Well I have been following the posts on this matter on a number of boards since the begining now. I have also kept to myself until now as well.

I will start off by saying that a few of you on here know me.. rick and butch, maybe not that well but rick I have pet personally and talked to on the phone a few times as well.. and butch.. we have spoken on the phone once (and it is my fault for not calling him back [&o]as there seems to never be enough time in the day lol) and from being on the boards and talking and yes disagreeing and working through them over the years. I would hope that either one of these guys would attest to my basic character.

At this time I feel the need to speak up....

Bigg~BirdVA... I am not trying to start a fight by anymeans.. I am looking to have a open minded discussion here... I understand at your frustrations with your experiences and situation. I am a big still hunter... I carry a bow from september through march (gotta love the urban archery season!!) I usually use a bow during black powder as well on 90% of the occasions just because I love it... nothing like hearing THWACK on a frosty morning or at sunset. I also spend alot of time in the off season preparing for season.. it seems like a second full time job sometimes... I am working food plots.. scouting and trying to pick out certain bucks that are my goal for the upcoming year, placing stands etc...I am not saying that I am more of a avid sportmsen or spend any more time in the woods preparing that everyone else, not even close to that I know a few guys who put me to shame lol.

Anyway Like I was saying after reading your posts I know where you are coming from and understand your anger. I do however have a real big problem with you taking matters into your own hands and dispatching your own brand of in woods out of sight out of mind justice that you basically come right out and say in your posts.

Let me pose a question to you... based on this and your past posts on other forums you have a problem with anyone breaking any laws (rightfully so as laws are in place for a reason and not to be broken)Your basic thoughts are that anyone that is violating a game, state or county law is nothing but trash correct..(basically to sum it up)? Then what makes you and your actions any different.. the activities you refer to are indeed 100% illegal and are possibly felonly actions. SO where does that make you anyless of a piece of trash(summing it up)for participating in illegal activities no matter what the origin or the actions that led to the activities were (i.e running deer on purpose outside of season etc..) Now mind you I am for self preservation and the protection of family in friends when the need arises but what you are refering to are far from that.. I also am not going to buy that they were in self defense or fear for your saftey because you have already set a clear precedent on a public forum of the basis for your actions.

Like I said I am not picking on you and trying to fight. I just would like some answers as to your thought process and your thoughts on this..

I am also asking this because I had a dog get loose yesterday morning from my house.. he was only gone for a few minutes when I heard him start to bark and then continue out of my hearing.. I looked around for him for a few horus before I had to be to work. I also called the county animal control and adivsed them of the situation and the area so that if anyone reported the dog they could let me know (and yes he had a collar with my name and two contact numbers on). As luck would have it as I was nearing home yesterday evening the animal control called and said they had loacted my dog.. and gave me the number to the person who had him. He was over in the state park (Caledon) and had been seen once earlierin the day running a deer. However a few hours later a hiker came upon him wandering down a hiking trail and he just followed her and her dog back to the visitor center where they held him until I got there (within 25 minutes of him being detained). Based on this I have another question for you... say this event had happened and you happened to be on a piece of property doing whatever that he crossed on his jounrney. Would it be right to dispatch your justice to this dog for doing what comes naturally, bearing in mind that he was in no way shape orform turned loose on purpose... he just simply performed a jail break and the result of that brought him across your path.. I know that you have no way of knowing this was this case when you are there and hear him coming toward you I am not saying you do.. my point is that how is that fair to the dog, a muched loved member of my family and to me and my family that you take such actions upon yourself. I am also not trying to compare apples to oranges either I know that the chances of a whole pack of dgs getting out at one time are slime but your picture you show three dogs. I have had the misfortune of haveing 5 dogs get out of a poorly made 25x40 pen one time, so there is always a remote possibility there. I know in most of your run-ins that that is not the case, however how is it still fair to the dog to be punsihed for what comes nautually to it. I have seen house pets.. dogs that have never been hunting a day in their life take off after all kinds of game.. including deer (which happen to leave one of the strongest scent trails).

JUst take a minute to think before you respond to this. I mean if you are taking actions that are illegal and that puts you inthe group of trash or slob hunters then why should anyone listen and take to heart your valid complaints..

I will totally agree that there are those that take advantage of the laws and bend them to fit their own agenda and there are those that down right break it. These people are on both sides here.. still hunters and houndsmen. I also fully agree that there should be some changes made and a little of give and take on both sides as well.. I think that while it will never be a case of everyone being 100% happy that a reasonable middle ground can be reached to satisfy both sides so that hunting and heritagein ALL of its forms remains alive and well in our great state, and yes this would include the right to be able to hunt on SUNDAY!!!!! If one chooses to do so then great if one chooses not to participate then that is great as well I do not feel that either side should be put down for their own individual choice, the same goes with the means in one wishes to spend their time outdoors.

Sorry this is so long winded...

Justin