I live in the country, the four wheelers are out in force, shooting all around us, I hate to go out doors, or walk in woods with our dogs for fear of being shot. A few years ago they shot a deer in our yard, that was grazing with our cattle, they jumped over our fence and took it to there pickup.There is small farms all around, it is really scarey and will be glad when its over. Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs. com), November 01, 2001

Answers

Im sorry that the hunters you have in your area are the unethical type. Please realize they are not all that way. In fact I would bet that the minority are as you described. Its the bad ones that get your attention, unfortunatly.

-- Phyllis in the Texas Panhandle (tmblweed@wtrt.net), November 01, 2001.

Hi Irene - that is really scary! I am sure it's illegal, can't you notify the DNR or sheriff? Any way to ID those jerks? I live on a dairy farm, one of the funniest stories I ever heard was: A yahoo from a big city up here was hunting deer, shot the biggest deer he had ever seen in a farmer's field - brought it to be tagged, proudly thinking this was a record-breaker - ended up having to pay the farmer for the RED HOLSTEIN COW he killed- in addition to any other recrimination... Where do these folks come from? Aren't kids still taught in school what a dairy cow looks like? It's a big dumpy looking animal that can't run too good - not that I am biased, I love our cows but plu-leeeze, I am not that old & did learn what a cow looks like!!! Helen

-- Helen, in WI (applebake@cybrzn.com), November 01, 2001.

Sorry, Helen, they aren't. When my father's brother, his wife and their 3 daughters from the Boston MA area visited us in Mississippi years ago, my aunt and cousins were surprised to see how big our Angus cows were. They had seen pictures in books, on TV and such, but if it's just a picture of a cow with nothing to compare relative size, there is no way of knowing.

The problem we had with our Angus cows was that there was a certain contingent who would illegally enter the pasture where they were to hunt dove and quail in the early fall. After that season, we'd have to go through the herd and separate out for sale or medical treatment some prime brood cows, some pregnant, those idiots had shot in the eye or in the udder. Somehow, I see a difference between a dove or quail and an Angus cow. At least the fatherless souls didn't shoot our horses.

We get really testy about trespassers year round but especially during hunting season. Fortunately we've had no real problems so far. All the land around us is privately owned and no one leases it out for hunting. And all of us watch out for the other fellow's property.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), November 01, 2001.

That is so sad!!! I have seen enough that not too much makes me cry anymore but I think if I went out in the field & found shotgun pellets in their eyes I'm sure that would do it. By the way, I am not anti-hunter, I hunt deer via bow and rifle myself, but believe that you should 1) be a very good shot and do it right, 2) know what you are shooting & the best/fastest/ most humane way to kill it, 3) respect other people, property, safety, and the law. It is almost an imperative here that those that can hunt do so - we are so terribly overpopulated - the does are so well-fed on our corn & alfalfa fields that they always twin, some fawns reach maturity early & are bred in like July- that is really something, to see twin spotted fawns in August! So why should they ever have to come onto someone's private property to do it? Can't answer that either, but we see it here. Our prayers to your safety, for sure! H

-- Helen, in WI (applebake@cybrzn.com), November 01, 2001.

One year on opening day in WI we had a deer run right through are garden, being chased by a couple of hunters. My husband went out and stopped the hunters. Said they were on private property. They tried to tell us the deer was wounded and they wanted to put it out of its misery. They did not cross our property! The deer was not wounded and hopefully survived the hunting season.

Had some neighbors that always had deer hanging in the garage about 5 minutes after the gun season opened. You know what they were doing. In fact, we are pretty sure they are the ones that killed one of our dogs. The dog was friendly and probably made noise while they were poaching deer.

It always got me that people came from out of state, spent a fortune on the license and equipment to say, well, we need the meat. What they spent on all that stuff, plus a motel room would buy a lot of meat.

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), November 01, 2001.

Our neighbors in Texas had the nerve to stand on the fence line between our properties shooting onto ours in dove season; told me they could do whatever they liked as long as they were standing on their side of the fence. After I had the sheriff out they whistled a different tune. These were teenagers who had been taught by their dads this was okay. Several times of talking to one of the dads only got ridiculing laughter on his part until the law showed up. Never did make friends with those guys...I must say, though, I lived in the country in Texas most of my life, and this family(relatives on two sides of me) were the only people I ever had trouble with. Only good thing about moving...Irene, the sheriff advised me to call every time they shot towards me--that after a few complaints the game warden could take their firearms(that piece of information was what finally made them stop, I think). They can only help you if you complain.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), November 01, 2001.

Send those hunters here. We have to fight the deer all the time and have about 5 or so hit on the roads around here everyday. The DNR protects them unless they are in the State Parks, then they have special hunts to reduce the number. I don't understand why when they eat the small trees in the parks it is bad but when they eat my small trees it is OK. It is also OK for them to eat the farmers crops.

-- Mel Kelly (melkelly@webtv.net), November 01, 2001.

We're very blessed with good ethical hunters around here. These are people who have grown up around here and know where the farms are located. They know how to hunt with respect for the wildlife and people around them. We have hunters who drive through our driveway and park behind our barn and I know they won't do anything bad. Heck, I see them in church! I do keep my dog tied during hunting season though. He'd try to go and "help" them.

-- Ardie from WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), November 01, 2001.

Irene,

Please call the local law enforcement agency on these lawbreakers. If no one does anything they will just continue to do whatever they want and probably do worse things. It seems this is how things go downhill fast.

Unfortunately, as others have previously posted, a few make it bad for the vast majority in any situation. With all the gun/anti-gun folks around, hunting has become an even more touchy issue.

We must stand up to these thugs in the country, just as folks in the city stand up to drug dealers. If we all work together we will get rid of this scourge. I hunted for many years and I know it can be done in a manner that will not be a problem to anyone.

Hope you have a quiet year, God bless.

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), November 01, 2001.

Irene,

1. Post your property. Signs are good, but purple paint on trees/fenceposts can't be pulled down/stolen, if that is a problem. 2. Find out who your local game warden is and make friends with him. Keep his number on speed dial. Offer to let him hunt your property. Regular sightings of the GW truck on your property is probably the best deterrent there is. 3. If you see them, try to get them on film. Deer poaching is now a FELONY in Texas.

-- Steve - TX (steve.beckman@compaq.com), November 01, 2001.

Hunters are out in force around here, which always sets my nerves on edge. Lately, though, I've heard machine-gun fire on the place down the road. I'm having a hard time understanding the need for a gun like that and are they legal? I pitty the poor deer that gets hit by one of those things, but I'm sure they don't have those awful things for hunting animals. Iris

-- Iris (Sar_India@msn.com), November 01, 2001.

It is possible to own a fully automatic weapon. Most of the people I know who legally have them, you would be proud to associate yourself with, as I am. Something is seriously wrong in a country where 3 or 4 men armed with box cutters can kill thousands.

-- Phyllis~Texas panhandle (tmblweed@wtrt.net), November 01, 2001.

Deer season has started here as well, and it is unnerving to hear gunshots all around. Our neighbor on one side and his son hunt, and they're good about calling to ask us if they can go on our land. In fact, I count on them to reduce the deer population a bit. Plus they always offer us some venison. But in the other direction land is leased to two hunt clubs, and those people scare me. They don't live around here and don't seem to know where the boundaries are. They show up on weekends, camp in the fields, and consume a lot of beer in cans that get pitched by the side of the road. We live on a major river so they walk the river bank like it's a public right of way. I stop my daily walks on weekends during hunting season because I don't trust some of those people to be looking beyond what they think is a deer and which could be my dog. I too will be glad when the season is over.

-- Katherine in KY (KyKatherine@Yahoo.com), November 01, 2001.

The farm where I work has a Pick Your Own apple orchard. A few weeks ago a group of ESL (English as a Second Language) folks came out to pick. They were mostly from Somalia and Afganistan. Someone was bird hunting down by the river and started shooting, and you've never seen such a panic-stricken group in your life. It took some quick explaining to calm their fears. I can't even begin to comprehend the roots for that fear. I am so glad to live in a country where gun- fire usually means that someone is attempting to fill their freezer.

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), November 01, 2001.

It is illegal to hunt private property without permission from the land owners. An ethical hunter would first get permission, and scout the area before his hunt. However, most hunters I know do this, and am quite proud to call them friends. I suggest you call your local law enforcement officers or DNR to report any trespassers or foul play. A gun in the wrong hands is deadly, but in the right hands, can save lives.

We own property in northern Michigan, on a lake, in the middle of a forest. Shotgun season begins Thanksgiving weekend, and Iknow that is NOT the time to have my children running about. It's called commom sense. If we are in hunting territiry, bright orange hats, vests, gloves, tape around coat sleeves is a must!

Huntin' and guns are really a good thing!

-- Debby Westfall (DeborahSpk@aol.com), November 02, 2001.

[img]http://www.webshots.com/photos/imgs3/11/18411-mid.jpg[/img]

By the way, anybody know what kind of animal this is?

-- Debby Westfall (DeborahSpk@aol.com), November 02, 2001.

When I first migrated from CT to Maine, I was amazed at the sudden great orange alien invasion in the fall! Everyone was wearing it in town, walking beside the roads, kids playing in the yards, etc. Now gunshots are normal in my neighborhood even when it's not hunting season. Just target practice. I was frightened trailriding the Sunday before opening day because there were shots in the woods all around us. The next week, Sunday after opening day(it's illegal to hunt on Sundays here), we went trail riding and I heard not one shot. My kids are amongst those wearing orange in the yard and I definately wear it trailriding. Some kids had gotten arrested last month for poaching on my road and every deer tagged on opening day in our town, including a 10 point buck, came off our road. Hunting season is big here. Plenty of deer so they don't shoot at just anything. Plenty speak of how they let the ones they saw go, holding out for bigger. Unfortunately there are some young ones who give hunting a bad rap. The teens who were hunting only for trouble and purposely shot my vet's horses and an 18 wheeler last fall are prime examples. No horror stories so far this year.

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), November 02, 2001.

Hunting season has arrived to NC, also! Most of the hunters aroung here are 'good people'. Our problems are with the hunters who use dogs. I have been walking on our property--look up to see a (1) deer being chased by 30 large hounds!!! Where is the sport???? Over the last 6 years we have had approx. 60 dogs drag up to our house cut,bleeding,shot and/or straving. We call the numbers on the collars and get "boy, I can't beleive this --he's been gone for two weeks!" I'll come over tomorrow/this weekend/ later!" One hunter live 60miles from us and had been hunting 7miles away and had no way to know where his dogs ended up!!!!!Talk about a A--hole! I gave him a pcs. of my mind! Stay safe and alert!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), November 03, 2001.

I have hunted since I bagged my first squirrel with an airgun at the age of 10. Since then I will conservatively guess that I have "harvested" somewhere around 8,000 lbs of game, and not a bit went to waste. (As you might have guessed, being 20 slipped by my cognizance some time ago!) Hunters, as is true with all other groups you might encounter, run the spectrum from intelligent to dain- bramaged, from polite to ugly, and from friendly to nasty. I must state that my experience indicates that MOST hunters are among the best people you can know, and will not even consider breaching your property lines without permission. The thugs don't care, but they are a miniscule portion of the hunting population. Do 2 things. Post your land with "Hunting by permission only", and you will know the hunters you allow. Further, you can enlist their help to keep out the crazies, who they despise as much as you do. 2nd, require that anyone hunting your land tell you when they will be there. This has worked for me. Maybe it's because I have a high- powered rifle range with the hunting area as a backstop. But the folks (only one group at a time!) that I allow to hunt my land are upstanding responsible folks. They also tend to bring by a little filet mignon if they are successful! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), November 03, 2001.

It's crazy idiots like that is the reason a good, well mannered person like me can't find a place to hunt anymore. I can't say I blame the land owners for being so stingy with there property and post "no trespassing" signs up everywhere. When I was growing up I could walk in any direction from my house and hunt all day and the land owners wouldn't care. But now I have to drive several miles from where I live and have to know the land owner personally before I can hunt.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), November 04, 2001.