dates he mentions.

Mr. Morris, Many thanks for your thoughtful letter. I very much appreciate your taking the time to share your specific concerns with this proposal. I also enjoyed learning of your initiation as a hunter and your long term participation in the sport. As you well know, we face very significant challenges in recruiting and retaining hunters. The aging of our population, the lack of leisure time, increased competition for recreational pursuits, lack of a family mentor, and access challenges are all impacting our ability to attract and keep hunters. It is not only affecting the sport of hunting, but all other forms of outdoor recreation as well, from hiking to camping to fishing etc.... We need your help and all our other hunters out there to help us address these declining trends in outdoor participation.

In the interim, I want you to know that this idea right now is just that- an idea discussed by the Commission in order to help facilitate more youth participation in the out of doors. At the Commission's meeting in January, they will discuss this concept further, along with a host of other deer related regulation proposals. Ultimately, no decision on this specific idea will be made until their March meeting. At the January meeting, however, we will ensure that the Commission is well apprised of the sentiments held by bowhunters such as yourself. Our job as staff will be to advise them of the biological ramifications of any of the proposals that they are considering. The social, cultural, economic, and political considerations are important also to the Commission, and I have no doubt they will be assessing those considerations as well as they further contemplate how to get more youth into the out of doors.

Thanks for writing. Your perspective and input matters and is always welcome at this Department. Hope your hunting season is a rewarding one this year.

Best, C. Smith