What makes someone Anti-Hunting

Late last spring I was working in the store when an older gentleman came in. I greeted him, and exchanged pleasantries. The gentleman asked if I knew of anyway to keep the deer out of a garden. I shared some home remedies with him. One of which was fishing line around the perimeter of the garden. I mentioned nothing about hunting or killing his deer; I just tried to help him with his problem. He really did have a problem – the deer were eating him out of house and home. He even messed up his mower on an antler he ran over that was approximately 2 or 3 inches at the base. As he started out of the door (I had my fingers crossed), he asked if I would like to see the problem first hand. Of course I said yes. To make a long story short I now have a honey hole near to the store that I hunt.

Not long after this another person with nearly the same problem came by the store. She wanted to know if there was any way to keep deer out of her garden. I was thinking this is too easy. I proceeded to tell her some of the home remedies I had given to the previous gentleman, and I even started to bring out my fishing line for her. Then a voice came from behind a bow rack that broke the silence. "Heck lady if you really want help with the deer, let me hunt your place and I'll kill the *@*@* out of the deer for you."

I could not believe my ears. It wasn’t only the fact this guy had probably knocked me out of another honey hole,  it was also embarrassing that this lady would consider me and this person to be peas in a pod. The lady immediately said no and turned and walked out of the store. I really wanted to verbally rip this guy’s head off. Especially after he said "You just can’t figure those "anti's" out can you. Man they sure are stupid aren’t they." Luckily another customer walked in and saved this guy from the blistering of a lifetime.

My point with this story is this: How often do we as hunters compound our own problems? I was lucky to be brought up with good hunting ethics and even luckier to have friends that share the same feelings about the animals we love to play chess with. Often I see carcasses thrown out on the side of the road. Not rural roads mind you but busy roads. Or deer with their tongues hanging out and blood dripping from the tailgate as the animal is hauled over town. Or just quick statements not thought out. I do not want to sound like a bleeding heart but I can’t help but wonder how many "anti’s" we ourselves create annually.

Scott King

Scott is the owner of Field and Stream Outfitters in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
(Not affiliated with Field and Stream Magazine.)