Could I be a hunter?

I just finished reading this book the other night and it was great reading material. Tracy and I try to be locavores in that we garden a good bit of tomatoes, peppers, basil, oregano, etc and we participate in one of our Nashville area CSA programs. I am interested in taking that next step as a locavore with hunting fowl such as pheasants or hunting a deer. This book has helped to push me another step in that desire to fill the freezer with some tasty meat.

I really like many of the things the author had to say in the Introduction of the book as well as The Politics of Hunting on p.88-89. His statement "Using a rifle to hunt for food does not have to mean that you identify yourself as pro-gun or antigun. It is a tool that we use to do a job,..." is brilliant. I wish more people would understand this logic.

I must admit that I have in fact killed one deer already but not with a rifle but using a Nissan truck. I hit this deer late one night when it jumped out in front of my truck and I had little choice but to hit him/her. I never gave much thought about hunters, hunting or animal rights up until this accident. For me, I came to realize that I am okay with hunters going out and hunting these animals to help control the population because it could have easily been someone else to hit this deer. Although I was not harmed (my truck got fixed) other people who have hit deer have not been so lucky.

Anyone who has read books like "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver with the hope of having a backyard garden and enjoying the fruits of their own labor or who understands the concept of "food miles" that in most instances local is better SHOULD understand the logic of hunting locally, hunting to put food on the table (vs trophy hunting) and hunting legally. I do recommend anyone who has the ability to and desire to take the locavore mentality one step further to please check this book out.