The Courier-Herald (Oct. 20) reported the “hunting incident” in Buckley. If all the facts were correct, I’m outraged. I’ve silently stewed and I could vent pages about the stupidity of this. But, instead, I’ll address the sheer ignorance and offer this “wannabe” hunter some common sense tips:

1 – Never hunt in the city limits around houses and people. A real hunter goes out to the woods and actually “hunts.”

2 – Never take the biggest and strongest from a herd. Taking them out of the gene pool leaves the herd genetically weakened for many generations. Plus, that old six-point knew all the secrets: the best paths, the real dangers, the best hiding and feeding places to protect his girls. You’ve hurt the whole herd.

3 – Landowners cannot put signs on every bit of their property – nor should they have to. It’s the responsibility of the hunter to ask permission, check hunting zones and be aware of their surroundings.

4 – Don’t hunt these herds that hang so close to homes that they have no fear. The majority of us enjoy them. I work on a farm where the Enumclaw herd let me work 50 feet from them. I talk to the big six-point all the time; he watches me and trusts me and even sleeps while I’m there. I can hear him snore. What kind of sport is it to kill one of these?

It doesn’t make you a real hunter to just kill something. There’s a responsibility that comes with that gun. Where are your ethics?

If you really need food, there’s three food banks within a few miles; they’ll give you food.

I hope you get a sentence that’s the full extent of the law.

Mardel Chowen

South Prairie