Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Hunters often get a bad rap

Paula DelGiudice

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 | 10:11 a.m.

Paula DelGiudice's outdoors notebook appears Thursday. Reach her at desertdenizens@aol.com.

Over the weekend I read a report about a local woman who was bending over, working in her garden, when a shotgun shell blasted over the top of her. It blew a dove off the wall -- this even before the dove hunting season opened.

Hunters will tell you that individuals who do such stupid things are not hunters but shooters, who disregard laws, common decency and the safety of others.

Hunters will tell you that they are extremely careful in the field. They are conscientious, know their target and worry about presenting a good image to the public. We all know some of each genre.

The only problem is that, usually, all the good things that hunters do -- such as donate game meat to the needy or raise money to conserve wildlife and the wild places that everyone enjoys -- are not that sensational and get lost in the shuffle.

It's unfortunate that hunters have so much to lose by any downturn in public support.

It takes very little for those people who have no feeling one way or the other about hunting to change their minds and turn against it. It takes very little for those who are wavering to fall completely into the anti-hunting camp. When that happens, hunters usually bluster and rail and appear arrogant and self-righteous, which further turns off the public.

For the most part, the group of anti-hunters is a small, vehement and loud group of people who belie their numbers. For the most part, Americans either have no strong feelings one way or the other, or are supportive. However, senseless acts by shooters masked as hunters certainly will change those numbers.

One of the best ways to protect the future of hunting is for hunters to be scrupulous in their attitudes and behaviors in the field. That, of course, should include following all laws and safety procedures, which includes not hunting within proximity of residential areas.

It also includes being sensitive to what turns off the American public to hunting. No one wants to drive down the road and see a dead deer draped over the hood of a pickup. No one wants to read reports of accidental shootings. No one wants to read about poaching in the newspapers.

It's time to clean up our act as hunters. The majority doesn't participate in our sport, yet it has a big say in whether we engage in hunting in the future. There's a lot to lose.

This is the first time Lake Mead has participated in the 16-year effort.

"We urge volunteers to come out and help us in this worthwhile cause," said Nancy Bernard, a coordinator for the cleanup. "The lake is low and, as a result, revealed some pretty old trash that has been sitting under water for a long time. Now, is a great time to clean it up."

To reach the cleanup coordinators, call Bernard at 293-8714 or J. Shannon Swann at 293-8985.

The International Coastal Cleanup is one of two such events scheduled for September at Lake Mead NRA. The second cleanup is to support National Public Lands Use Day Sept. 29 at Hemenway Harbor launch ramp.

Copies of the EA are available at Lake Mead NRA's web page at www.nps.gov/lame/watsfctr.pdf or by contacting Nancy Hendricks, resource management specialist, at 293-8756.

Changes this year include a restrictive season for canvasback ducks because of concerns about their overall population.

Hunting will be allowed only from Oct. 27-Dec. 2 and there will be a daily limit of one canvasback with a bag limit of two.

Information about the seasons and hunting regulations may be obtained on the web at www.nevadadivisionofwildlife.org.