Post by Phishy on Jun 19, 2005 21:20:54 GMT -5
Here's a bit of something i wrote in a rage and sent to the culprits ... well read it and see for yourself
During the recent October Zone T Antlerless hunting season, I was appalled by the antics of some fellow hunters opposed to the season. All around their substantial property, signs have been posted clearly distinguishing their discontent. What a great country. Where else can a person freely express themselves and not fear repercussions. I may not agree with their point of view, but I do respect their rights to not participate in the hunt and do what they want on their land, but apparently this group of people does not share the same convictions. Their antics were not illegal but definitely unethical.
Please allow me to set the stage. I have been hunting for the past twelve years, although I got a late start, it has become an obsession unsurpassed by anything else in my life. This has created some complications between my better half in life and myself. In the fall I tend to put aside all but the basic life priorities. Much to my amazement she expressed an interest to hunt this fall. I eagerly coaxed this tiny spark. If the same passion can be evoked into her, we can share yet another mutual interest. What an ideal opportunity to end a senseless battle.
Eventually we found ourselves sitting in a ground blind in the adjacent woods overlooking a maze of trails leading to the bean field, for the first time – together. The weather was miserable. It rained, the wind blew, and deer activity was minimal. After 3 hours of sitting near a picked bean field which the deer have been frequenting regardless of the weather conditions, my new hunting partner began to express signs of boredom. I was afraid this first hunt would be the last. With only 20 minutes of legal hunting hours left, it happened; two deer appeared out of no where, like a flash. I caught movement out the corner of my eye but before we could react, they were fifteen yards in front of us – two deer, too close, too fast. I lightly whispered not to move. We watched these deer for no more than one minute. They both looked at us, but showed no concern as they were up wind of us. After the deer moved on into the field, I inquired what her heart was doing – pounding was her response. I noticed the spark begin to grow.
Then the first incident from across the road occurred. We heard a gun shot, then another, then another shooter joined in. A volley of gunshots echoed from the adjoining property for at least two minutes, probably more. One individual repeatedly shot past legal hours. “What are they doing?” I was asked. The best I could figure was they had waited for the deer to fill into a field and in the last few minutes of hunting shoot as many as possible, or perhaps they were unloading their guns the expensive way, or they were attempting to disrupt the Zone T Hunt. I disregarded the former and later possibility, and figured they just had more money than me and needed to express their oversized egos. I just hoped they weren’t conveying this unnecessary behavior to any new or young hunters.
The following day we again found ourselves in the ground blind, with the possibilities of a storm front moving in we opted, at her suggestion, to start earlier in the afternoon and hope the deer would put on the feed bag. I was thrilled. Even after a grueling session the day before, she wanted to sit possibly even longer than the day before. The desire to hunt had overcome the possibility of more boredom; the spark had ignited into a small flame needing only the right amount of fuel to continue to grow.
I had asked a friend of mine which lived just down the road to do us a favor. I wanted her to have the opportunity to shoot a deer so much. I knew the deer would be in the field around 5:00. I had been watching this field from the road for the past two weeks, trying to figure from where they were entering the field. I learned most were coming from across the road where the anti-T Zone group resided. I figured if my friend waited until 5:00, drove to the edged of the field at the road, stopped and opened the door of the vehicle, the deer would get nervous and head to the nearest cover away from the disturbance, directly where we would be sitting.
My friend must have had a slight change in plans, he showed up at 4:30, which was fine since there was a deer in the field already. Just as planned, the deer didn’t like the situation and headed directly at us. As she swung the gun on the deer; I stopped it with an abrupt bleat. As it stood there broadside, looking at us with that inquisitive look of “What on earth was that?” I whispered “Shoot!”, in the meantime, I had the scope on the deer at 30 yards unable to see her obstruction; she had a tree in her way. She whispered back “I can’t”. I pulled the trigger; the deer was hit solidly, ran off a short distance and collapsed.
We had discussed prior to heading into the field, be it apathy or whatever reason, if she was not able to pull the trigger, and I was able to get a clean shot, I would shoot the deer. We both like the taste of venison, and even though we wanted to provide every opportunity for her to harvest a deer, putting meat on the table is the final objective of the hunt. Objective met, we waited a few moments to make certain the deer had expired.
The group across the road must have seen how effective our plan had been, as we were fully visible in our blaze orange only 35 yards into to woods from the edge of the field. It wasn’t five minutes after the shot a person drove up on the road exited their vehicle, and either fixed, or erected a sign stating NO T ZONE in the general vicinity of where the deer were crossing the road from their property to the field which we sitting beside. After he went merrily down the road, he returned slowly driving down the road. While we were still waiting the formal half hour for the deer to lay, another vehicle drove up, started honking their horn, got out the vehicle, ran off the road a short distance, yelled something to somebody on their side of the road, also on a trail to which the deer were accessing the fields, jumped into the vehicle, and tore off squealing the tires. This person then stopped directly in the center of the field on the road, and proceeded to honk their horn, and took off squealing their tires again. A very short moment later the first vehicle slowly driving reappeared. This patrolling of their boundary continued for the duration of legal shooting hours.
I went over and tagged our deer, and dressed it out. It was only 5:30 PM, although we still had almost 45 minutes of legal shooting hours left, our hunt could have continued the way it was planned with my friend doing another one man drive if it weren’t for the selfish antics of those on the other side of the road. We did sit for the most of the remaining time but the distraction essentially ruined the rest of our session. The possibility of deer arriving from our side of the road was very feasible, but we were so angry, disgusted, and appalled at the audacity of these individuals we had to leave.
Okay, they were in their complete legal right, but they were acting out of greed. The only thing that matters to them is that nobody shoots their deer from their property without their permission. I’ve got news for them, it is your land, but those are not your deer, and I do not need permission from them to shoot deer on another property of which I have full permission to hunt as long as those deer are on the right side of the property line.
I have seen on the average twenty antlerless deer in the two fields adjacent to their property nearly every evening. Mind you these are bean fields, crops for the farmer, his lively hood, and his bread and butter. These deer are doing an enormous amount of damage to the profitably of harvest. I know for a fact the total harvest should have been well in excess of 250 bushels in one of the farmer’s fields, but that number didn’t even reach half the expected goal. Now we have an opportunity to try and reduce some of the deer munching on the cash crops in the area with a special hunt, and a few individuals who (I assume) don’t even farm this portion of their land are preventing any deer from leaving their land because they don’t want to share their deer. Tell you what, why don’t you folks fork over the cash lost to compensate for not letting deer be shot during a legal season which you for whatever reason do not agree . You are determined to impose your convictions on others as you see fit without regard on how it may affect other’s lives.
Essentially our hunt was ruined, not because we didn’t shoot a lot of deer but because of the distaste created in my mouth by their actions. I don’t even know these people but, but I don’t like them. Their actions have prompted my judgment that they are a group of self centered egotist bent on having the world shaped to their liking without regard of others, and if they can’t have their way they will lay down like a toddler through a temper tantrum, kicking and squealing making life miserable for others, only because somebody may shoot a deer that they could have had the opportunity to shoot themselves. Are they afraid the button bucks may be shot? How many *#@!%?# deer are too many for you? Even if 10 of these deer frequenting the fields I hunted were harvested, that still wouldn’t even put a dent in the population of the deer of the area, open you eyes, there are deer everywhere in the area. It’s not like there were ten people lined up just on the other side of your property line waiting to blast every critter that gave opportunity. There were two! My newly interested in hunting girlfriend and myself. Thanks for creating a truly appalling memory to what should have been a grand opportunity for a first time hunter. I pray you don’t convey this type of behavior to any new hunters in your clan.
I am going to suggest to the owner of the property of which was I hunting that he consider participating in the Agriculture Damage Compensation Program, thereby receiving tags eligible to shoot deer out of the normal season, starting in February. Hope I don’t shoot that legally harvestable antlerless monster buck during the winter months as he crosses the road from your property to feed. Oh by the way, that button buck we shot will be tasty on the grill.
During the recent October Zone T Antlerless hunting season, I was appalled by the antics of some fellow hunters opposed to the season. All around their substantial property, signs have been posted clearly distinguishing their discontent. What a great country. Where else can a person freely express themselves and not fear repercussions. I may not agree with their point of view, but I do respect their rights to not participate in the hunt and do what they want on their land, but apparently this group of people does not share the same convictions. Their antics were not illegal but definitely unethical.
Please allow me to set the stage. I have been hunting for the past twelve years, although I got a late start, it has become an obsession unsurpassed by anything else in my life. This has created some complications between my better half in life and myself. In the fall I tend to put aside all but the basic life priorities. Much to my amazement she expressed an interest to hunt this fall. I eagerly coaxed this tiny spark. If the same passion can be evoked into her, we can share yet another mutual interest. What an ideal opportunity to end a senseless battle.
Eventually we found ourselves sitting in a ground blind in the adjacent woods overlooking a maze of trails leading to the bean field, for the first time – together. The weather was miserable. It rained, the wind blew, and deer activity was minimal. After 3 hours of sitting near a picked bean field which the deer have been frequenting regardless of the weather conditions, my new hunting partner began to express signs of boredom. I was afraid this first hunt would be the last. With only 20 minutes of legal hunting hours left, it happened; two deer appeared out of no where, like a flash. I caught movement out the corner of my eye but before we could react, they were fifteen yards in front of us – two deer, too close, too fast. I lightly whispered not to move. We watched these deer for no more than one minute. They both looked at us, but showed no concern as they were up wind of us. After the deer moved on into the field, I inquired what her heart was doing – pounding was her response. I noticed the spark begin to grow.
Then the first incident from across the road occurred. We heard a gun shot, then another, then another shooter joined in. A volley of gunshots echoed from the adjoining property for at least two minutes, probably more. One individual repeatedly shot past legal hours. “What are they doing?” I was asked. The best I could figure was they had waited for the deer to fill into a field and in the last few minutes of hunting shoot as many as possible, or perhaps they were unloading their guns the expensive way, or they were attempting to disrupt the Zone T Hunt. I disregarded the former and later possibility, and figured they just had more money than me and needed to express their oversized egos. I just hoped they weren’t conveying this unnecessary behavior to any new or young hunters.
The following day we again found ourselves in the ground blind, with the possibilities of a storm front moving in we opted, at her suggestion, to start earlier in the afternoon and hope the deer would put on the feed bag. I was thrilled. Even after a grueling session the day before, she wanted to sit possibly even longer than the day before. The desire to hunt had overcome the possibility of more boredom; the spark had ignited into a small flame needing only the right amount of fuel to continue to grow.
I had asked a friend of mine which lived just down the road to do us a favor. I wanted her to have the opportunity to shoot a deer so much. I knew the deer would be in the field around 5:00. I had been watching this field from the road for the past two weeks, trying to figure from where they were entering the field. I learned most were coming from across the road where the anti-T Zone group resided. I figured if my friend waited until 5:00, drove to the edged of the field at the road, stopped and opened the door of the vehicle, the deer would get nervous and head to the nearest cover away from the disturbance, directly where we would be sitting.
My friend must have had a slight change in plans, he showed up at 4:30, which was fine since there was a deer in the field already. Just as planned, the deer didn’t like the situation and headed directly at us. As she swung the gun on the deer; I stopped it with an abrupt bleat. As it stood there broadside, looking at us with that inquisitive look of “What on earth was that?” I whispered “Shoot!”, in the meantime, I had the scope on the deer at 30 yards unable to see her obstruction; she had a tree in her way. She whispered back “I can’t”. I pulled the trigger; the deer was hit solidly, ran off a short distance and collapsed.
We had discussed prior to heading into the field, be it apathy or whatever reason, if she was not able to pull the trigger, and I was able to get a clean shot, I would shoot the deer. We both like the taste of venison, and even though we wanted to provide every opportunity for her to harvest a deer, putting meat on the table is the final objective of the hunt. Objective met, we waited a few moments to make certain the deer had expired.
The group across the road must have seen how effective our plan had been, as we were fully visible in our blaze orange only 35 yards into to woods from the edge of the field. It wasn’t five minutes after the shot a person drove up on the road exited their vehicle, and either fixed, or erected a sign stating NO T ZONE in the general vicinity of where the deer were crossing the road from their property to the field which we sitting beside. After he went merrily down the road, he returned slowly driving down the road. While we were still waiting the formal half hour for the deer to lay, another vehicle drove up, started honking their horn, got out the vehicle, ran off the road a short distance, yelled something to somebody on their side of the road, also on a trail to which the deer were accessing the fields, jumped into the vehicle, and tore off squealing the tires. This person then stopped directly in the center of the field on the road, and proceeded to honk their horn, and took off squealing their tires again. A very short moment later the first vehicle slowly driving reappeared. This patrolling of their boundary continued for the duration of legal shooting hours.
I went over and tagged our deer, and dressed it out. It was only 5:30 PM, although we still had almost 45 minutes of legal shooting hours left, our hunt could have continued the way it was planned with my friend doing another one man drive if it weren’t for the selfish antics of those on the other side of the road. We did sit for the most of the remaining time but the distraction essentially ruined the rest of our session. The possibility of deer arriving from our side of the road was very feasible, but we were so angry, disgusted, and appalled at the audacity of these individuals we had to leave.
Okay, they were in their complete legal right, but they were acting out of greed. The only thing that matters to them is that nobody shoots their deer from their property without their permission. I’ve got news for them, it is your land, but those are not your deer, and I do not need permission from them to shoot deer on another property of which I have full permission to hunt as long as those deer are on the right side of the property line.
I have seen on the average twenty antlerless deer in the two fields adjacent to their property nearly every evening. Mind you these are bean fields, crops for the farmer, his lively hood, and his bread and butter. These deer are doing an enormous amount of damage to the profitably of harvest. I know for a fact the total harvest should have been well in excess of 250 bushels in one of the farmer’s fields, but that number didn’t even reach half the expected goal. Now we have an opportunity to try and reduce some of the deer munching on the cash crops in the area with a special hunt, and a few individuals who (I assume) don’t even farm this portion of their land are preventing any deer from leaving their land because they don’t want to share their deer. Tell you what, why don’t you folks fork over the cash lost to compensate for not letting deer be shot during a legal season which you for whatever reason do not agree . You are determined to impose your convictions on others as you see fit without regard on how it may affect other’s lives.
Essentially our hunt was ruined, not because we didn’t shoot a lot of deer but because of the distaste created in my mouth by their actions. I don’t even know these people but, but I don’t like them. Their actions have prompted my judgment that they are a group of self centered egotist bent on having the world shaped to their liking without regard of others, and if they can’t have their way they will lay down like a toddler through a temper tantrum, kicking and squealing making life miserable for others, only because somebody may shoot a deer that they could have had the opportunity to shoot themselves. Are they afraid the button bucks may be shot? How many *#@!%?# deer are too many for you? Even if 10 of these deer frequenting the fields I hunted were harvested, that still wouldn’t even put a dent in the population of the deer of the area, open you eyes, there are deer everywhere in the area. It’s not like there were ten people lined up just on the other side of your property line waiting to blast every critter that gave opportunity. There were two! My newly interested in hunting girlfriend and myself. Thanks for creating a truly appalling memory to what should have been a grand opportunity for a first time hunter. I pray you don’t convey this type of behavior to any new hunters in your clan.
I am going to suggest to the owner of the property of which was I hunting that he consider participating in the Agriculture Damage Compensation Program, thereby receiving tags eligible to shoot deer out of the normal season, starting in February. Hope I don’t shoot that legally harvestable antlerless monster buck during the winter months as he crosses the road from your property to feed. Oh by the way, that button buck we shot will be tasty on the grill.
This would also include other hunters as well as the standard tree huggers.
