A Time We Share and Taking Time to Say "Thanks"

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Fall is already upon us. In many states the grouse and woodcock season has already opened – and all that hard work you put into getting in shape to pursue the King of the Gamebirds and his sidekick the Timberdoodle may finally pay off. Some of us have been able to spend time afield preparing our canine companions for success in the hunt. Those less fortunate were faced, due to a lack of time, with sending their dog to a trainer. I am one of those folks, and I miss my setter Scout. Soon that will change and we’ll be a team hard in pursuit of game, stopping occasionally to catch our breath and share in each other’s company.

During those brief pauses after working a covert, I am never without a sense of awe for the tranquility and beauty found in the silence and colors of the fall foliage. During these brief respites I think about dog work, the flushes and the occasional well-placed (or, as the case may be, lucky) shot. If I was fortunate to have made a true shot, I often take that chance to hold in hand the bird and admire it for the wild and beautiful thing it is.

Hunters spend hours in the woods pursuing these birds and just milliseconds harvesting them. At the heart of this pursuit however, there abides a deep and lasting respect for the wildlife being hunted. Often a hunter spends considerable time and money assuring that the object of his or her pursuit, along with all the songbirds and other wildlife that share the same places, will have the habitat they require for survival year-round. The Spanish philosopher, Ortega Gassett, captured the essence of the hunt in these words: “I don’t hunt to kill, but rather kill to have hunted”. The actual harvesting of game is only a miniscule part of the overall experience of hunting.

This dedicated hunter – the one driven to ensure the well-being of the game they pursue – defines our every member and volunteer. We are the only wildlife conservation group working on behalf of all wildlife, not just game species that rely on young forests or early forest succession for their habitat. Assuring the continued availability of that habitat is our mission, and one we achieve with the help of our members and volunteers.  For all you do for RGS and the birds we champion – thank you!

May these efforts continue to grow in both number and success in the coming year.

Have a great fall – I’ll see you in the coverts!
Mike Zagata
RGS Executive Director and CEO