A public letter to Terry Crawforth

Being eighty years old now with time slipping away so fast, I am compelled to write this overdue letter to you, Terry Crawforth, to refresh your memory of my history that led to my becoming a victim of your corrupt system of which you are now the current director, NDOW. My problems started with the Fish and Game back in 1948 at the age of 23 in Hawthorne, Nevada with my intention of becoming a lion hunter in my naïve attempt to help control some of the livestock depredations the farmers and livestockmen were suffering. Two U.S. senators, Alan Bible and Howard Cannon fifty years ago were incited to go to Washington, D.C. to seek federal aid for Nevada’s serious predator problem. Terry Crawforth, after fifty years the problem still exists today--and worse--because of you.

My ideas and my help were rejected back then even as I am being ignored by you and your sycophants today. I tried to help by becoming an independent professional lion hunter at no cost to anyone. My first place of residence in 1943 was Hawthorne, Nevada. After all these years we eventually met in Douglas County while you were still a game warden. You knew me well, Terry. I have never once given you or your game wardens over the years any reason to ever suspect me as an outlaw. They all knew me and I knew them. This is said to show the Nevada sportsmen what type of character you are down deep where it counts. I would like you to recall our friendship when you came to my home in Gardnerville steaming mad and informed me that Fish and Game gave a lion study to Jim Jeffress (biologist) that you wanted so dearly. You agreed with me that there were people in the Fish and Game who wanted to put professional lion hunters such as me out of business.

Today, Terry, why have you, as the current NDOW director, done nothing to bring a horrible predator problem under control to protect Nevada’s much beloved mule deer when you showed such grave concern forty years ago? Why is Jim Jeffress sitting on the Wildlife Commission right now when forty years ago you had such serious heartburn over his superiors preferring him over you? This wouldn’t have anything to do with your seeking a biology degree, would it?

You, Terry, destroyed our friendship twenty years ago because of your actions towards me. While trying to be a friend, you showed me you were continually trying to catch me on hunting violations over the many years I knew you. The sportsmen of Nevada need to know this to see what you really are.

I offer these two fine examples of which there are many more to support my beliefs.

A good looking lady from Washoe Valley called me a few years ago and said she saw the interesting article and picture of me in The Nevada Appeal where I stated, “I no longer guide hunts except friends only.” Terry, I always felt this was a sting operation because of this. I told her the same thing that I have always told everyone. I don’t have a current guide license. Therefore I could not take her out. She came to my home several times begging me to take her lion hunting and going so far as to grab hold of my lapels and shake me, saying “Take me lion hunting! I’ll pay you.” In order to appease her, I gave her a prized two year old female blue tick hound as a pet which, by the way, Terry, she still has to this day. Sting?

Another episode occurred while you were Chief Law Enforcement officer an number of years ago. You informed me in a personal conversation of an incident about me. You happened onto my parked truck having a young and new game warden with you just after a new snowfall. You followed my hounds’ tracks and mine to catch up to me as we were on a lion track which you obviously knew. You gave up because, hearing no dog sounds, you were unable to locate us. Remember, you actually told me this yourself. What was your motive for being out there that day in the first place, Terry? You never quit trying. What a friend!

In closing, Terry, why when Brad Quilici and I appeared for our introduction tour of your NDOW offices as new commissioners, were you so conspicuously absent and not greeting us as is the custom of a director. I feel you turned your back on me when you could have supported me for a reappointment to serve on the Commission when I was initially turned down. Is this a friend? Keeping in mind all of what I have said so far, I would like to add this. Watching your directorship for seven years of mismanagement has led me to lose all confidence in your ability to manage our predators along with Nevada’s once famous mule deer herd. The numbers speak for themselves. I say to you and the public--”We are not friends, Terry Crawforth.” What goes around, comes around. It’s payback time but, true to my nature, I wish you well.

From Nevada Jim Ornellas