Ed Hitchler - Blog Post

First of all this blog comes with a warning, the content is violent and graphic in nature and may not be suitable for all readers. Second, if you are a tree hugging, bunny loving, card carrying member of PETA, move on, this ain't your Momma's blog. I love to hunt! There I said it and I am not ashamed. I did not start hunting until I was in my late twenties. I grew up in Chicago, a city boy, and other than Dirty Harry movies, the only time I saw someone carrying a gun was when some idiot had the bright idea of robbing the commuters on the el train. I moved to Texas in 1977 to attend college, and I was shocked to see pickup trucks driving on loop 410 with guns hanging in the rear window. That practice is still legal, but not often seen unless you live in the Texas Hill Country or the far reaches of West Texas. But I digress, in 1987 a good friend invited me to go deer hunting and I was hooked. I learned early on that proper planning and execution is essential to make a successful hunt. A good hunt takes time and patience. He also taught me that you eat what you take and never shoot anything just for the thrill of it. Classic safari style hunting is also hard work, requiring physical strength and endurance as well as keen concentration and an awareness of all your surroundings. My passion for hunting has grown over the years and I seldom hunt in Texas anymore unless we would like to fill the freezer. I now travel to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia to quell my passion. I have taken all big five dangerous game, which includes Cape Buffalo, Lion, Leopard, Elephant and most recently, Rhino. A feat I am truly proud of, so much so I have had the memory permanently inked on my back, much to my wife's chagrin, but that is for another blog someday. Now you must understand, through proper game management many parts of Africa now have abundant game roaming the continent. In fact, it is estimated that Zimbabwe has as many as 30,000 too many elephants in the country due to the old moratorium on ivory. That country that now struggles to feed the masses of people is combating an elephant population that is also fighting for the same limited food and water. Hunting brings jobs and money to this country which is so desperately needed. Years of political corruption have left the pleasant and extremely talented people of this beautiful country in dire straits. I have walked through their empty grocery stores and seen a queue of people waiting outside a petrol station, not to buy gas, because there is no fuel in Zimbabwe, rather waiting to buy a roll of toilet paper or a bar of soap, as they were only allowed one. Can any of you possibly imagine walking into HEB and seeing all the shelves empty? So yes, I return to hunt in Africa and especially Zimbabwe as often as I can afford. I know the money I give the trackers, skinners and guides buys a lot of food for their families for a very long time. The average monthly wage in Zimbabwe in 2009 was approximately $1.80 USD! Conditions in Zim have improved in the past year but not to the affluent levels we are accustomed to here in the US. Fuel is still scarce, with most folks going to neighboring South Africa or Botswana for fuel and bringing it back in 55 gallon drums, many not sealed and secure. A scary sight on the roadways. Hunting is a great opportunity to spend quality time with my kids. I taught them all to hunt and loved every minute of it. The hours we spent at the gun range, the planning and preparations that went into each hunt. Not to mention the stories we can tell and relive as we look through our photos or ponder our trophies. I took my youngest daughter Stevie, (named after Stevie Nicks, yes I am a product of the 70's) on her first deer hunt at the age of five, She slept on the floor of the blind wearing her red cowboy boots and all wrapped up in her little mermaid sleeping bag. I woke her up at dawn, helped her sight the little management buck and held her tight as she pulled the trigger, fearing the rifle kick would send her flying. She is now a proud Aggie and teaches school in Ft. Worth and still hunts. My oldest daughter Jamie, a physician specializing in family and women's medicine married in October; she and her new husband Chris are honeymooning in New Zealand where they will hunt Thar and Chamois in the stunning Kaikoura mountains on the South island. Her new husband has never hunted so I am sure they will have incredible stories to tell. I have warned Chris, he better plan and practice, practice, practice as Jamie is a crack shot, probably the best of all three of my kids. My son Wagner, also my youngest, just returned from Namibia where he hunted with a buddy of his from High School. He revels in telling the story of how they spooked a resting rhino in the tall elephant grass and had quite a little run, more like a dash for safety. I wish that I could have been there with them to share that memory, but I do get a kick listening to him tell the story. I am grateful that I have been able to take my passion for hunting and share it with other like minded men and women. Contrary to popular belief we are not all a bunch of bubbas, totin' guns, drinkin' beer and chewin' tobacco, although I have been known to do 2 of the 3. I serve on the board of the Texas Hill Country Chapter of the Safari Club International (THCCSCI) as does my wife, Carol. Carol starting hunting at the age of 42, when she figured out I was addicted and if she wanted to spend more time with me she better understand this thing called Hunting. She is the THCCSCI board secretary and spends countless hours each year on our annual fundraiser. The THCCSCI is affiliated with the national organization of Safari Club International which promotes conservation and youth hunter education. Sounds noble and it is, but what do we really do? Our local chapter collects the carcasses from the local game ranches, a multi-million dollar industry in Texas, where the hunters do not want the meat. We pay to have that game meat processed and distribute several thousand pounds of meat each month to area food banks. Annually, we sponsor personal hunts for at least two Iraq war vets that have been wounded in the line of duty. After they have completed their rehabilitation, they are taken on a hunt at a local ranch, given a new hunting weapon, their game meat is processed and the taxidermy work is also donated by fellow chapter members. They are honored at our annual fundraiser banquet and there is never a dry eye in the room when these guys share their story of their experience in Iraq and then their gratitude for their hunting experience. Often we try to include their family members as well. I am also a life time member of the Exotic Wildlife Association (EWA). We live on a small ranch and raise Kudu, Addax and other African hoof stock. EWA's mission is to encourage and expand the conservation of indigenous and non-indigenous hoof stock animals. Members of EWA have worked to reintroduce the Addax, an endangered species, to the wilds of Africa by donating a herd of animals then seeking corporate donations to pay for the transportation of the animals from Texas to Africa. EWA also has a wounded warrior program similar to the THCCSCI where they honor and reward Iraq war vets with hunting excursions. I encourage you to visit both organizations' websites and you will be moved by the war vet's stories. So to get to my point, get off the couch, turn off the TV, take away the kid's video games and get outside and do something together as a family. It doesn't matter if you are a single parent or a traditional family unit. Spend time together, learn something new, do something for the community together. There are plenty of organizations that would be more than happy to have you and your family volunteer some time with them. Make your memories now and make a difference in your community. When friends and family come to visit they are amazed at our collection of trophies and are always surprised to hear our stories that go with each hunt. My niece told me she felt like she was at The Field Museum in Chicago. My son's friends' facebook pages are filled with pictures of their "African Safari" simply by visiting our house. One PETA friendly friend who recently visited commented that there was a lot of death on the walls at our home, no not really I replied, just lots of memories. Happy Hunting!
EJH