CONFLICT AVOIDANCE

AS HUNTERS AND ANGLERS SPEND MORE TIME IN THE SAME AREAS, WE’RE INCREASINGLY RUNNING OVER ONE ANOTHER. WHAT CAN WE DO TO RESTORE CIVILITY TO OUR WOODS AND WATERS?

By Andrew McKean

I’m sure the other turkey hunter didn’t see me. I had max concealment with full facemask and gloves, season- and terrain-matching camouflage covering every extremity, and I was tucked into the trunk of a massive white oak that obscured my outline. I didn’t spot the man until he walked into the clearing and stopped short when he saw my hen decoy in the open. The hunter froze in the pre-dawn light then crouched, as though his abrupt presence might be forgiven by the hen. Next, he shouldered his shotgun at my decoy, maybe thinking it was a jake or maybe anticipating a longbeard would be sharing the clearing. My first tendency was to remain frozen against the tree, hoping he’d realize his gaffe and move on. Then I worried that if this…

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Game & Fish East (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2024

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