Dear Editor:

We find it hard to believe that a county so generally opposed to the process of eminent domain and so completely adamant about property owner’s rights has residents who, during a two week period, lose all common sense and respect for private property at the sight of an antlered deer.

Residency in Pocahontas County does not allow special privileges to ignore private property postings, shoot from a road onto private property or otherwise break any hunting law you wish when a buck appears in sight of a road.

We are not anti-hunting by any means. In fact, we are both hunters. We hunt on the thousands of acres of surrounding national and state forests, or on our own private property, not someone else’s property without permission. We have heard and witnessed too many instances of reckless road hunting in populated areas, very close to residences and have turned our heads to these practices for the sake of residing in a small community and knowing we all have to live together. For that, we plead guilty; but enough is enough. It’s time to turn the tables and expect hunters to use common sense, respect property owner’s rights and take a little control over the buck fever that overrules your brain cells before you kill someone.

All we would like to see from careless hunters is a little r-e-s-p-e-c-t and some forethought before you pull that trigger. Ask yourself:

Do I have permission to hunt here?

Is this deer worth losing my hunting license and a neighbor’s friendship?

Where and how far will the bullet travel if I miss?

And, most of all, what is the chance the property owners are out in their woods where I am illegally shooting?

Sollie and Anne Workman
Hillsboro