"It's Nothing More Than Slaughter"???
When I saw that headline, I thought what the heck is an Animal Rights Activist doing writing in our sports pages. The rest of the article wasn't a whole lot better.
I understand what you are trying to say, but for a news reporter you sure went about it all wrong.
1) First off the words hunting and slaughter should NEVER be used in the same sentence much less the same article. I've deer hunted for over 30 years and NO it is not a slaughter. It's still hunting, period, end of story. I know I'm out there almost every day. You? You "almost went out several times".
2) Armed stooge? C'Mon! By saying that you are calling every hunter that didn't stay home and went out an "armed stooge".
3) Killing fields? How many times have you actually seen a deer killing field? I recall several years ago you hadn't ever killed a deer. In one article you were practically begging people to take you deer hunting and now you say there are "killing fields." What changed since you non-deer killing days?
4) Herd management - Yep. IDNR has many masters. The herd is NOT managed just for hunters. If you beat that drum it will be used against us by the Animal Rights people. The IDNR have to listen to everybody and manage the herd for hunters, farmers, insurance companies, motorists, wildlife watchers and the general public. They have a big job to do and are doing it to the best of their ability. Your personal attacks on the IDNR are unjustified. By the way - I'm not a farmer or insurance company employee, just a deer hunter who recognizes reality when I see it. Not all farmers are like your farmer friend that wanted all of them killed. Most are good stewards of their land and wildlife.
5) Whacking smaller bucks - Do you think that "whack" is really good word for describing the killing of a deer? It is deer season you know and if a deer hunter (not an armed stooge) decides that he wants to take a smaller buck that is his/her choice. One persons small buck is another person's trophy deer. How many trophy deer have you taken?
6) Trophy deer - You didn't do your homework on this one. There is an ever increasing amount of trophy bucks being listed in the Hoosier Recordkeeping program every year. More and more are making it into the Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett books. Two bucks killed in Vanderburgh county last year made B & C. There was a B & C buck was taken by a bow this year in Warrick county. I've been around long enough to know that the bucks are getting bigger and better. My son, myself and another fellow that we hunt with have killed the following in the last three years:
A) 127 P & Y
B) 141 2/8 P & Y
C) 142 6/8 B & C
D) 154 B & C
E ) 158 B & C
F ) 162 B & C
All would be considered "trophies" in anybody's book.
2 of these deer were taken on public land. The others were taken on private farm land that could be hunted just for asking. The quality is still there, if not better than it has been in the past. But, you cant find out if you "almost went out several times" and expect to know that. You've bought a bill of goods from someone. Hoosier deer hunters don't need to "travel" to have quality deer hunting. It's right outside your back door if you ever "went out".
7) "Indiana's Meat Grinder" - Is this another "killing fields" or "slaughter" word? That's more fuel for the ARAs fire.
8) "Wonder which state has the most responsible hunters?" - WOW!! What a slap in the face to Indiana's deer hunters. What in the world does the length of season have to do with being a responsible hunter? You owe the Indiana deer hunters HUGE apology for calling them "armed stooges" and not being as "responsible" as the Illinois deer hunters.
9) Limiting licenses - Illinois has limited licenses for years. IF you had done any research at all on this article you would have found out that Illinois wouldn't even allow non-residents to hunt there until recently. That changed when other states wouldn't allow the Illinois hunters to hunt, because the were reciprocal. As for out of state hunters coming to Indiana, you need to check and see how many hunters from Cincinnati come over to Switzerland county. Are you proposing that Indiana go to a draw system? Do you really want to limit the number of hunters when we need more hunters to stave off the anti-hunting factions?
Now for the meat of the matter. The length of the season. You are probably right that it is too long. But, the bulk of the deer are killed opening weekend and Thanksgiving day. Almost all the rest is filler days. The number of hunters actually out there after opening weekend has dropped drastically.I guess some "almost went out several times" after opening weekend.When I can count the number of shots heard on one hand during a hunting trip into the treestand you can pretty well say it's NOT a "slaughter" on "killing fields".
I recall a previous article that you had about limiting bucks to one a season (a copy of Kentucky). That would only hurt bowhunting. What incentive would a gun hunter, or even a hunter just starting out, to take up a bow? Again, we need MORE hunters, not less.
Sincerely,
Clarence H Williams