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The dog days of … March

March 30, 2012 | By Barbara Baird

March seems like the longest month of the year to me, for lots of reasons other than 31 days. It’s that time between the seasons. Trapping and hunting is kaput and we wait for turkeys to mate and squirrels to become fashionable (i.e., in season) again.

Along with St. Pat’s Day, March also touts bizarre holidays, such as National “Pig Day,” “If Pets Had Thumbs Day" and “Multiple Personality Day.”

Just recently, my pal JR Absher at HuntingClub.com mentioned that it had been 75 years this month since Jim the Wonder Dog died. If you don’t know the story about Jim, the Llewellyn English Setter from Marshall, Mo., it’s worth reading JR’s little bio about this dog that hunted with Sam Van Arsdale and retrieved thousands of birds at hunts across the country.

JR writes that Jim also could locate cars by make, color, license number and state of origin and identify several types of trees in the woods. Jim also predicted seven consecutive Kentucky Derby winners and appeared before a joint session of our state legislature to “show off” his amazing Morse Code and short hand abilities.

I realize two things from this little news ditty. First, that the legislature – made up of humans – hasn’t changed much. When it schedules time to be entertained by a dog, well, maybe they should just go home or arrange for that to occur elsewhere.

And, second, that some dogs are special.

We just took our dog, part-English Setter from the local pound, on her last walk into the woods last week. Lucy was no Jim. I am the only one who will write about her, but she made an indelible mark on our family’s hearts. She did pick blackberries, but never shared.

If you’re an outdoor lover, chances are you own a dog.

JR sent me this quote after the passing of our "won"derful dog: “A dog does not live as long as a man and this natural law is the fount of many tears. If boy and puppy might grow to manhood and doghood together, and together grow old, and so in due course die, full many a heartache might be avoided. But the world is not so ordered, and dogs will die and men will weep for them so long as there are dogs and men.” -Ben Ames Williams “Old Tantrybogus,” 1920

Thanks, JR. You’re one of those friends who reminds me of my favorite dog, and that’s one of the best compliments I think I could give to anyone.

How about you? Do you have a “wonder dog” in your life? Or have you had one? Want to tell us about that dog?

Hunters and Accidents -- Adding 'Insult to Injury'

March 28, 2012 | By Barbara Baird

There's a law being proposed in Missouri that could result in a 10-year loss of hunting privileges in the event of an accident. A good law does two things. It attempts to deter people who might do things against society’s wishes (through the threat of criminal prosecution and resultant penalties for the guilty), and if deterrence fails, the law permits the victim to receive damages for his injury (through a civil lawsuit). A new law proposed by my home state’s legislature does not adhere to that definition. It adds to another wrong-headed law that allows the state’s Conservation Commission to penalize someone for accidentally hurting someone else while hunting – with up to 10 years of suspension of hunting privileges. Presently, the Commission can levy a five-year penalty for an accidental shooting.

Here’s what I think. If a hunter kills someone through intent or negligence, we already have laws in the system that address this situation.

If I take an otherwise good shot at a deer in season, and that deer jumps and the bullet ricochets and hits someone one mile away, that’s an accident, not injury due to criminal intent or negligence. It is up to a court to decide my guilt or innocence, or whether I owe the other person any damages; political appointees to a commission shouldn’t be allowed to summarily remove my hunting privileges.

As opponent to the proposed statute Sen. Jason Crowell pointed out, when motorists accidentally hurt someone else, they do not get their driving privileges suspended. Or if they do, it’s because the court system decides it, not a commission of four people appointed by a governor (in Missouri, the Conservation Commission is appointed, not elected).

Which brings me to the second point: I have often wondered about the thin line between the court system and frankly, bureaucracy – in wildlife departments, in social services and even in the IRS. The power that some in these offices of government yield seems to be way above their pay grades and even more egregiously, their stations.

Do you think hunters should have their hunting privileges suspended if they accidentally hurt someone while hunting?

Will ‘The Hunger Games’ Create More ‘Kats’ in the Woods?

March 24, 2012 | By Barbara Baird

In case you spent last week commuting to work without the radio on, or out in the woods somewhere, you might not know that the movie “The Hunger Games” opened on March 23 to packed theaters across the country.

Jennifer Lawrence in For those of you who do not know the plot, the setting is apocalyptic North America, where times have not improved with technology. In fact, youngsters are chosen for a throw-back to Gladiator-type competitions in Rome, being pitted against each other to battle to the death, as entertainment for the masses that can afford to watch.

In the meantime, the antagonist is a girl with a name that you’ll probably hear for the next 10 years on the “most popular girls’ names” list – Katniss. Author Suzanne Collins wrote “The Hunger Games” as part of a trilogy that features Katniss, her single mom, little sister and friends. I just downloaded the trilogy on my Kindle Touch last night and already, am engaged in the tale. Katniss hunts, primitive style with bow, in order to feed her family. She wears a knife. She meets her friend, a boy, in the woods. All edgy, and so ... human.

In his column, The Plain Dealer, outdoor writer D’Arcy Egan asks, “Is it Katniss' engaging personality that is an attraction to young adults, especially girls? Or her outdoor skill set?”

Whatever it is, bully for Collins and I hope she makes bucket-loads of money and then, turns around and invests part of it in outreach programs that encourage more people to learn about the traditions that most of us who read this blog love.

What do you think about "The Hunger Games" and its influence on bowhunting? Hype or a breath of fresh air?

Judge Says No to Blocking Youth Turkey Hunt in San Diego County

March 22, 2012 | By Barbara Baird

My, my … it’s been a couple of weeks now since we’ve visited California and its continual struggle with wildlife management, hasn’t it? Whenever I want to find the preposterous in outdoor news, I check with California or Illinois first.

This week, there’s good news out of California.

Photo courtesy of the National Wild Turkey Federation The L.A. Times reports that San Diego Superior Court Judge Lorna Alknse refused to block a National Wild Turkey Federation-sponsored youth turkey hunt, set for this weekend at the 3,800-acre Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve in San Diego County. The Animal Protection and Rescue League asked the judge to block the hunt using the grounds that it believes the event requires an environmental impact report. It stated the event allows youth hunters to “trample the sensitive habitats" as they "fire shotguns at turkeys." The league also appeared to be concerned over the impact that 20 youths hunting turkeys would have on the vast reserved space for that weekend.

The county Board of Supervisors already voted 3-2 to allow the NWTF to sponsor the hunt. And that, to me, is telling. It reminds me of our own Supreme Court, with its narrow 5-4 victories in certain gun-related suits brought before it in the past few years. In both courts, it’s too narrow a margin.

However, for now we’ll take what we can get and hope to change the numbers in the future.

Which begs the question. Are you comfortable with the balance in the Supreme Court these days?

Kansas Kills Crossbows for Archery Season

March 19, 2012 | By Barbara Baird

In Kansas, the state legislature’s Senate committee voted 5-4 to table a bill that would have allowed crossbow hunting during archery season. Intended to aid in controlling the state’s burgeoning deer population, opening the bow season for crossbow users seemed to make sense, and of course, in the eyes of the legislature – cents!

Horton Team Realtree Ultra-Lite Express Crossbow from Bass Pro Shops According to an article in the Topeka Capital-Journal, “Opponents noted that the wildlife agency already has the authority to write regulations to manage the deer herd and said crossbow hunters would be more interested in taking trophy bucks than does, which has little impact on overall numbers.”

Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook stated that not only would crossbow hunters only be interested in trophy bucks, but that, “This is just giving people the ability to hunt in a season in a way they haven’t before. It's going to create lot of animosity. Bowhunters spend a lot of time training, and learning their skills. Crossbow hunters just do not have to have the same threshold. There’s lot more competition in bowhunting. It's a sport.”

It’s a sport? A sport?

Where I stand, hunting is a tradition. Archery is a sport.

The state’s Wildlife and Parks Department is opposed to the bill, because it prefers to manage the wildlife populations by wildlife codes, not by legislation. Supposedly, the department is looking at whether to allow crossbow hunting during archery season. For the record, Kansas allows exceptions and disabled persons may hunt with crossbows or locking draws, as long as they have special permits.

What do you think? Would you like to see crossbows allowed during archery season in your state? Or are they already?

Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in outdoor and travel markets. A former small-town newspaper editor and reporter, she constantly hunts for news headlines you need to read. Barbara also publishes Women’s Outdoor News online and pens columns for the National Wild Turkey Federation and Shooting Sports USA. Hailing from the Ozarks of Missouri, this avid hunter is now mentoring the second generation of hunters - her own little bevy of Realtree-wearing grandchildren.

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