Nine bullet-points were listed as reasons to oppose the bill, should it see the light of day.
Among them, all three county commissioners oppose the bill; "an overwhelming majority of residents that were polled several years ago oppose hunting on Antelope Island."
Also against the bill are the island's state park rangers and wildlife experts, Davis Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Davis Chamber of Commerce legislative task force.
"Antelope Island is Utah's mini-Yellowstone Park. We have visitors from around the country and world who enjoy the wildlife viewing as well as the breathtaking views," he wrote, adding, "How do we explain to these visitors that we allow hunting in a state park?"
In addition, he cited visits by school children to the island. The youth "use it as an outdoor classroom to view wildlife, the surroundings, and and get a first-hand view of these magnificent views."
He then asked the question, "How will you explain to them that we allow a few privileged to hunt, as one school child said, 'Why are they wanting to kill Bambi?'"
"Trophy deer" are available elsewhere in the state, can be hunted "without possible damage to the island's plant and animal life. We need to keep the state park as pristine as possible for future generations to enjoy."
Addressing the money aspect that is supposedly one of the major reasons behind the bill, Hansen said, "The money this bill might generate will not go back to the state park on Antelope Island.
"If the trophy collectors just want the antlers as they have claimed, then amend the bill to only allow that after the bucks have shed them."
This bill, sponsored by Sen. Bill Hickman from St. George, has generated a lot of response, as reflected in an article that ran in Tuesday's Clipper.
"This bill flies right in the face of tourism," reiterated Barbara Riddle, director of the Davis Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
County Commissioner Dannie Mc-Conkie, himself a hunter, has repeatedly expressed strong opposition to the bill. He noted how the county has spent lots of money in support of the island, including construction and maintenance of the seven-mile causeway.
McConkie related the case of a 9-year-old Farmington boy who wrote a letter deriding the proposal.
Nicknaming it the "Bambi Bill," Mc-Conkie related the boy's dismay that such a hunt was being considered.
"He wrote that we're doing the wrong things for the wrong reasons," McConkie said. "This smacks of elitism."
Some of the trophy animals would be awarded to the highest bidder, according to the legislation language.
tbusselberg@davisclipper.com
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