CountryByNet.com Forums :: In praise of good hunters

In a time when I read of problems with poachers in our national parks, I wanted to post a strong thumbs-up to good hunters and encourage others to act responsibly.

For most of my 46 years I have lived in urban or suburban areas where the idea of any wildlife more exotic than a chihuahua was unthinkable. Two years ago I moved to an island about nine miles from the mainland of northwest Washington state. We're pretty rural here but with all the comforts of home, including electric power (usually) and regular ferry service to the mainland (when the weather cooperates).

We often get hunters from the mainland coming out here to take advantage of a well fed and abundant deer population. A few, some of them locals, have a reputation for drinking too much in the evening, hunting without permission, shooting from the road, and generally acting like yahoos. Well, I have been pleasantly surprised by some hunters who hunted on my land this season and they deserve recognition.

Our county has prohibited modern rimfire and center fire rifles for hunting this year. Muzzle-loaders, pistols, and shotguns are allowed. Written permission must be obtained from landowners beforehand and must be available for inspection any time when on private property. As you can imagine, some folks ignore the rules and hunt without permission on private land using modern rifles.

This Fall I was approach out-of-the-blue by Tony who asked for permission to hunt deer on my 45 acres of woods and fields. First point in his favor - he came to ask permission. I asked if he was familiar with the restrictions unique to our county and he convinced me he knew more about them than I did. Lastly I said that if they got a dear, the cost of hunting on my land was a piece of venison as I had never tasted the meat. I was actually happy to have someone cull the population because I counted as many as 24 deer munching on tender barley and alfalfa in the field last summer.

Every time they have come on the property they have stopped by the house to let me know they would be out there and to make sure it was still OK. I *greatly* appreciated this courtesy. So far Tony and his family have taken one two-point buck and they just missed a doe last night (they say a muzzleloader without a scope is a challenge as dusk is settling in).

In exchange Tony has brought me venison backstrap, ground venison, venison steaks, smoked salmon, bear brats, and venison and pork sausage!

I'm a convert. I thought I was doing well eating locally grown beef, lamb, and pork. These guys eat *really* well, and they don't have to raise a thing. They let nature do it. Plus they are really nice, knowledgeable guys.

They are welcome to hunt on my land any time they want.

- Lopezian

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