Someone emailed this article to me yesterday. I cant believe the newspaper even published this!
This is an article by Former ND Lt. Gov Lloyd Omdahl
ARTICLELLOYD OMDAHL COLUMN: Running the orange gauntlet in Minnesota
Published Monday, November 12, 2007
If you promise not to tell our insurance company, Ruth and I will confess that we unintentionally traveled through Minnesota brush country on the first day of deer season.
When we saw the first three hunters in their bright orange vests standing by one of those “leaping deer” signs, we thought the Minnesota Highway Department had ordered its employees to work Saturdays to examine bridges before snowfall. These hunters must have been beginners from Minneapolis because experienced rifle persons - and motorists - know that deer are never found within 15 miles of deer crossing signs.
As we drove down this heavily-wooded back road, the orange thickened until there were at least six hunters for every deer - twice the number of licenses issued by the state. Apparently, no one was left in Minneapolis-St. Paul except women, children and animal rights advocates, none of whom dared leave town.
Every gun in Minnesota was being held by someone wearing orange and everything not masked in orange was considered game. For years, the game wardens have proposed that all hunters pass an alcohol test because too many hunters think that a little “snort” clears the gun scope and multiplies the deer. At least, it seems that there are more deer. And, of course, many “snorts” bring out many deer.
A count of guns indicated that it was safer in downtown Baghdad than anywhere in Minnesota on opening day of deer season. In fact, relatives of hunters should have obtained “Support Our Deer Hunters” magnetic ribbons for their cars. After all, the people out there in orange were only as safe as the most intoxicated amateur hunter suffering from an advanced case of buck fever.
Evidence of hunter optimist was everywhere. Every highway ramp was full of pickups, ATVs, trailers and Rent-all trucks. Some had campers parked in the woods so they could refresh themselves between outings.
To guarantee a successful outing, some of the wealthier hunters leased land for their exclusive use. This practice really aggravates the traditional hunters who see reserves as unethical. In fact, they are placing a measure on the North Dakota ballot to outlaw the practice. (Why not just rope the deer a few days in advance and shoot them when the season opens? What is this country coming to, anyway? What good is the right to bear arms if you don't get a fair chance to shoot something?)
As the season wears on, the only hunters in the field will be those who haven't bagged a deer. As their frustration grows, they will become more desperate, making it necessary to keep horses, cows, sheep, dogs, cats and other furry animals indoors until the shooting stops. Lacking a live target, they usually open mailbox season on the last day.
Deer hunting in North Dakota is much safer. In the first place, there is one less fatality for every 25 miles of distance from Minneapolis, making Dickinson and Williston very safe. Secondly, hunters can see for miles on our treeless plains so there is no excuse for accidents. Of course, it is true that the deer can also see for miles so they share in the safety factor.
I come from a hunting family. My brothers would go out with 30.06s, shotgun slugs and even bows on that first day. (I had seven brothers and there were never enough guns.) I lost interest in deer hunting when a hunter was shot out of a tree stand in Wisconsin by someone too drunk to drive but untested for hunting. That turned me to pheasants and then only when I find them in my backyard.
Check Out Our Forum Tab!
Topic: All Mn hunters are drunks? (Read 2733 times)
