As the cold, crisp air of fall sweeps across America, so do some sixteen million camouflaged hunters, coming with weapons to kill birds, deer, and other animals. Hunting is an ancient tradition, its origins going back to the very dawn of humanity. But is sport hunting, like other blood sports, passing into oblivion in these "enlightened" times? Hunting is something of a divisive issue. Chances are that if you don't hunt then you probably don't know much about the sport.

The location of good hunting grounds around Lewis County is something that most hunters won't share. W.F. West junior Jesse Mills joked, "I go early in the morning; I can't tell you where because it's a secret and I'd have to kill you."

According to Mills, the first step in hunting is to scout out the area and learn the territory the day before you plan to hunt. "After that I hunt for about four to five hours," said Mills.

In the harshness of the outdoors there is a wrong and right type of clothing to wear. Hunters shouldn't skimp on the 30 percent hunter orange or they could get shot. The rest of the clothing worn is usually camouflage or colors that blend in with the surroundings. "The most comfortable clothing for the situation is what to wear. If you're going to be out walking all day you want to be comfortable. You always want to stay warm and dry," said senior Jimmy Beatty.

Some hunters pull triggers, others release bow strings. The type of weapon used depends on what is being hunted and what is going to be done with the kill. Most hunting stores recommend a gun that has enough power to kill the animal when the bullet hits it. Bow hunting usually just wounds the animal and it suffers needlessly.

The majority of animals hunted around Lewis County are deer and elk, but birds such as pheasant and duck are hunted as well. There are several ways these birds can be hunted. Some clubs and public hunting areas release pen-reared pheasants for hunting. Other hunters choose to go out and find them with only a weapon and the keen senses of a dog. "I went pheasant hunting with my grandfather, the best part about it was when Max (the dog), would scare up the pheasants for my grandfather to shoot," said senior Jason Houle.

A Controversial Sport

Robert Jackson, a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin LaCross, concluded through his research that 20 percent of hunters violate game laws and 30 percent have committed a breach of ethics, from sky bursting (randomly shooting over and over) to littering, and crowding others.

Some people think hunting is cruel. "The killing of animals for sport if your not going to eat them is wrong and cruel," said sophomore Samantha Mitchell.

In addition to the two hundred million animals killed each year, millions more are crippled or orphaned and left to die painful, lingering deaths.

"I think that killing animals for the sport of it isn't moral. My dad hunts and I don't like it, so I refuse to eat deer or elk meat," said sophomore Stephanie Fox.

People who hunt out of season are called poachers. Other hunters who obey the rules don't appreciate poachers' illegal acts. Beatty said, "I have never hunted out of season and I get angry at someone who does. I figure if they give us seasons to hunt, that is good enough. Why try to cheat the system?"

The public is increasingly demanding that if animals are going to be killed for recreation and sport, then it must be done quickly, cleanly and with the appropriate respect for the animals. Larry Fay, a science teacher at W.F. West said, "The people I worry about are ones with over powered guns that blow away anything that moves whether or not it is in season. The people who follow the rules and give the animal respect and a fair chance, I have no problems with."

Hunters kill about two hundred million animals each year, of which about three million are deer; according to The Fund For Animals. This can be beneficial to the animals.

"The animals overpopulate, so we have to kill them," said junior Chris Ross.

Some hunters say that herds are out of control and need to be greatly reduced in the interest of habitat preservation, crop protection, traffic safety and hunting quality.

Hunting and Society

Hunting has always been male dominated. Only about two percent of all women hunt, and they make up only six percent of all hunters. Hunting is often viewed as a macho, father-son activity. Junior Jason Conwell agrees. "It is a male bonding sport," he said. Some women do hunt, and programs are starting to encourage more women to take up the sport. "Hunting used to be a guy sport, but now there are more girls getting involved and we're getting tougher in sports and being less feminine," said junior Kristie Fenn.

The fact that girls are taking up guns and getting involved isn't the only change in society's view of hunting. The hunter is fighting for survival in a world grown hostile to his age-old sport.

Thomas Heberlein, Chairman of the Rural Sociology Department at the University of Wisconsin said, "There is a change in the attitude that wildlife should be managed by the state largely for the sport of hunting. Within the next 20 years, the golden age of sportsmanship will be over. There will be an outright ban on hunting...the period of sport hunting as it was developed in the late 19th century is nearing its end."

Some have noticed a slight decline in numbers of people who go out to hunt in Lewis County. Senior Jason Hewlitt said that he has seen less hunters in recent years than he has in the past, but he doesn't believe that this is a sign of hunting's future. "It's still going strong," said Hewlitt.

There are some who believe that as Chehalis grows and becomes more urban, hunting may become less a part of our community. "I think it'll go out into the other areas," said junior Stephany Werner, who has hunted several times over the past four years.

Many people expressed concerns about hunting, though they were unwilling to overtly denounce the sport. Fay summed up the feelings of many. "There is little of the real world left," he said. "We have to be careful with the land and the animals. In the woods we are someone else's guest, just as in someone's home we wouldn't leave garbage for them to clean up."

For more information about hunting pheasant and ducks call Lincoln Creek Hunting Club at 736-6609. To take a hunter safety course or to obtain a hunting license call 748-3337.