George Smith, executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, is missing the point entirely in his guest column Jan. 23. Opposition to Sunday hunting has little to do with Prohibition and blue laws, and everything to do with wanting one day for non-hunting activities. We just want one weekend day to enjoy our property.

Mr. Smith feels that hunters deserve Sunday hunting in return for higher fees. As a landowner, I feel I would deserve something in return for Sunday hunting. In exchange for Sundays, I would gladly take Saturday as a hunting-free day or perhaps support for making it mandatory to have written permission before hunting on land that is not your own. Requiring permission would allow us to allow hunting on days of our choosing.

As landowners, my husband and I allow hunting with permission. We like to alert those who hunt on our property to areas we would prefer them to avoid and times we might be in our fields and woods. Each year we have several hunters who ask for, and are granted, permission to hunt on our property. Unfortunately, an equal number of hunters feel it is their right to hunt on our land without the courtesy of asking. These hunters will eventually spoil it for everyone, as frustrated landowners begin posting their land.

Carol A. Cottrill, Rumford

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