Poachers are not hunters
In response to the recent photo and article in Nov. 29 Citizen,
I feel that it is important to voice a few points: first, there was the disgust and sadness at seeing the slain animal in the photo. The second point immediately arose as I read the article, finding that the poachers who killed that animal were being referred to as hunters.
I’m a resident of the Cowichan Valley, and I was offended and angry to read the article drawing the association between blatant senseless killing acts, and “hunters” — what I know of hunters is a group of people totally passionate about what they do, and completely invested in respect for the rules and regulations of hunting. These people know the rules, pay the required dues per year (that supports conservation of the land and wildlife) and posses a love for both the animals and the outdoors that they share. Hunters value and enjoy what they do; their “hunting” is for harvest and consumption, and a means for nourishing bodies; feeding ourselves from the land — the same as farming/growing to eat, and gathering/harvesting to feed many people. To leave an animal for dead on a highway is in NO way related to the skill of hunting and gathering for nourishment. Hunting and processing for nourishment is a skill that hunters maintain and foster.
I just hate to see the reputation of hunters being tarnished by hideous acts of careless brutality.
Hunting and gathering is in our roots; and people that foster this lost art and can do so legally, methodically, thoughtfully, and with consideration for our surroundings should never be undermined or devalued.
In kindness,
Kelly Scott
Cowichan Valley
