What Happened to Safe Hunting?
I know there has been plenty of attention given to Dick Cheney’s hunting accident, which will probably be repeated in the comments section again. 
Something noted today in the Charlotte Observer: this is pretty much what to expect when “hunting” takes a secondary role to “shooting”.
Aspects of Vice President Dick Cheney’s quail hunt make ethical hunters and hunter safety instructors cringe.From reports, we know that this hunting party consisted of three hunters and, thus, three guns. This is highly unusual and generally seen as unsafe. Nearly every hunting preserve I know of here in the Southeast restricts upland bird hunt parties to two guns, for obvious reasons: one hunter takes the left side, one the right side. There is generally a dog and a guide (the dog handler), who is very careful to stay behind the guns after the dogs go on point.
Three-gun bird hunts do happen, but should be avoided. If there are three guns, the hunters have to be especially well aware of each other at all times, which clearly didn’t happen when Cheney shot his hunting partner.
As with nearly everything in American culture, the “image” has become far more prevalent than the reality. In this case, it seems that Cheney – ever promoting the rough-and-tumble “Western” image didn’t follow what most people in the area consider to be safe (or ethical) hunting practices. Instead, a group of three “elites” were driving around the countryside, hopped out of the car and started shooting at low birds without paying attention to where the rest of the hunting party is.
Incidents like this are giving responsible hunters a bad name – anyone living in rural Iowa can probably tell you stories about guys like this wanting to hunt on thier land – and guys like this also being the reason that land owners are more and more willing to restrict access to “hunting” parties because of irresponsibility.
Addendum: Remember that all Iowans born after 1967 need to pass a Hunter Education course before obtaining a valid Iowa hunting license. Hunting is most definitely a valid (and in the days of deer overpopulation – needed) sport – as long as hunters are respectful of property rights and practice safe hunting techniques.
- Sousy
February 14th, 2006 at 10:36 am
The incident is such a perfect metaphor for the Bush presidency. Shoot first, ask questions later. Keep the reality of your incompetence and bungling a secret for as long as possible. Hell, if the owner of that ranch hadn’t made the call, would we have ever known about this incident?
There is also an element of law-breaking by not having the required permits to be hunting in that area in the first place. And of course they are now trying to pin blame on Whittington for not being in the right place, etc. And that is one of BushCo’s prevailing charecteristics, when in the wrong – find a fall guy to pin the blame on.
The buck ALWAYS stops somewhere other than with Bush or Cheney themselves or, in this case, the buckshot. What we’re seeing played-out here is little more than the legacy of two cowards.