The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

Roger Sabota
Northwoods notebook

One recent day I was standing in the checkout line of a local store. There was an older lady (actually she was most likely my age) in the line behind me. In my hands I had several boxes of shotgun shells plus a box of .22 shells. The lady looked at the ammunition that I had and said in a high-pitched voice, “Are you one of those killers?”

I could not believe my ears as I looked at the lady and explained that our son and his boys were coming for the weekend. I told her that it was our plan to go out to the hunting shack where we were going to do some target practicing. I also tried to tell her that we regularly shoot so that when we do shoot an animal we want to insure that we get a humane kill on whatever animal we are hunting.

Since that discussion in the checkout line I have rethought the incident many times.

Like many area residents, I really enjoy hunting for a variety of game animals. To those of us who share this interest, the month of October is a special month. Of all the hunting I have participated in, my favorite animal to hunt is the white tail deer. I enjoy hunting deer with a camera, a rifle, a bow or a muzzleloader. It is simply a special experience to sit in the woods and watch the seasons change from summer to fall and from fall to winter. Many times in this space I have mentioned that in Wisconsin we enter the nine-day deer season during late fall and finish up in the winter.

Back to the thoughts that have raced through my mind since that episode in the checkout line. Constantly during the month of November we see news releases from the Department of Natural Resources begging hunters to kill more deer. Hunters are in fact the management tool that controls the size of the deer herd. Without deer hunters our state, as well as neighboring states, would be overrun by deer.

Our national parks provide an excellent example of what happens when hunting is not permitted. In Rocky Mountain National Park the elk are over-browsing their range. The Roosevelt National Park is experiencing the same problem.

The group that gathers at our shack (Spruce Swamp C&R Spike Camp) takes pride in teaching the youngsters the proper method to use when hunting. We also stress gun safety and respect for the animals we hunt and the other hunters who hunt near us. One member of our group, Tom Twesme, has been a Wisconsin Hunter Safety instructor for over 30 years.

In addition to hunting, let’s bring the sport of fishing into the discussion. There are numerous studies of youngsters who fish and hunt as compared to youngsters who do not hunt or fish. The studies show that a much lower number of youngsters who hunt and fish wind up in Juvenile Court as compared to those youngsters who do not hunt and fish.

Recently a photograph of 12-year old Trent Wild was included in this space. Trent was shown holding the head of his first deer, a five-pointer. I wish our readers could have seen the look in his eyes as he described the hunt. He also explained how his dad, Brian, was sitting right next to him, coaching him. Trent will never forget this experience. Bob Pederson’s granddaughter, Danielle, had a similar experience during the youth hunt. It is difficult to know if it was Grandpa Bob, his son, Greg, or Danielle who was most thrilled.

I guess what I am trying to communicate is that there is much more than killing involved in hunting. Unfortunately, there are some who dress like hunters and give all hunters a black eye. Each of us who love the sport of hunting must keep in mind that the anti-hunters are constantly watching us. It is important that we behave in an appropriate manner when we are hunting.

If you ask any old timer what to use when musky fishing during the month of October, most likely the answer will be something like, “Use a big sucker or a large jerk bait.” Even the books and magazines suggest that big baits are the key to catching muskies during the fall.

Well, it is obvious that the muskies do not read what we write. The musky caught just over one week ago by a lady from California was caught on a jig and minnow. Duane Frey was fishing for bass and walleyes with a crappie minnow. He caught a musky that measured almost 48 inches on six-pound line with a small minnow . Sure wish those muskies would behave like they are supposed to behave.

Enjoy the fall. It passes by so quickly!

Photograph

This photograph taken in Rocky Mountain National Park shows the lush aspen growth inside the fence, which keeps the elk out. Where the elk can browse the tree growth is non-existent. Xxxx

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Comments »

R.Kuske wrote on Oct 30, 2008 9:25 AM:

" I agree with Roger about many of his views. Hunting is so much of a "Family" activity in my life. I have an 8 year old daughter and a 12 year old son. They have been on hunting trips with my husband and I since they were born. Experiencing nature and teaching them respect for any animal taken is highly regarded. Year after year, as the seasons pass, we are always involved with some kind of hunting - for fish, for berries, for animal tracks, for turkeys, for ducks, for deer, for antler sheds, etc. Harvesting is a reward, but getting to that point is priceless. "

Joyce Brown wrote on Oct 28, 2008 11:48 AM:

" I guess I'm one of those people who just can't understand how being one with nature and killing a beautiful animal like a deer go hand in hand. But then again I'm one of those Illinois people. I have many friends in the northwoods who are avid hunters and I respect their choices, but I sure don't agree with them. Growing up in an urban setting there's a totally different mindset regarding nature than there is in northern Wisconsin. The way I look at it, if you actually eat the wildlife you kill then it doesn't bother me too much, but if you just kill for he sake of bragging rights or the experience then I do have a problem. A head on the wall doesn't prove anything. "

The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.