This is a letter I sent to the Daily Astorian, a local paper on the Oregon coast:

Dear Editor,

Cannon Beach used to be a pretty peaceful place. It was a nice romantic getaway or a great place to bring the entire clan. Haystack Rock appears on more post cards and magazine covers than any other feature on the entire Oregon coast. Most people come to Cannon Beach to enjoy quiet walks, hoping for a glimpse of some of the native wildlife. It’s not the kind of place folks expect to run into cammo-clad hunters with shotguns or compound bows stalking area’s half-tame animals.

But when the town’s parks and community services committee wanted to limit the local hunting season to only one month, the Oregon state Department of Fish and Wildlife instead set FIVE seasons there, totaling 90 days (“Hunting dates for Ecola reserve are expanded,” Aug. 5). And although the town of Cannon Beach wanted to restrict hunting to bows and arrows and shotgun slugs, the ODFW informed them that buckshot would be allowed as well.

Now any hunter who wants to can blast a 700 pound bull elk with a shotgun. What a mess that will be for some sightseeing family to come across! And how many elk or deer, who were nearly out of range at the time they were shot at, will escape with gaping, bleeding, lead-filled holes in them?

This is just another example of state game departments pushing their weight around, defying the will of the people and town councils, not to mention the will of the wildlife. Who do game regulators think they are, God? Sorry, but I hear that position has already been filled.

Jim Robertson

……..Instead of printing that, here’s the letter they chose to print…….

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the article The Daily Astorian regarding the debate on the upcoming hunting season in the Ecola Creek Forest Reserve (“Expanded hunting season remains in Ecola Creek Forest Reserve,” Aug. 7).

I am proud to be an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman and was very upset to read some of the comments made during the city council meeting by Cannon Beach resident Jan Seibert Wahrmund.

The topic being discussed was the hunting area that borders the non hunting area. Wahrmund’s quote was, “Hunters don’t always know where they are. They may have been drinking.”

I understand that not everyone is pro hunting, and I respect their beliefs and opinions. But this comment is ignorant and offensive. To stereotype all hunters as beer-guzzling hillbillies who get drunk and shoot at everything that moves is unfair and misinformed.

Hunters and all outdoorsman are the biggest proponents for conservation and safety. Hunters are the reason that such strict game management laws are in place. A true hunter and outdoorsman has a great deal of respect for all wildlife and everything in its surrounding area.

Hunters and hikers can and always have been able to share the forest without issues. Hunting is a tradition that has been passed down through generations, and we are very passionate about it. It is much more than just harvesting an animal. It’s about enjoying the outdoors and wildlife, and time spent with friends and family.

I hope that Wahrmund takes the time to consider how offensive and misleading her comments were before the next time she “shoots off” her stereotyping and unfair opinions at a council meeting. On behalf of all responsible hunters, please consider how your actions affect others. Thank you.

Steve Honan

….My favorite line in his letter: “Hunters and hikers can and always have been able to share the forest without issues.” Hasn’t he heard about all the hunting accidents that happen each year?