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SHERIFF ^WlW^ STEPHEN M. OELRICH 



Alachua County Sheriff's Office 



Post Office Box 1210 • Gainesville, Florida 32602-1210 



December 8, 1995 



The Honorable Don Young 



United States Representative 



Chainnan, House Committee on Resources 



Room 805 



House Annex Building Number One 



Washington, D.C. 20515 



Dear Representative Young: 



On Friday, October 13 of this year, I, along with some 90 plus other citizens of Florida, had a 

 very negative experience with agents of the U.S. Wildlife Service which needs to be brought to 

 the attention of your committee. 



In September, I, along with some 300-400 other citizens, received an invitation through the mail 

 from State Senator Charies Williams regarding his second annual benefit dove hunt. The invitees 

 included sheriffs of several surrounding counties, local ranchers, utility managers, state officials 

 and local elected county office holders as well as college students and just folks. The hunt also 

 involved the donation of funds by sponsors and any money left over was to benefit the Florida 

 Sheriffs Youth Ranches; a charitable organization devoted to assisting troubled young people 

 throughout Florida. Several fields were to be utilized as well as a lunch and cold drinks 

 provided. In short a wholesome family-style outdoor experience was anticipated by all. 



Instead, what the participants encountered as the hunt was about over can only be described as 

 a heavy handed, over-reaction by agents of the U.S. Wildlife Service. As the hunt wound down, 

 over a dozen wildlife agents wearing camouflage and military boots descended upon us. The 

 agents demanded hunting licenses and even driver licenses, confiscated birds, took information 

 of anyone on the field and stated we all were in violation of Federal Law. Was this murder, 

 mayhem or assault? What warranted this intense focus of federal force on an agricultural field 

 in Dixie County, Florida? The agents stated that the wrong kinds of seeds were on the ground. 

 The violation was of shooting over a baited area. Later, I heard that words were exchanged as 

 the realization as to what the federal people were up to sunk in. I would describe the mood on 

 the field that day as ugly and tense. I never knew there was any bait on this field. 



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