http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/649012.htmlPublished November 04, 2008
Readers respond to story of Rams senior's trophy elk
Chester Allen
The outdoors will reveal a person's true nature — every time.
And a lot of people showed off their inner flaws — and virtues — while commenting on my elk hunting-related column last week.
If you didn't read the column, it was about Lindsey May, a North Thurston High School senior who shot a giant, seven-point bull elk in the Cascades on Oct. 20. We ran a shot of a beaming Lindsey posing with her elk.
Some people loved it, some had interesting thoughts — and others fired from the hip with thoughtless statements.
Here's a few doozies:
"Sigh, I agree. The article is sexist. No doubt if it had been a male who shot the elk there would have been no mention. Hunting is outdated and sick. Just like plastic grocery bags and beauty pageants."
Sigh... A young — or old — local hunter of either sex taking a 7-point bull elk is news in The Olympian's outdoors section. If I haven't written about your 7-point bull shot miles and miles from a paved road it's because you haven't told me.
"Actually, this is kind of a sexist article, isn't it? Look everyone! A girl can hunt and kill an elk too! She's just like Sarah Palin! Except she didn't hunt the elk from a helicopter!"
How is it that any hunter is automatically a conservative Republican — and any Democrat is automatically a tree-hugging anti-hunter? Here's some news: there are a lot of liberal Democrats out there hunting and fishing, and there are a lot of conservative Republicans who don't hunt or fish and don't like hunting or fishing. The outdoors should be our refuge from politics. Today is Election Day, and it's as good a day as any to remember that we all live together in this beautiful country — and we have to share contrary opinions.
"That's the way. Thin the gene pool so that no one will ever see a seven-point again. Animals survived for millennia without man hunting them so they won't 'overrun their environment.' How about hunting with cameras or hunt something that shoots back if you really want the kill thrill?"
"Most people don't see a bull that big in their lifetime? That's because you big, bad hunters kill them all and brag about it. We all better head for the woods soon if we want to see deer before they are gone too."
Elk have indeed overpopulated parts of Washington, and anyone who saw the skinny, wraith-like elk near Mount St. Helens last winter — or drove by the winter-killed animals on the side of the highway — knows this.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife works hard to manage deer and elk herds in this state, and they do a tremendous job with limited resources. The gene pool is in good shape. There are huge numbers of elk and deer to see — if you get outside. There are also a few seven-point giants in the state, but most of those wise, older elk live far, far, far from any road.
As for deer, haven't you all seen the deer wandering through urban neighborhoods right here in Olympia, Tumwater and Lacey? There are millions of deer in the United States these days.
As for hunters killing all the animals, deer hunters in Washington have a success rate of less than 30 percent. Most hunters don't kill an animal.
Why doesn't every hunter kill a deer or elk?
Well, it's really hard. You've got to find a legal animal, stalk it — even if you're using a high-powered rifle with a scope — and then hit the target.
Hunters — liberals and conservatives alike — work hard to preserve, protect and improve wild lands. They do this because they love the animals and the land — even the animals they can't shoot.
I don't hunt deer or elk. I killed a buck years ago, and I learned it wasn't for me. I do hunt birds — mostly quail and pheasant.
If you're against hunting, fine. But understand that hunting is the most honest way to put meat on the dinner table.
If you eat meat, don't take shots at hunters.
If you don't eat meat, don't take cheap, uninformed shots at hunters. We understand and tolerate differences in our free society. Not all hunters are great people. But hunters like Lindsey May — a bright, well-spoken young woman who loves the outdoors — don't deserve cheap shots from ignorant people.
Chester Allen can be reached at callen@theolympian.com or 360-654-4226
