America's other army

I may not hunt, am not a gun owner but I do enjoy watching well trained sporting dogs doing the work they were bred for. Beyond that I respect the hunting legacy and most of what it entails, yet deeply wish that somehow Mayberry's white tailed deer population would simply vanish. Since many of my best friends are hunters, my natural curiosity led me to find out just how many American hunters there are. The answer surprised me.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the 50 states issued 14,974,534 hunting licenses in 2011. Each year the world's largest army descends upon our hunting grounds. This explains why Canada doesn't invade us.

Toad

cartoon from Conde Nast Archives.

P.S. What surprised me? As high as the overall number of hunters is, the percentage of the population is low. We are truly moving off the land.

Opening Day

September 1st is the tradional opening day of dove hunting season in Missouri. When I was younger this fact took away much of the sting of the return to school, the end of summer fruit, and earlier sunsets.

I haven't shot in years, but I can still conjure up every image sight and smell of getting ready for the season to open. I enjoy just about all that is involved with upland bird shooting. My favorite though is watching a brace of good bird dogs doing what they were bred to do.

Over the past few years I have spent many a fall afternoon tromping through pastures with good friends and great dogs. If I am lucky, they'll give me some grunt job, and I'll feel like I'm doing something worthwhile.

Just before the birth of our firstborn, I gave my small cache of weapons to a friend for safekeeping. I haven't asked about them in many years, but I hope he is putting them to good use.

For better or worse the primal urge to up and kill something is creeping back. Perhaps I better keep out of the malls, and get to a trap range.

Just for grins I looked up the value of my trusty Winchchester 12ga the other day. It's better its gone. Knowledge is a very dangerous thing.

Toad