Reader sounds off on column about hikers and hunters

  • By Sharon Wootton Herald Columnist
  • Friday, October 26, 2007 1:45pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

The column on hunters and hikers Oct. 13 brought a critical e-mail from a Herald reader.

The writer felt that my words about safe ways for hikers to hike during hunting season was “more about your personal aversion to hunters, guns and the people who have the common traditions surrounding hunting and fishing … demonizing hunters and gun owners is so Seattle and Island County.”

Puzzled, I re-read the column. It talked about being yanked out of my comfort zone by meeting hunters on a trail on opening day of hunting season … that it was “our bad” for not realizing the date … that many hikers were uncomfortable about possible errant bullets or being mistaken for a deer.

It talked about ways to become a non-target during hunting season and where hunters wouldn’t be found, and it tried to put the perceived danger into perspective: “Lower your anxiety level by remembering that deer hunters are more like a trickle, not a flood … take solace in knowing that the majority of fall hikers … will never see a hunter or hear a rifle shot.”

While I suspect, as does the e-mail’s author, that far more folks die from hiking accidents than from hunters’ bullets, I was addressing the comfort zone of hikers who perceive danger, real or imagined, and choose to not hike during the fall hunting season.

As for my feelings about hunting: I have no problem with hunters who follow the rules and eat what they kill.

No… I do have one problem. Hunters using lead shot on birds need to switch to non-lead ammunition in the interest of preventing birds from ingesting the shot and dying a slow death from lead poisoning.

Ski fever: Your body may not be ski-ready to head down the slopes, but that won’t be a problem at the 40th Seattle SkiFever and Snowboard Show this weekend.

Skiers and snowboarders can wander through booths with grins on their faces, checking out new gear and talking to sales reps, knowing there is up to 70 percent off the retail price.

And don’t forget that the Northwest’s largest ski swap will be held this weekend, along with entertainment, information from vacation ski resorts and nearly all of Seattle’s major winter sports retailers.

Pick up two-for-one lift tickets to Mission Ridge, White Pass, Crystal Mountain, Stevens Pass, The Summit and other ski areas.

Held at Qwest Field, 1000 Occidental Ave. S., the show is open until 8 p.m. tonight and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 206-381-7500.

Weasels: The Oct. 6 column was on Bob and Kay Clark’s weasel population and the enjoyment that they derived from hosting the mammals.

“My wife and I couldn’t believe it. Just about everywhere we went for a week or so, folks were asking about our weasels. Your column is read by a lot of people.”

Numerically speaking: Washington Trails Association hosted 742 work parties in 2007, providing 76,856 hours of volunteer service by 1,850 volunteers who spent at least a day on trail maintenance. Weeklong Volunteer Vacations hosted 180 people on 29 trips. And WTA’s youth program set a record with nine vacations for youth and 71 teens.

Saving the land: The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Commissioned has approved the acquisition of 77.6 acres on Padilla Bay in Skagit County, 77.8 acres on the upper Yakima River in Kittitas County and 12.2 acres on the Methow River in Okanogan County.

Feed on: Many birdwatchers with feeders took down their feeders during the latest outbreak of Salmonellosis. Since it’s been several weeks without any reports of dead birds with symptoms of Salmonellosis, it appears safe to hang the cleaned and disinfected feeders up.

Salmonellosis particularly affects species such as finches, grosbeaks and pine siskins that flock together in large numbers at feeders and transmit the disease through droppings.

Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.

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