To the editor:

As an avid hunter who rarely draws a deer tag, I feel the need to comment on the article about Willie Molini's retirement. (RJ, 12/18). Over the past years I have watched the Division of Wildlife self-destruct. Nevada was at one time one of the finest mule deer states in the west. This is only a memory now. Willie Molini was wrong when he said most hunters do not blame him for our decline in deer numbers. Every time the subject is brought up among other hunters, they do blame him. He also said other wildlife groups speak highly of him. They are mostly anti-hunting groups who do not contribute funds to the Division or groups Willie Molini has done favors for.

Willie Molini also stated that it was the seven year drought which ended in the early 90" s that contributed to the decline of our game. Well, it is now the late 90's and nothing has changed this decline. The truth is the blame goes squarely to Willie Molini and his philosophy. I believe for Willie Molini's retirement, a little traveling music is in order. So from the thousands of unhappy sportsmen in our state, we dedicate a song made famous by Roy Clark, "Thank God and Greyhound, You're Gone." Dave Peightal Las Vegas

Reprinted from the Las Vegas Review Journal/December 29, 1997