Dear Editor:
(In response to: ‘Ignorance toward hunting shows,? The Citizen, Oct. 18, page 6) I have neither the time, nor ability, to write a letter regarding hunting in less than 250 words. Suffice it to say, however, there are plenty of us out here who do not like looking at pictures of dead animals in the newspaper. To call others ‘ignorant about hunting? while at the same time promoting deer hunting as a wholesome family activity is somewhat of a stretch. I would suggest there are far better things to teach one’s children than how to hide in a deer blind with a high powered rifle, watching a pile of bait in the hope a buck with antlers suitable for the front page happens to be lured in. ( I know- bait piles are now illegal in Michigan- made so by the DNR over the loud protests of ‘sportsmen? and carrot growers.)
If I raised a calf on my property, hung it on a hoist by its back legs, sliced its jugular Kosher-style and proceeded to ‘field dress? the carcass for my freezer in front of the neighborhood kids, I would have both the police and Humane Society at my door within minutes. However, it is somehow useful for the future generations to know how to shoot a deer in the general vicinity of the thorax, track the bloodstains in the snow for half a mile, load the corpse on an ATV, drive back to camp, hang it on a buck-pole and photograph it, all the while bragging about how many ‘points? it has. Meanwhile, Dad is so proud his son did not succumb to ‘buck fever.?
I would suggest we remove alcohol, porn tapes and prostitutes from deer camps the last two weeks in November and see how many true hunters we have left. If hunting is your passion, fine- go hunting, it’s your right. Just because you have the right, doesn’t make it right.
John Frazier
Ortonville