February 13, 2006
WHERE WOULD ENGLISH MYSTERIES BE WITHOUT THE HUNTING "ACCIDENT"?:
Hunters can identify with Cheney accident (KIMBERLY DURNAN, February 13, 2006, DallasNews.com)
"I can identify with both of them. I can understand how Cheney did it and I can understand how the other guy got hit," said Andy Funk, a hunting guide in Comstock, Texas. "I've been there, done that, got the bumper sticker, the T-shirt and the coffee mug."Posted by Orrin Judd at February 13, 2006 4:57 PMShooting at birds is tricky because you never know which way they are going to go or whether they are flying high or low, he said. Hunters are often so focused on the prey, they lose sight of the rest of the hunting party.
Funk said he has narrowly escaped getting hit with birdshot so many times that he started wearing a fluorescent orange cap and stopped retrieving the downed birds for clients, who often were still shooting. "I've heard pellets whiz by my ear," he said.
Cheney's high profile job attracted attention to a situation that normally wouldn't garner much spotlight, said Eric White a shooting guide in Mountain Home, Texas.
Birdshot contains tiny pellets that travel in a spray formation for about 40 yards, White said.
"Usually it kind of bounces off of you," he said.
Thank you, this is the most intelligent thing on this accident that I have heard all day. I would really hate for the media to have to respond to something really important.
Posted by: kay at February 13, 2006 5:32 PMYes. The anti-Miers screechers over at National Review are in fine form over this, too.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at February 13, 2006 5:34 PM"stopped retrieving the downed birds for clients"
I'm a city boy, but er, isn't that why folks invented bird dogs?
I can see how each and every hunter might not own one, but wouldn't you think that a guide might invest in one?
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at February 13, 2006 5:43 PMI think that this is a Dick Cheney imposter. The real Dick Cheney would have killed him.
Posted by: AllenS at February 13, 2006 6:34 PMI've been hit by pellets when duck hunting and as teenagers we would even shoot across the pond at each other knowing the pellet's energy would be exhausted and they would hit with the energy of hailstones. Also, anyone who has hunted for quail knows they fly low and fast and you have to be darned carefull to stay aware of where you are in relation to the other hunters. that doesn't excuse the VP's error, but it may even have been the victim's fault. This could have happened to almost anyone. Remember Greg Lemond's turkey hunting accident?
Posted by: Patrick H at February 13, 2006 7:08 PM[i]"Usually it kind of bounces off of you," he said.[/i]
Are you sure you didn't accidentally quote the story about "Batman Accidentally Shot By Superman During Annual JLA Duck Hunt"?
Posted by: Just John at February 13, 2006 7:22 PMJim:
A good bird dog is too valuable to risk when hunting quail. ;-)
Posted by: Rick T. at February 13, 2006 8:10 PMDumb-a** accident, caused by disregard of safe hunting practices.
Posted by: Lou Gots at February 13, 2006 8:43 PMMore hysteria from the Corner. Are ther actually adults there? Podheretz is the designated over-reactor this time I guess. Well, at least Rod Dreher hasn't posted one of his insane rants yet.
Posted by: Bob at February 13, 2006 8:44 PMOne doesn't look to libertarians for adult sensibility.
Posted by: oj at February 13, 2006 8:45 PMNor does one look to people who are longtime residents of New York City or Washington D.C. for some calm, rational perspective on the severity of various types of hunting accidents.
Priscilla Buckley was the last one there who could shoot.
Posted by: oj at February 13, 2006 10:12 PMBob, I hear ya regarding Rod Dreher. Rod is like a straight Andrew Sullivan - he over-reacts and throws hissy fits.
Posted by: pchuck at February 14, 2006 10:45 AM"The real Dick Cheney would have killed him."
Then cut out his still beating heart and eaten it, then mounted the trophy head on the wall of his bunker.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at February 14, 2006 12:24 PM