Babe Winkelman charged for hunting with walkie-talkies

[Aught Six]

I just came across this article and am wondering how you all feel about this matter.

http://www.wric.com/Global/story.asp?S=1855392

Minnesota outdoors columnist cited for unlawful deer hunt

Fergus Falls, Minnesota-AP -- Outdoors columnist Donald "Babe" Winkelman will be writing soon about the ethics of hunters.

He's struck a plea bargain after being cited for using walkie-talkies while deer hunting in Minnesota last November. Using radio equipment to hunt game is illegal and goes against the so-called "fair chase ethic" among hunters.

The prosecutor in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, says part of Winkelman's plea deal requires him to write a newspaper column on hunting ethics.

A spokesman for Winkelman says he was using the radio to stay in touch with his 81-year-old father.

His columns appear in dozens of magazines and hundreds of newspapers.

Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Now I don't see what walkie-talkies have to do with "fair chase ethics", but I'd like to hear some opinions. Is the use of radios while hunting unethical? I certainly think not, and the safety advantages of having good communication during a deer drive are very clear to me.

[burniegoeasily]

Sounds like this will be a debateable subject with some. I see no problem with it. I have used them in the field. Not to hunt with, but to be safe. I have used them so when there is more than one hunter, we can constantly keep up with each other. If one person moves, they call the others to let them know. Where and when they move.

[Aught Six]

Oops, there's already a thread in the Off Season forum about this incident, with a good discussion going.

http://forum.hunting.net/asppg/tm.as...y=babe&#632548