Wolf Delisting Update

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[FONT=&quot]Folks,[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Tomorrow is the final public comment hearing on expansion of the Mexican wolf program and national gray wolf delisting. These new federal proposals mandate expansion of Mexican Wolves on the Arizona Strip, Northern Arizona, Northern New Mexico and Texas. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]It is vitally important for Sportsmen to attend tomorrow's hearing. [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Here is more information on tomorrow's hearing:[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Pinetop, Arizona[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]What: Wolf Delisting Public Comment Hearing[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]When: Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013; 6-8:30pm[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Where: Hon-Dah Conference Center, 777 Highway 260, Pinetop, AZ 85935 (3 miles outside of Pinetop at the Junction of Hwy 260 and Hwy 73); (928) 369–7625[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Please wear camo, hunter orange or a cowboy hat to the hearing. Big Game Forever will have 100 orange hats available for the first 100 sportsmen at the hearing. Come by the table, say hello and pick up your hat.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Registration for the hearing will occur from 3-6pm. An informational meeting will be held by USFWS from 3:30 to 5:30pm. The hearing itself will last from 6pm to 8:30pm. Verbal comments will be limited to 2 minutes per speaker. Speakers will be chosen at random from those who have registered. Written comments will be accepted and are treated equally with oral testimony.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Please register to speak at the hearing. More registrants increase the number of folks who testify on the importance of protecting livestock, deer, elk and other wildlife. Your comments can be brief. [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Here are a few suggested talking points:[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](1) You support delisting and fulfilling longstanding commitments to restore state management of wolves;[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](2) Mention the city and state where you reside;[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](3) Discuss your interest in conservation of wild game and protection of livestock;[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](4) While we support the importance of Mexican wolf recovery, we are concerned about the lack of safeguards for wildlife and livestock in the American Southwest.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](5) 90% of native Mexican wolf habitat resides in the country of Mexico, yet it appears that most of the burden for wolf-recovery will be placed on Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. This creates an unnatural burden on indigenous wildlife populations.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](6) Unnatural wolf-population densities are unsustainable and present a threat to deer, elk and other native wildlife without balanced multi-species management. These protections are only available under state wildlife protections.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](7) The ability of states to capture and return Mexican wolves to native ranges is important to protection of wildlife populations in Southern Utah, Southern Colorado, Northern New Mexico, Northern Arizona, Southern Nevada and portions of Texas.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](8) You support the right of state's to implement responsible wolf-management, to protect hunting, livestock, wild game and multiple-use.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]We also encourage everyone to take a few minutes and prepare short written comments. Feel free to borrow heavily from the talking points above for your written comment. Not only are these comments treated equally with oral testimony, but written comments ensure that your testimony will be included as testimony at the hearing. Consider including some personal information indicating why protection of livestock and conservation of wildlife is important to you as a resident of the Southwest. Personalizing your written makes a much greater impact than simply reciting the above talking points.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Thank you for your efforts to protect the future of America's wildlife.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Ryan Benson[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]http://biggameforever.org/[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][email protected][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

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