Letter to the editor: Save the animals

I love Montana so very much. I wish that I had moved here long ago, as I am 76 years old now and feel that I do not have as many years left as I would like.

Montana! With it's mountains and many lakes, rivers and streams. It has majesty all its own. Come with me and bring your fly-fishing rod and tacklebox. I always catch and release as it seems so unfair to do otherwise. The fish and all the animals here are defenseless, and it makes me sick to the point of vomiting when I see hunters shooting deer and elk and the many other wonderful animals here.

I think hunters that like to shoot their guns should only do so by target shooting. That would be fun competition for them and the defenseless animals would be saved, and said animals would then be free to roam. It makes me sick to see a mother deer and her babies, and then I hear gunshots.

I grew up in Old Forge, New York, in the Adirondack Mountain area. Hunting was not permitted. And the deer were safe and would walk up to us. They sometimes were just looking for an apple or snack. But other times they walked up to us just to say hello and be petted. They were so incredibly sweet and so beautiful. We have a family photo where a few deer are standing with us. Every child or adult should have that wonderful experience.

Lee John Bell,