Dawn and dusk … gun fire permeates the best times of the day. The quiet and serenity of the place I call home is disturbed. The critters are disturbed, and somewhere, a buck may be fighting for his life — running in fear from the guns that populate these hills. I prefer the bow hunters. They are silent, the bucks have an equal chance, and only the best hunters are rewarded. With guns, even an idiot can get lucky. My experience is the bow hunters don’t use 4 tracs, either. They are stealth. They are swift. And they really know how to hunt. I have complete and utter respect for them. Kelly Collins used a bow. He was a real hunter.
Since dawn … one dog hides under the couch — Dakota has always been frightened of the sound of gun fire. (BTW-the inside is completely healed, finally. The outer skin has not yet closed, but I expect to lift her “house arrest” in a week or two.) Bear, on the other hand, barks constantly at the sound of gun fire. Gideon and Miranda seem indifferent, until the shots get closer, as they are now.
I have the wonderful task of dodging the idiots as I make my way down the coast to restock on everything. Debating the trip. On the one hand, I can get photos of all the yahoos and their vehicles, just in case someone does something stupid. On the other hand, do I really want to be dodging bullets? Hmmm …
Kate
I empathize with you, we also have a dog frightened by the sound of firecrackers and believe it or not people still have fireworks left from July 4th! Do be careful and wear something bright as you wend your way down to the Coast. I’ve enjoyed your website for over a year now. I work in Santa Cruz and commute from Cambria every Monday and Friday. I have the greatest commute known to man. Regards,
Frank
Be careful! I had someone shoot holes in my car radiator when I lived in Plumas County. Good to hear the fires are contained. Over 2 million acres burned here so far this year. Smoke has been horrific. Take care.
Kate, your offhand comments about “the worst of being human” coming out in hunters are an insult to us conscientious hunters. Those people you have to deal with are stupid, senseless people. Period. My son, a hunter, is on the Initial Attack team still on the Ponderosa Fire. We were out to dinner on a visit to him last Saturday when we had to leave so he could respond to the call. We have an apple ranch in Santa Cruz County. We know what it is to deal with unthinking intruders, but we’re also hunters. We also know what it is to worry about fires. There’s all kinds of people. Any of the hunters I know would be the same people I’d want to help me handle a fire. Sorry you’ve had worse luck.
As I said, most, not all. I have met some very conscientious hunters, campers, hikers, and other travelers through the wilderness. I welcome these, but unfortunately, where I live, they are the exception. We have cops that come up here, as a group, and shoot off their semi (or not) automatics all night long. I wish that were not the case, and I try to remember that a few (or even many) “bad apples” does not a basket make, but sometimes, I forget, as I don’t see too many of the “good” apples.
OTOH, I love firefighters, hunters or otherwise.
I don’t hate hunters, just opening day of hunting season.
There has always been something about Big Sur that attracts “yahoos”… whether it’s drunk drivers, irresponsible hunters, pot growers, irresponsible hikers and campers, or whatever. Remember your post Kate, about the suicide? And from my 30+ years of living in Big Sur, from Palo Colorado to Gorda Mountain, I can attest to the ‘irresponsible’ kind being the norm, especially on the “South Coast”. There’s something about that wild and rugged country that attracts people with that behavior. In fact, the history of Gorda Mountain, Partington, and many other parts of Big Sur attests to that….all the way back to the massacre of the natives there on Gorda Mt.
Of course, I have to ask what that says about ME!!! LOL 🙂 But my “wild” came out in other ways. 😉
You know what you are dealing with…stay smart and be safe.
I believe that anyone who truly admires and has a relationship with animals has a difficult time understanding the neccessities of hunting today. Your post brought to mind some favorite reads of mine. One is chapter four of THE FOXMAN by Gary Paulsen and the other is a children’s book titled THE GNATS OF KNOTTY PINE by Bill Peet. Keep dogs close to home, Kate. I’ll be sending positive energy your way for no emergencies of any nature.
I feel the need to relate a story that Little Bird related to me a while back. During hunting season while she was on the beach at Willow Creek she saw a buck cross the road from the east and jump down across the beach into the water and swim straight out to sea. As for hunting, I never get that hungry.
Jk. Thanks for that story. It works for me and it will get passed on.