Maggie's Farm

What's your view on depressed people who would like to learn how to hunt? I have always been interested, but been afraid I might shoot myself during the black spells that descend so unpredictably...Was afraid it would be too much like recovered alcoholics still in denial who persist in keeping liquor (ie: temptation) in the house....

The camera is all I allow myself.

Habu, been there, done that, thanks. It was an abstract question. Not seeking specific advice, so no liability. Tho your reply appreciated. Analagous to someone with a family like the Brewsters in "Arsenic and Old Lace asking a bunch of people with good ideas what they have heard or read about the chances of lunacy recurring in the next generation. The hypothetical question would be: should someone who comes from a family where everyone is crazy get married? Or should a person do the honorable eugenics thing, and stop the bad genes? Does a person exclude whole classes of activities, commitments, because of a diagnosis? Of course I can answer my own question (twenty years of school and then they put you on the day shift), but one gets tired of one's own ideas and habitual researches....

Habu,
Yes, I do love hiking. Used to love running 20 miles at a time, until knees gave out. The worse the weather, the better. Still trying to figure out a way to (cheaply) keep a digital camera from getting ruined by the rain and snow. After a year, the chip gives out, I think because I take pictures by the ocean, in the fog, etc.

What I envy hunters is being able to not only tramp thru the wilds and escape civilization but training themselves to look, listen better, be still, focus. Of course you can do that with a camera, too. But when a hunter brings food home to their families no one will accuse them of being self-indulgent for exploring the woods for hours...Plus, hard to sit still when I see 12 fine, fat wild turkeys strutting stupidly in my field, I don't want to photograph them I want to serve one for THanksgiving dinner! You all are lucky to be able to hunt...

Shouldn't write so much, but hit by waves of envy today when talking to one of the most decent people in my office who regales me with stories of his bow-hunting and eagerly listens as I describe where I have seen lots of deer, coyotes, turkeys, whatever. I feel like the proverbial ladies' auxiliary.

Buddy,I only photograph beautiful or handsome targets, so I'm safe...My friend at the office confesses sheepishly that he knows he shouldn't hunt alone (when we were all discussing a friend of his falling out of a high tree stand), but he prefers it. That would be me, and a good dog with me. Don't understand the appeal of hunting with anyone besides at most one good (hopefully quiet) friend...

Thanks for answering my outsiders' questions so graciously!