Contrary to Bonnie Erbe's extraordinarily ignorant description of hunters as heartless, cruel and uneducated (Jan. 29), most of the hunters that I know agree that the senseless and careless killing of any animal by illegal poachers is reprehensible. Hunting, however, is an honorable and extremely satisfying tradition.

While Ms. Erbe praises the lack of open space and the many distractions of modern living for contributing to the decline of hunting, we "heartless" hunters lament how they contribute to more people spending inordinate amounts of time indoors in front of televisions and computers. Modern society spends less time with family and even less time in nature. Hardly enlightening.

Lowering the age of hunters is a positive way for parents to pass on this valuable tradition before their children are caught up in all the modern distractions. I hope this important legislation passes. While hunting is declining overall, it is growing among women — women with heartstrings.

Wendy Mair

Heber City