Call it youth, call it inexperience, or call it something less kind but Wildlife Commissioner Jelindo Tiberti showed why he should not have been re-appointed to the Wildlife Commission. At the January Wildlife Commission meeting Tiberti challenged HUNTER'S ALERT to prove that Nevada Division of Wildlife had purchased $25,000 worth of books from Defenders of Wildlife, a proven antihunting organization. The majority of sportsmen in attendance wanted something done about the mountain lion in our state. But Commissioner Tiberti chose not to represent them and instead to try to find fault with the HUNTER'S ALERT newsletter.

You would have thought Commissioner Tiberti would have learned his lesson since HUNTER'S ALERT subsequently J issued a challenge to him. If HUNTER'S ALERT could not prove the expenditure was made, then Mr. Tiberti could buy a table at our banquet. Mr. Tiberti failed to respond knowing fully well he shot himself in the boot and could not back it up.

Well, guess what? He did it again! At the May 4th Wildlife Commission meeting Commissioner Don Cavin reported that he received 2000 letters and postcards from sportsmen who wanted something done to reduce mountain lions in our state. Here is Commissioner Tiberti's reaction.

"One small comment. These letters went out in the HUNTER'S ALERT magazine. The postcards went out in the HUNTER'S ALERT magazine that were preaddressed to you. What if those same cards were mailed out in an 'anti' form to the same amount of an-in whatever the hunter-I don't even know the name of their group—the anti hunter group-the SPAC or whatever it is--I think you would have equally amount of postcards sitting in front of you or more. I want to bring that point out to everybody—that this went out to one conservative group and I'm just bringing the point out that if it went to another group we might have another side of this coin. Let's not forget them totally in this conversation. Let's

keep them, ah—don't, ah—that's my whole point. Let's not forget they're out there and let's not put a boot in our mouth."

Immediately after his remarks several sportsmen in the audience took exception to his remarks stating that he was supposed to represent the sportsmen. It is quite apparent to sportsmen that he does not have the knowledge or ability to serve on the Wildlife Commission.

Ed. note: Mr. Tiberti's information or lack of it was incorrect yet again on many points. First, the postcards were sent out by a combined effort of Safari Club International Desert Chapter and HUNTER'S ALERT. They were not included in the HUNTER'S ALERT newsletter. Second, the mailer was sent to a random selection of sportsmen, not just one "conservative group". Additionally, it would help if a sportsmen's representative for the entire state would at least have a passing knowledge of the names of the antihunting groups about whom he is so concerned.