In defense of hunters, and Thanksgiving greetings
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Two years ago, as many hunters know, the Buckeye State witnessed a record deer harvest. The numbers declined a bit last year and if the early season bow (arrow) kills are any indication, the 2011-12 totals could be off from the record-setting 2009-10 season.
That said, this past Saturday (one of the two days designated for the special youth gun season) was an interesting day in our 53-acre woods. Considering I've signed Ohio Division of Wildlife permission for hunting on private land for only one person this year – and he is a bow hunter, it was a bit alarming to be cutting firewood and listening to all the nearby gunshots. Truth be told, there were no trespassers, just a lot of young hunters in the area.
One thing's for certain: If any military forces from Iran, North Korea, China or Saskatchewan had thought about invading southern Ohio, last Saturday would have been their Waterloo.
With respect to landowners who feel otherwise, I'm one of those property owners who allows a few friends to hunt in our woods and fields. Roger Dale Mefford of Seaman has hunted our property for more than 20 years. When he asked me to sign the Division of Wildlife permission form for this season, he told me I should read it. I did and I was impressed.
The permission form, which cites Ohio Revised Code 1533.181, actually provides as much – or more – legal protection for the landowner than the guest hunter(s). By signing the form, the hunter agrees to "release the landowner from any or all liability for personal injuries, property damage, or for the loss of life or property resulting from, or in any way connected with the issuance of this permit."
The permission form also places six conditions upon the hunter to ensure respect for the landowner. Included among these are a pledge not to litter on the private property and to obey all state hunting regulations. Seems fair enough. And from someone who lives in the middle of these woods and enjoys the outdoors, I appreciate the conscientious hunter.
Ohio's deer-gun season opens statewide on Monday, Nov. 28. Deer can be hunted with a legal muzzleloader, handgun or shotgun from one half-hour before sunrise to sunset Nov. 28-Dec. 4 and then again on Dec. 17-18.
For those landowners who may be considering giving hunters permission to hunt on their property, you might give special consideration to the hunter who presents the Division of Wildlife Permission for Hunting, Fishing or Trapping on Private Land form.
* * *
2012 campaign musings
As much as I'd prefer talking about hunting and fishing (and I would), there's bigger game to harvest and bigger fish to fry.
If you thought for a minute that the 2011 general election sneaked up on us, get ready. The 2012 election season will see more political cats skinned than an Arizona rattlesnake roundup. (Don't laugh. Former Whiteoak English teacher Joe Himes would like that mixed metaphor.)
In addition to the presidential election (maybe you've heard about that), there are quite a few other local and state campaigns to follow. With a Dec. 7 local filing date, we'll soon know what's on the political slate for 2012.
Already taking shape are possibly two Republican primaries in next year's county commissioners' races. One can imagine a Democrat or two waiting for the eventual GOP winners come next fall. Nothing wrong with that, either. It is, quite simply, part of this great republic's electoral process. Voters may anticipate other GOP primaries in county offices as well.
(There's a reason we won't see very many Democratic primaries in county government.)
Having had a number of potential candidates ask for the opinion of the publisher of the newspaper (or website) you are reading regarding their pending decision (to run or not to run, that is the question), I'll tell you what I've told them. Run!
Seriously, if you are thinking of campaigning for a particular office, you should do so. Contact the Board of Elections, get your petitions signed and returned (always get a few extra signatures), and participate in your government. If nothing else, you will be better off for the experience and you'll make another potential candidate work just a little harder. Good things, both.
* * *
Subpar supercommittee
While speaking on the failure of the (dubious) bipartisan deficit reduction committee, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Terrace Park said this week: “We failed to reach agreement because, despite good intentions on both sides, we simply couldn't bridge fundamental policy differences that reflect a broader disagreement in the Congress and country as a whole over the size and scope of government.
“With a record debt of $15 trillion and a projected debt increase over the next 10 years of between $6 trillion and $10 trillion more, Washington continues to promise more than the nation can afford."
That, in a nutshell, sadly sums up the committee's fruitless efforts.
Is anyone really surprised?
If Republicans and Democrats in Congress couldn't reach agreeable terms on deficit reduction, why should Americans expect that a committee of Republicans and Democrats in Congress could reach agreeable terms?
Once again, we have kicked the can down the road – dirt or gravel for some, and yellow brick (gold) for others.
Jay Nordlinger is a senior editor at National Review and one of its best writers. In the Nov. 14 NR, Mr. Nordlinger offered this pearl of wisdom: "People have a tremendous capacity to rationalize, especially when infected by ideology."
In the case of the deficit reduction debate, it may apply – but perhaps not equally – to both political parties. Where once this great nation looked upon public service as a temporary calling, we have come to accept it as a career choice at the expense of almost everyone else. It's been a costly experiment, that's for sure.
So, too, have been taxpayer bailouts for businesses deemed "too big to fail." (Perhaps the recent collapse of trading firm MF Global — which was led by Jon S. Corzine, the former Democratic governor of New Jersey — will be next in line to fit that description. Reports this week indicate $1.2 billion of customers' money was missing as MF (really, it's MF?!) Global filed for Chapter 11 protection on Oct. 31.
Maybe the failings of the "supercommittee" and of the current leadership will lead to path of real reform and cooperation, certainly not this year or next, but maybe some day. Soon, let's hope.
* * *
Happy Thanksgiving!
No, I haven't forgotten that this is Thanksgiving week. As is customary, here's a friendly "shout out and Happy Thanksgiving wish" to Lynn and Galen Neal; and, by the way, thanks for the book on Notre Dame football.
In previous years, Lynn has commented often and occasionally requested a reprint of my old Thanksgiving tome entitled "Giving thanks for a clean stove."
She will be happy to know that the stove has been cleaned without incident. The turkey's in the fridge and I'll be making sage dressing on Wednesday night. On Thanksgiving day, there will be potatoes to mash, sweet corn and green beans with new potatoes to prepare, sweet potatoes (that's a lot of starch, isn't it?) to cook, and the turkey will be in the oven by 6 a.m. Breads and gravy will follow. An apple pie or two will be prepared in advance.
If the plan comes together, we will say the standard Catholic prayer before meals (Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord, Amen) sometime close to noon.
My thinking is simple (as it always is): If we eat our first Thanksgiving meal at noon, we ought to be able to eat again at 6 o'clock that evening. That's the plan, anyway.
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone. From all of us at The Highland County Press, we wish you a sage (er, safe), happy and blessed holiday.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
That said, this past Saturday (one of the two days designated for the special youth gun season) was an interesting day in our 53-acre woods. Considering I've signed Ohio Division of Wildlife permission for hunting on private land for only one person this year – and he is a bow hunter, it was a bit alarming to be cutting firewood and listening to all the nearby gunshots. Truth be told, there were no trespassers, just a lot of young hunters in the area.
One thing's for certain: If any military forces from Iran, North Korea, China or Saskatchewan had thought about invading southern Ohio, last Saturday would have been their Waterloo.
With respect to landowners who feel otherwise, I'm one of those property owners who allows a few friends to hunt in our woods and fields. Roger Dale Mefford of Seaman has hunted our property for more than 20 years. When he asked me to sign the Division of Wildlife permission form for this season, he told me I should read it. I did and I was impressed.
The permission form, which cites Ohio Revised Code 1533.181, actually provides as much – or more – legal protection for the landowner than the guest hunter(s). By signing the form, the hunter agrees to "release the landowner from any or all liability for personal injuries, property damage, or for the loss of life or property resulting from, or in any way connected with the issuance of this permit."
The permission form also places six conditions upon the hunter to ensure respect for the landowner. Included among these are a pledge not to litter on the private property and to obey all state hunting regulations. Seems fair enough. And from someone who lives in the middle of these woods and enjoys the outdoors, I appreciate the conscientious hunter.
Ohio's deer-gun season opens statewide on Monday, Nov. 28. Deer can be hunted with a legal muzzleloader, handgun or shotgun from one half-hour before sunrise to sunset Nov. 28-Dec. 4 and then again on Dec. 17-18.
For those landowners who may be considering giving hunters permission to hunt on their property, you might give special consideration to the hunter who presents the Division of Wildlife Permission for Hunting, Fishing or Trapping on Private Land form.
* * *
2012 campaign musings
As much as I'd prefer talking about hunting and fishing (and I would), there's bigger game to harvest and bigger fish to fry.
If you thought for a minute that the 2011 general election sneaked up on us, get ready. The 2012 election season will see more political cats skinned than an Arizona rattlesnake roundup. (Don't laugh. Former Whiteoak English teacher Joe Himes would like that mixed metaphor.)
In addition to the presidential election (maybe you've heard about that), there are quite a few other local and state campaigns to follow. With a Dec. 7 local filing date, we'll soon know what's on the political slate for 2012.
Already taking shape are possibly two Republican primaries in next year's county commissioners' races. One can imagine a Democrat or two waiting for the eventual GOP winners come next fall. Nothing wrong with that, either. It is, quite simply, part of this great republic's electoral process. Voters may anticipate other GOP primaries in county offices as well.
(There's a reason we won't see very many Democratic primaries in county government.)
Having had a number of potential candidates ask for the opinion of the publisher of the newspaper (or website) you are reading regarding their pending decision (to run or not to run, that is the question), I'll tell you what I've told them. Run!
Seriously, if you are thinking of campaigning for a particular office, you should do so. Contact the Board of Elections, get your petitions signed and returned (always get a few extra signatures), and participate in your government. If nothing else, you will be better off for the experience and you'll make another potential candidate work just a little harder. Good things, both.
* * *
Subpar supercommittee
While speaking on the failure of the (dubious) bipartisan deficit reduction committee, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Terrace Park said this week: “We failed to reach agreement because, despite good intentions on both sides, we simply couldn't bridge fundamental policy differences that reflect a broader disagreement in the Congress and country as a whole over the size and scope of government.
“With a record debt of $15 trillion and a projected debt increase over the next 10 years of between $6 trillion and $10 trillion more, Washington continues to promise more than the nation can afford."
That, in a nutshell, sadly sums up the committee's fruitless efforts.
Is anyone really surprised?
If Republicans and Democrats in Congress couldn't reach agreeable terms on deficit reduction, why should Americans expect that a committee of Republicans and Democrats in Congress could reach agreeable terms?
Once again, we have kicked the can down the road – dirt or gravel for some, and yellow brick (gold) for others.
Jay Nordlinger is a senior editor at National Review and one of its best writers. In the Nov. 14 NR, Mr. Nordlinger offered this pearl of wisdom: "People have a tremendous capacity to rationalize, especially when infected by ideology."
In the case of the deficit reduction debate, it may apply – but perhaps not equally – to both political parties. Where once this great nation looked upon public service as a temporary calling, we have come to accept it as a career choice at the expense of almost everyone else. It's been a costly experiment, that's for sure.
So, too, have been taxpayer bailouts for businesses deemed "too big to fail." (Perhaps the recent collapse of trading firm MF Global — which was led by Jon S. Corzine, the former Democratic governor of New Jersey — will be next in line to fit that description. Reports this week indicate $1.2 billion of customers' money was missing as MF (really, it's MF?!) Global filed for Chapter 11 protection on Oct. 31.
Maybe the failings of the "supercommittee" and of the current leadership will lead to path of real reform and cooperation, certainly not this year or next, but maybe some day. Soon, let's hope.
* * *
Happy Thanksgiving!
No, I haven't forgotten that this is Thanksgiving week. As is customary, here's a friendly "shout out and Happy Thanksgiving wish" to Lynn and Galen Neal; and, by the way, thanks for the book on Notre Dame football.
In previous years, Lynn has commented often and occasionally requested a reprint of my old Thanksgiving tome entitled "Giving thanks for a clean stove."
She will be happy to know that the stove has been cleaned without incident. The turkey's in the fridge and I'll be making sage dressing on Wednesday night. On Thanksgiving day, there will be potatoes to mash, sweet corn and green beans with new potatoes to prepare, sweet potatoes (that's a lot of starch, isn't it?) to cook, and the turkey will be in the oven by 6 a.m. Breads and gravy will follow. An apple pie or two will be prepared in advance.
If the plan comes together, we will say the standard Catholic prayer before meals (Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord, Amen) sometime close to noon.
My thinking is simple (as it always is): If we eat our first Thanksgiving meal at noon, we ought to be able to eat again at 6 o'clock that evening. That's the plan, anyway.
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone. From all of us at The Highland County Press, we wish you a sage (er, safe), happy and blessed holiday.
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]