Thanks for displaying the picture of my buck on your site (last week's Hunting Memories). This was my first archery buck and I took him my first time in a treestand. He was taken on the second day of the season. I had scouted the location on opening day and saw him with another fork horn, but they were 60+ yards and I had no shot. Thankfully he came to my stand the next night. He was actually 20 yards away when I released.

Matt Lage
California

P.S. Thanks for the great web site, one of my most favorite.

Who To Vote For?

I need some advice on who to vote for in the next elections. I'm not strong politically because I'm of the opinion that they tend to say whatever it is that they think will get them elected and that turns me off from politics. Is there a guide to helping me with this?

Thank you and kind regards from the hunting mom,

Bethanie McGahan
California

Editor's Note: Bethanie, in the past we believed that you should not be a single-issue voter but should study the candidate's record as a whole. Unfortunately, over the past two years hunters and gun owners have lost so many rights and freedoms as a result of who is in office that the next two years could result in disastrous gun legislation being passed. Because of this real possibility, we feel very strongly that this year is the year to vote based on a single issue — gun rights.

One of the best ways to find out the candidates' position on gun rights is to check with either the NRA or in California, contact the California Rifle and Pistol Association. Here are their web sites: NRA http://www.nra.org CRPA http://www.crpa.org. The NRA site will guide you to other western states' gun organizations.

Your ID

So you're wondering whether it will be Clinton/Gore, Feinstein/Boxer, the state or federal government who will legislate registration of our long guns; well look no farther than the wildlife departments of some of the best hunting states.

For the past few years, states like Montana and Utah have been requiring both your drivers license number and social security number, just to apply for a nonresident hunting license. I'm not sure how many other states require this information, but this precedent should concern every gun owner.This is a dream come true for the BATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms), Shumer, and the anti-gunners — we've allowed ourselves to be registered without a fight.This information is a GPS to where you reside, and can easily be compiled in a centralized data base. All hunters, target shooters, and gun owners should unite with the NRA and repeal this intrusive requirement.

Pat Rogers
California

From the magazine to e-mail you have always had a winner. I look forward to the articles, pictures and information I get from you on the many outdoor subjects of hunting not only in my own state but other western states.

Thanks a lot.

Bob Boyd

P.S. I have never been much on politics, figuring whoever you vote for is going to be out for themselves anyhow and not for the people who voted them in. I have since come to the conclusion that if we don't stand up for our 2nd Amendment rights now, we won't have anything to stand up for later. Anyone who reads this must understand that now is the time to say something because tomorrow will be too late. I know that every politician has his own agenda and may not represent everything you want, but I believe we have to save our 2nd Amendment rights not only for the hunters but for anyone who owns a gun. Thanks again.

Looking For Bigger Bucks

The picture of Glenn Farmer with his first deer in your recent issue of WesternHunter sums up the reason I quit deer hunting in California.

With no offense intended to Mr. Farmer, he has been hunting for 10 years, and of late on private land, and this is his reward. There are very few places in California remaining that hold good populations of deer, and those bucks that are left are typical of the one pictured with Mr. Farmer. The pictures I see in your publication and Western Outdoor News continue to prove this point. Too often a picture of hunter and trophy are accompanied by a caption that includes the words "nice buck" or "nice meat buck." These words are really offered as an excuse or apology to the readers, because no matter how much we read about great hunting opportunities, there really are none left in California. The reality is that any legal buck is a "nice buck" today.

Who is to blame for this situation? Our incompetent Department of Fish and Game, the liberal Democrats who are in power in Sacramento, and the millions of non-hunting yuppies who have taken over our state. I might also add to this list the many pea-brained hunters who either don't vote or continue to vote for Democrats, just because their daddies have always done so.

Melvin J. Chikato
California

Editor's Note: The word "nice " is in the eyes of the beholder. For a junior hunter who takes a doe as their first deer, it's a trophy. While we agree with you that it is tough to get a big buck in California, at least 50% of the bucks taken are larger than forkhorns. Also, notice this week's Hunting Memories' buck was taken on public land in California and is larger than many bucks we have seen taken in other western states.

We continue to encourage our readers to send us pictures of their bucks, no matter what their size, as they may be more of a buck then many of us will bag this year.