Senseless act is hard to understand (11/20/06)

To the editor:

I am writing this morning with a very heavy heart.

Deer season came in today November 18 with guns.

My family hunts with guns and sometime with just camera. We appreciate nature and respect and love the outdoors whether it be animals or plants and trees. In fact we have part of our land in a habitat sanctuary.

Let me tell my story.

On April 23 this year a yearling buck with just buttons for the horns came into our pasture with the cattle and horses. He was hurt badly. He had lost his mother and family and was in the need of some food and drink and he was lonely. He became buddies to the little black calf about his size. As we gained his confidence he began to eat and drink with the cattle. We called him "Bambi." Soon he would come for the food when we called him by name and after many weeks we could talk and pet him. He grew to a healthy young deer.

We new that he would be leaving us someday as all he would have to do is spring over the cattle fence and he would be with his kind, but he chooses to stay with the little black calf. This was his deer haven. They would run and play and have such a caring for each other. In fact we would kid and say he thinks he is a little calf too. He grew his horns and had a beautiful winter coat coming in to get him through the winter.

Many people would drive by the field by the road and would slow down and look for Bambi and enjoy the moment. Many took pictures, brought their family by to see this rare sight up close and personal. Even the school bus children would look for him. But he is not in the field anymore kids.

Bambi went to Deer Haven.

Friday night some one with low mentality ( I am trying not to say the real word that is in my heart and mind) came in the night and poached (that is used a spot light and gun) and shot Bambi in the shoulder and spine.

The bullet went clear through his warm body. The hunting season had not come in at that time. Mind you this shot was near the cattle and horses and a big white barn and our house not too far from the site where he was massacred.

I ask my self what kind of person would do such a cruel act. Well I guess we know just what kind of person that does this type of killing. What will they shoot at next? Someone's dog, cat, cattle and horses maybe even a home or person.

This is just asinine. First day of season and about 2,000 other deer out on the range and why this deer? It is people like this that give the real sportsmen people bad names.

Well I cannot dwell on some people's dumbness.

But, I am thankful our family, cattle, horses and dogs got to meet Bambi and enjoy his presence. For the people that drove by and all the school kids that got a closer look at nature we say thank you Bambi for being our friend. At any time he could leap the fence and go with the other deer as he was not held captive. We knew that day was coming. In fact we looked many times a day in the field to see if he was still with us as any day some little girl deer would be traveling through and ask Bambi to come with a new found family.

As I am writing this letter I hear shots in the woods and fields near us. I understand this and I am sure it is the real sportsmen that are out this morning.

Is there a lesson in all this? You pick the lesson. When I found Bambi by the barn the cattle were all around him mooing and in their way crying for their lost friend. Do animals have feelings? You choose the answer.

Margaret and Myron McBride

Portland[[In-content Ad]]