Bow-hunting, residential areas, and DWR stupidity regarding same
We live in a state (Utah) in which hunting is a fairly serious “pastime” for many (including me and my husband - we hunt not only deer but elk, game birds, and rabbit; our freezer is stocked with legally taken and properly cared-for wild game - and we enjoy it fully and respect the fact that we’re allowed to legally take, prepare, and use game of all sorts).
The problem arises with regard to DWR (Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources) and its total disregard of the fact that compound bows/arrows (as well as longbows/arrows) are WEAPONS and are more than capable of seriously harming, maiming, or killing not only animals but people; and DWR’s corollary disregard of the OTHER fact that there are far too many people in the St George area who simply want to “run up to Pine Valley” in the evening during the bow hunt, and shoot “at” a buck on someone’s lawn in our small mountain-town residential area.
Now, if I did this in YOUR neighborhood, you’d have me arrested for using a weapon in a residential area, within 600 feet of a structure, domestic animals, a feedlot, etc. So what on EARTH gives you folks the right to do this in MY neighborhood?
DWR does. Because they refuse to enforce the law; they’re too “busy” to respond when notified of problems; and of course, because this is good ol’ boy southern Utah, and they all have a brother, daughter, nephew etc. who’s likely the one breaking all the laws while killing a 4-point buck on someone’s lawn in town.
The other problem here (the one NO ONE in any sort of “authoritative” position EVER acknowledges) is that 90% of the idiots out there “hunting” with bows do nothing more than wound deer (lots of times does instead of bucks) and waste the animal (take a look at the proclamation regarding “wasting game” sometime….), since the “hunters” are far too lazy to get off their butts and out of their trucks (illegal hunting from the word “go”, btw) and go find the animal they wounded. Therefore it dies an agonizing death after hours of suffering….
I love to hunt. I hunt responsibly. I would GIVE UP hunting if that was the only way to prevent the travesty that is the “bow hunt” in southern Utah. Something NEEDS to be done. DWR is the agency which is responsible for this stupidity. THEY are the ones who can mitigate this whole idiocy. (Of course, you southern Utah good ol’ boys: if you’re not part of the SOLUTION, you ARE the problem….)
DWR - YOU are the responsible agency. GET WITH THE PROGRAM.
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