Man oh man oh man. Not everybody grows up in the woods, huh? My ol' college perfesser up in Glens Falls, NY e-mailed me about that poor fella, and we both thought it was funny as hell. He tells me the dude is wanting to sue the fish & game dept. for publicizing what was truly a nation-wide EMBARRASSMENT FROM HELL! But still, you should know yer farm animals from yer game animals. CRINGE!!!

If you want a trophy buck, making a stand is most appropriate most of the time. However, for adventure in an area where you are sure you won't encounter any other hunters, still hunting, particularly on a drizzly day, is hard to beat. Sitting and waiting can feel antithetical to hunting, whereas sneaking around with a rifle or bow, and making the occasional stand en route, is hunting as it is meant to be. As per spot & stalk, when you get down to it, the animal is being pursued afoot, not much difference.

OK, check this out. Some poor fella just killed a guy he THOUGHT was stealing his mama's palm trees down here in south texas (www.themonitor.com), with a shotgun loaded with buckshot. Now they've got him for murder, and though castle laws are TOUGH in Texas, this guy is in serious trouble. I'm a former Marine grunt with a family ranch to look after, and I believe in escalation of force (even if it's REALLY, really rapid escalation). If that poor fella had had two loads of birdshot loaded first, he coulda gotten his point across without killing anybody. But when there's a nutjob INSIDE your house, whatever will do the job without any blue-on-blue. SITUATION ALWAYS DICTATES. I keep a couple birdshot shells in and the rest buckshot, although I do not believe in shooting to disable.