Howdy Okies! This article is going to be a bit different than my “normal” happy-go-lucky hunting/fishing column. Instead, it’s a rant of sorts. I apologize in advance if I offend you with this article, but if I do perhaps you are a guilty party.
Recently on a trip with my son to one of our leases, I counted a dozen empty bags of deer corn in the ditch or out in a field blowing around. He commented to me about how disappointing it was to him. You see, I grew up in the sandhills or in a bass boat. My mother was in nursing school when I was young, and my dad has always said: “hunting and fishing was the best babysitter around.” We’d spend from the minute we got out of school until dark hunting or fishing whatever was in season. I was taught from an early age to leave the place better than I found it. If we camped, we cleaned up everything. If we shot guns, we picked up our shells. If we (me) ate Oreos I picked up the wrapper. We picked up trash that others left behind. Out of everything, I think it’s the deer corn bags that bother me the most. Sure, we watch wildlife shows where sea turtles are trapped in fishing nets and trash on the ocean floor, but this is Oklahoma. We are better than that. Deer hunters, whether to provide meat for the family or looking for a trophy buck are supposed to be stewards of the land. The good Lord has given us this opportunity to enjoy his creations and it’s disappointing some folks think it’s acceptable to litter and trash up the same.
I recently built a house on twenty acres north of town off a dirt road. I’ve recently come under a bit of scrutiny for using my personal Facebook page to “call out” people who throw trash on our road. I’ve been known to dig through the trash and locate names and addresses. I take pictures of names and addresses and post them on FB and let them know they have 24 hours to clean it up or I’ll call Sheriff Rink. Guess what? Works every time. Public shaming is a powerful thing. I share to only say this: this shouldn’t be necessary. Again, Okies are better than that. Enjoy the outdoors to the fullest but pick up your dadgum trash.
1-888-5-litter is the hotline to report offenders. In the meantime, keep our land grand and enjoy our beautiful state.
