HUNTING: Class is in session

Well Patricia, it seems you are speaking of something you know very little or nothing about – hunting. Perhaps we will never exactly what happened to Cecil the Lion. So many versions from ink slingers who weren’t there and know very little about their subject and also dare I say they are highly prejudiced toward the hunter.

As for the rest of your diatribe, try getting up at 4 a.m. in the cold dark of 20 degrees or so, slipping on cold clothes, grabbing a quick bite and then hiking up to your favorite spot (at 9,000 feet, mind you) where it is even colder and wait for the first rays of sunshine. From there you start your hike and pursuit of your quarry.

If and when you find your game you then have to work your way into shooting range of them, all the time trying not to spook them. This can take hours. No stops for potty breaks or time to rest or you may lose sight of them. Then and only then do you get in position to take your shot.

You want to be right as in most cases you only get one chance. You don’t want to miss and so you slowly squeeze the trigger. If you are blessed the game goes down. Now the work begins.

You have to field dress the game in place (there is no butcher on hand) and, depending on the size of the game, figure how to haul it out to your camp. Sometimes it takes several trips. Remember, this is all happening at 8,000 to 9,000 feet elevation where the air is very cold and thin.

This is no picnic — but the adventure is unequaled and the camaraderie of your buddies is unequaled. Sure you can buy beef from the market in those nice little plastic packages, (remember that was once a nice cow with big brown eyes) and that is probably dollars and cents cheaper than hunting. But not the same at all.

DENNIS EDELBROCK

Hayden