Originally Posted by SwampYankee

I might be going out on a limb, but I think most recreational fisherman and hunters realize that you need to protect the very critters you wish to target as well as their habitat. That's why so many of us belong to organizations such as B.A.S.S., Ducks Unlimited, etc.

However there are cynics among our ranks, which I tend to agree with, that any government designated hatchery, fishery, nursery, < insert your favorite off-limits zone euphemism here> that has environmental groups' endorsement is just another incremental step towards the outright banning of hunting and fishing. It's one thing as an club/organization to work to maintain and improve the habitats and voluntarily place limits on takes in the interest of continuing their sport, it's another when government (local, state, federal), pressured by the environmental lobby, starts to impose them.

Unfortunately as recreational participants, our voices are no where near as loud and powerful as the commercial interests who are better able to dictate public policy and, arguably, more likely to cause long-term harm. That's why we'll be targeted first.