I have always liked Jim Shockey’s hunting show on The Outdoor Channel, but after the episode I viewed a week ago today I’m sold.
Shockey said that hunting is not all about antlers, but more about the experience of the pursuit. As you know, I’ve always preached that, so it is good to hear someone of Shockey’s status espouse that view at the national and international level.
Of course, Shockey has a lot of big-antlered animals in his game room, so maybe it’s easy for him to say that. I don’t even have a game room, but it is still easy for me to utter that philosophy.
During this recent montage of hunting that took place in November, I told my closest hunting companion that I have tried to become a trophy hunter, but just can’t do it.
The kill is the punctuation mark at the end of the hunting sentence. The kill is the extra point of the hunting touchdown. The kill is the dessert table wheeled up to your booth (treestand) after the lengthy and pleasant meal you have shared with friends and family.
“I hunt not to kill, but kill to have hunted.”
Jose Ortega Y Gassett, Spanish hunter and philosopher
I told another hunting companion this year, as we walked before daylight up a long and wooded West Virginia logging road, that I am just as happy bagging a forkhorn buck as I am downing an 8-pointer, that I am as thrilled with a jakebird gobbler as I am with a longbeard... and I meant it.
When hunting on lands where the owner has set more stringent rules than those imposed by the state, I abide and am happy to do so. Just as there is more to hunting than a 10-pointer, there is more to hunting than a 4-pointer too. When hunting on lands where anything deemed legal by the state is fair game, I abide and am tickled, quite frankly, that a drag rope around the neck of a spike buck still causes a surge of thanks and accomplishment to course through me.
Call me crazy, but if that buck is pulled through the woods after dark during a nasty late November rainstorm, it makes my success even more rewarding (as long as the drag is mostly downhill). I have no problem with trophy hunters and ask only that they have no problem with me and others who approach the hunt in our chosen fashion.
We are all in this hunt together. Let’s not let the ginger quill vs. salmon egg conflict drift into our world.
I think the fact that I enjoy caring for and then eating deer meat is what makes every deer seem like a trophy to me.
For a few years now, we have had a couple Sunday out here in Almost Maryland to hunt deer. One Sunday is for bow hunting and one Sunday is for rifle hunting.
I have killed a number of deer (and other game animals) on Sundays in other states, but a week ago today I shot my first Maryland Sunday deer, a spike. I had mixed feelings, not about the size of the antlers, but about bagging it on a Sunday. I wanted to thumb my nose a little (at those who have restricted us from hunting on Sundays) and I wanted to bend a knee a little (to those who have made at least some Sunday hunting available).
Hunter up!!
Contact Outdoor Editor Mike Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.
Michael A Sawyers - Outdoors
Hunter up!
In spite of philisophical differences, let us move forward together in our love of deer hunting
- Michael A Sawyers - Outdoors
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Tink was picture- perfect
At the end of our hallway is a room that has served a number of purposes. Originally it was Seth and Ryan's bedroom.
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Stuffing 10 pounds of outdoor news in a 5-pound bag
Pardon me if I use this Sunday to sit back and take a breath.
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Mountain State’s backyard backstraps
Homeowners’ associations in West Virginia, especially those in the Eastern Panhandle, are signing on with the Division of Natural Resources for special neighborhood archery hunts for the deer that are eating their ornamental and garden plants.
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Ten miles around the block
Jim and Robin Wiegand, who own and operate the Bassin’ Box in LaVale, have a vision of the upcoming deer season.
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Face spited! Nose gone!
There are pert near 6 million people who live in Maryland.
Each year, about 80,000 who are older than 15, but younger than 65 purchase what is called the Resident Regular Hunting License. -
Reintro of elk just fine by me
OK. I’ve decided. I’m for it.
I’m for the reintroduction of Rocky Mountain elk into Almost Maryland.
I mean it’s not like we’re talking about bringing zebras into Garrett and Allegany counties. -
New regs getting closer in Maryland
The Maryland Wildlife & Heritage Service held two public meeting recently to discuss thoughts about hunting regulations for the next two seasons.
At the one in Annapolis on March 6, a little more than a dozen people attended.
But in Hagerstown on March 13, 160 hunters showed up to let their thoughts be known. Great turnout. -
Let’s get ready to gobble!
The thing I hate about Leap Year is that it makes for one more day that you have to wait until spring gobbler season opens.
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Md. DNR says no to handguns
If blue crabs grew to be 120 pounds in two years or maxed out in the 400- to 600-pound range, I guarantee you that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the General Assembly would collaborate to find a way to protect Marylanders who stick their toes in the Chesapeake Bay.
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Big increase in Md. hunting license price being considered
The Maryland Wildlife & Heritage Service will seek by way of the General Assembly an astounding increase in the cost of hunting licenses. As of Friday morning the bill had not yet been filed.
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