Life as we country folks know it is about to change. No more walks in the woods, … even on our own property. No more horse rides in the woods, … even on our own property. No more leisurely drives down a country road without the danger of 5 or 6 deer running in front of you as if they are running for their lives, … they are. No more sleeping past dawn, … without the sound of gunfire… even though it is still only bow season. No more visits to the country store without feeling out of place unless you have a buck on the tailgate for the world to see like a status symbol. No more going anywhere without the fashionable attire of camo somewhere on your body.
Yes deer season opens this weekend and country life in TN turns into a different place, sort of like another planet. The hunters are easy to spot, they look like a drug addict who has had too much something. Their eyes are so dilated you can’t tell what color they are. They are breathing so hard they are nearly hyperventilating. And they are everywhere. Outside your kitchen window even, and sitting in every available tree. I think we even need to wear safety orange in Wal-mart. We are about to be invaded.
I have complied a list of requests for my hunting neighbors and friends.
- please don’t mistake my horses for deer, there is a difference
- please observe the no trespassing signs, and I will gladly translate if you need me to
- please don’t field dress your deer on my property and leave the insides
- please be respectful and don’t tell me you were only chasing down the one you just shot as you run through my front yard, again
- please don’t damage my fences
- please don’t claim my fences were already down
- please remember you only want the rack and we will gladly take the meat
- please don’t shoot my dogs, even if they are barking at you, they live here
- please remember that God owns the earth and everything in it and on it, not you
- somebody please tell Tim Hawkins he needs to make a video about southern hunters
- remember spot lighting is illegal and will get you a one on one visit with Jumpin Jim in the county jail, it is easier to just come visit us at The Well
I would also on this momentous occasion like to honor our one next door neighbor who will never read this but we bless him anyway, he is by far the most respectful hunter we have ever met and gives us deer every year to put in the freezer. Thank you!
now to return you to your regularly scheduled programming
Nancy M. says
It’s been gun hunting season for about a week now here in SC. I know what you mean about the hunters. Here they can use deer to run the dogs, so their dogs are always running across our property. Last year one of the dogs caught one of our hens and tore a bunch of her feathers out before I could get to her. I have to watch out now, especially, when I let my chickens free range. At least you have a neighbor that gives you deer meat. That’s awesome!
.-= Nancy M.´s last blog ..Review- Harry Connick Jr. Your Songs =-.
Gail says
Praise God for the meat! He gives us the deer to eat (and they would certainly overpopulate the earth if we did not eat them!).
I have one more request to add to your list:
Just because you don’t hunt (for whatever reason), it is really bad manners to shoot off your own weapons in order to scare away the deer, when you know someone is hunting, with permission, on adjacent property. 🙁
lesley says
hello,
I LOVE THIS POST! we live in macon county tn and have trouble with tresspassing hunters (we hunt too)! This is the first time i have seen your blog and i just wanted to say hey.
have a blessed day!
Beth says
Great post, Penny! We live in the country, but in a community where hunting is forbidden. We would love to be able to use a bow on the many deer we see in our yard to fill the freezer, but we’re glad we aren’t having to wear orange vests on our own property. We do still hear plenty of gun shots, though! 😕
JoJo Tabares says
Being a city girl, (now a desert girl) I had no idea what you go through. Thanks for posting this.
.-= JoJo Tabares´s last blog ..Mark Lowry: Cool Water video =-.
Katie says
Oh, Thank you for the list! As the wife of a hunter I totally appreciate what goes on in the woods. Hubby will hunt only in 2-3 sections of private land, even then some hunters are just nuts! No dogs allowed on the hunt in our area. Too many do not respect the animal or the safety of other hunters. Bow season starts here next week. Clearing out the freezers to make room. I’m also going to can raw pack stew & soup meat this year.
Michelle says
Hi Penny,
This is a wonderful post.
You could actually sling some of that dear meat our way.
I’m sure someone will dress and cook them for us.
Gotta LOVE venison..
Blessings,
Michelle
Theresa says
Very funny but yet not so much when you here bullets passing by? YIKES! We are looking at the begining of
‘snow bird’ season here in FL so I was thinking about doing a similar request list as we are invaded by all the people fleeing the cold! :o)
Hunting says
This is great info. And I’m happy you are given deer every year.
.-= Hunting´s last blog ..Opening Day Bowhunting Tips =-.
Deer Hunting Tips says
Wow, are hunters really the disrespectfull there? I live in upstate NY and my girfiend owns 8 acres bordoring state land that the city hunters use but we dont have problems like that. Once in a while we get a stray hunter and we simply advise him or her that it is private property. Thats about it though. I would call your local DEC office and make a complaint. If enouph people put in a complaint they may start protoling the area and crack down on the culprits
.-= Deer Hunting Tips´s last blog ..Deer Hunting Tips =-.