An Anthem for 2017

Our Banner in the Sky, Frederic Edwin Church

Every political campaign worth its salt has to have a catchy slogan. This isn’t written down anywhere, but is an implied and inviolable rule of marketing. It is a simple matter of heuristics. If you can easily recall a short and pointed catchphrase then you are more likely to spend time contemplating that particular product or person.  I’d argue that De Beers has one of the best slogans: Diamonds Are Forever. It is so successful, in fact, that pretty much every sod that gets married is required to buy a diamond for his betrothed or face incalculable disdain, unending questions, and disapproving looks. The foreverness of diamonds has, for ages, symbolized the foreverness of marriage. You didn’t purchase a lasting gemstone? You have no right to expect a lasting marriage!  For better or worse, most Americans are beholden to a powerful social norm that necessitates that we buy diamonds. Perhaps that is why De Beers controlled 90% of the global diamond trade for a number of years.

Yet, despite the outrageous cleverness of some catchphrases, political campaigns often don’t have the astuteness of De Beers. Take, for instance, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 1936 campaign slogan: Sunflowers Die in November. What!? As it turns out, Roosevelt was running against Kansas Republican Alf Landon. Thus, since Landon hailed from the Sunflower State, Roosevelt’s slogan was meant to forecast his defeat in the general election. Roosevelt’s forecast was true and Landon lost in a landslide.  The efficacy of the political slogan seems unlikely to have been a major contributing factor.

Fast forward to 2016 and the current President Elect’s successful campaign slogan was Make America Great Again. Let that soak in for a while! Regardless of your political leanings (and I’m not here to talk about that), one has to admit that this phrase is quite loaded. On its very face, there are a number of implicit assumptions:

1. America was once great

2. America is no longer great

3. It is possible, through voting, to elevate a candidate to office who will restore America’s greatness

In order to really evaluate this phrase, we have to examine the importance of America’s greatness in the first place. Why do we care about it? Why is it critical that we be a unipolar international hegemon? The answer is because many of us have either an implicit or explicit acceptance of the principle of American Exceptionalism.  Simply put, American Exceptionalism is an ideology where the United States of America exists separate from and better than the rest of the nations of the world. American Exceptionalism is a mainstream ideology, at least among Americans.

This much can be easily demonstrated by surveying the past testimonies of U.S. Presidents. American Exceptionalism is perfectly described by former U.S. President Reagan in his retiring address, wherein he quotes Massachusetts Bay Colony leader John Winthrop:

    The past few days when I've been at that window upstairs, I've thought a bit of the 'shining city upon a hill.' The phrase comes from John Winthrop, who wrote it to describe the America he imagined. What he imagined was important because he was an early Pilgrim, an early freedom man. He journeyed here on what today we'd call a little wooden boat; and like the other Pilgrims, he was looking for a home that would be free. I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still.

    And how stands the city on this winter night? More prosperous, more secure, and happier than it was eight years ago. But more than that: After 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she's still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are    hurtling through the darkness, toward home.

Reagan’s oratory prowess has been unmatched by American Presidents, until perhaps the administration of Barack Obama. Like Reagan, Obama too was a self-professing believer in American Exceptionalism yet his viewpoint appears to be tempered by the recognition of the contributions of other nations:

I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in    British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism. I’m enormously proud of my country and its role and history in the world. If you think about the site of this summit and what it means, I don’t think America should be embarrassed to see evidence of the sacrifices of our troops, the enormous amount of resources that were put into Europe postwar, and our leadership in crafting an Alliance that ultimately led to the unification of Europe. We should take great pride in that.

And if you think of our current situation, the United States remains the largest    economy in the world. We have unmatched military capability. And I think that we have a core set of values that are enshrined in our Constitution, in our body of law, in our democratic practices, in our belief in free speech and equality, that, though imperfect, are exceptional.

In appears then that Mr. Trump follows in the footsteps of his predecessors in believing in this nationalistic perspective. At least, he did believe in it at some point. Make America Great Again could easily be rewritten as Make America Exceptional Again. Can we really make America exceptional through voting? Have we then made America exceptional again?

I think not.

This isn’t because I don’t have confidence in the President Elect or because I might disagree with his policies. I don’t believe that we have made America exceptional again because doing so isn’t as simple as checking a box on a ballot. Furthermore, I would posit that American Exceptionalism as a result of geo-strategic location, natural resources, guiding documents, or political institutions does not exist. Rather, exceptionalism, true exceptionalism, is the product of righteousness.

During those times where American exceptionalism peaked, national righteousness was leading the curve. When American exceptionalism faltered, so too did American righteousness wane. Yet, by even mentioning the word righteousness I have already disenfranchised half of my readership. But, hear me out. Righteousness too is a loaded term. I have found that the standard response to the term righteousness is a visceral shuddering. People simply don’t like the term. Righteousness instantly evokes bitter memories of encounters with hypocrites who looked down their noses and judged you harshly, despite their own shortcomings.

The fact is that those people are not righteous. Rather, they are self-righteous. The difference is night and day. From a Biblical perspective, true righteousness represents “ethical conduct that conforms to God’s standards and moral character” (Weirsbe, Warren, Be Skillful, pg. 150). The Hebrew word for righteousness throughout much of the Bible is tsaddiq (צַדִּיק). The best synonyms that we can find for this word are just and blameless. These words don’t have the baggage that righteousness does. If I were to assert that exceptionalism is the product of justice or blamelessness then the reaction is likely to be much less negative.

The Book of Proverbs offers multiple reassurances that national exceptionalism is, in fact, the product of righteousness (11:10-11, 14:34):

    When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
    And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
    By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
    But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

    Righteousness exalts a nation,
    But sin is a reproach to any people.

The reason that we find self-righteousness so loathsome is that its claim to correctness is derived from the person who exhibits the characteristic. Oftentimes, these persons are deeply flawed. Thus, the source of the righteousness is compromised. In practice, a self-righteous person is like a doctor instructing you to treat a case of dehydration by drinking from a poisoned well. Yet, true righteousness is not derived from sinful people but from a sinless God (II Corinthians 5:20-21):

 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Given this context, I wholeheartedly agree that we should make America great again! I personally am tremendously broken and subject to all sorts of missteps. But, I know that the source of righteous does not come from within me, but rather from God. American greatness is dependent on American righteousness. American righteousness is dependent upon our knowledge of the Word, our relationship with Christ, and our willingness to do God’s works.

 For 2017, won’t you join me in this anthem?


 MAKE AMERICA RIGHTEOUS AGAIN

Acadian Kitchen Confessional

Granny's wooden spoon
A pint-sized pirogue paddle
Churns the sauce piquant
Rowing across the generations
With backs turned to the bayou

Rules for the Meat Hunter

On a bitter cold Sunday morning this past November I was blessed to harvest a young whitetail doe for the larder. In most situations, I am quick on the trigger when such an animal presents itself. My hunting philosophy is founded upon enjoyment of the outdoors and a strong preference for wild meat. Thus, when a mature animal presents itself there is little dithering when it comes to whether or not to shoot. In truth, I have probably missed out on shooting some trophy animals over the years because of my haste to put meat in the freezer. However, this gives me little pause. My family is well-fed and I am able to bring a taste of wilderness into our homes. Just this year my cousin Michael recollected a bit of advice that my Uncle Wayne had given him in his youth: “Boy, if you want to shoot a deer you’ve got about three seconds to do it when you see one.” I’m probably loosely paraphrasing there but the gist is that in high-pressure hunting environments deer often don’t stick around to be evaluated. Many a whitetail has lived to see another day because a hunter is indecisive in his actions. I am not afflicted with such a problem. In part, my wingshooting background has instilled a quasi-reflexive approach to shooting. Of course, sight alignment and trigger pull are paramount with a rifle. But, as in the defense world, good fast shots are better than slow perfect shots.

When I have an unfilled antlerless tag in my pocket, the first doe that presents itself is going into the freezer. Such was the case that Sunday when my .338 Winchester thundered across the icy prairie and a 93 lb (dressed) doe provided nourishment for the upcoming year. Thus far, the doe has made a delicious pot roast, a hearty Shooter’s Sandwich, and much-welcomed gifts for some of my friends and neighbors. When an animal provides so much value to my life, I don’t worry about shooting big bucks. Though I am far from an expert hunter, I have practiced the art long enough to learn a few lessons. I’d like to catalog them here for my personal use and for others to consider as well. I don’t pretend to be an authority, but these are worthy of contemplation for anyone who similarly enjoys wild game on the table.

RULES FOR THE MEAT HUNTER

1.       Respect the animal from the minute you see it until the minute it is plated. This ensures legal behavior, respect from others, and fine eats. The life of an animal has been taken so that yours may continue. You had better darn well act like it.

2.       Don’t pass on an animal on the first day of season that you would shoot on the last day of season. You will regret it if you don’t fill a tag. You’ll never regret having meat in the winter.

3.       Don’t hesitate. The hesitant go hungry.

4.       Hold tight behind the leg. On broadside shots no usable meat will be damaged. Shoulder shots, while effective, ruin a lot of meat. Head and neck shots are unreliable and may cause undue suffering to the animal.

5.       Use enough gun. Larger calibers offer more angles for effective shots. Heavy bullets at moderate velocities perform well and don’t lead to blood-shot meat. The .45/70, .444 Marlin, .405 Winchester, .35 Remington, .358 Winchester and other so-called “woods” calibers have remained popular for good reason.

6.       Field dress and skin post-haste. The longer the internal organs remain in the body and the longer the skin remains on the carcass, the higher chance of spoilage.

7.       Butcher your own game. You’ll save money, control what you end up with, and ensure that everything is done correctly.  Better yet, you’ll learn a useful skill and take pride in your work.

8.       Keep and maintain a stable of knives. You’ll need them for gutting the animal, skinning, and butchery. Do some research and understand what blade profile is needed for each task.

9.       Learn to sharpen your own knives. A dull knife is not only ineffective, but dangerous.

10.   Hunt small game. Rifle season for deer often lasts no more than two weeks in many states. Hunting small game keeps your skills keen, offers a diversity of meat, and provides you with an opportunity to learn the land.

11.   Buy a gambrel and pulley. An elevated carcass is easier to inspect and process. Better yet, you’ll be able to hoist the animal out of reach of other predators which would gladly take it off of your hands.

12.   Age your meat. In cold weather (under 40-45 F daily high) you can hang an animal from days to weeks. This tenderizes the final product and improves the flavor.

13.   Share with others. Wild game is a truly exceptional gift. People will look upon you as a provider and will relish the delicacies that you share. However, wild game meat is not a commodity to be sold for both ethical and legal reasons.

14.   Become a wild game chef. It doesn’t take much to develop a repertoire of techniques and recipes that will delight the palate. Explore the historical literature and current trends. Even something as simple as cooking the perfect venison steak or duck breast in a cast iron skillet will wow your diners.

15.   Convert the non-believers. Many people think of wild game with disdain. It is the greatest of victories to convince them otherwise. Feeding 12 skeptical people Brunswick Stew made with squirrel was one of the highlights of 2016 for me.

16.   Go outside your comfort zone. In many animals, heart and liver are excellent fare. Likewise, non-traditional recipes may surprise you. I made a mincemeat pie from a practically medieval recipe that left me hungering for more this year.

17.   Think beyond burger. Many hunters gladly grind most of their harvest. There is nothing wrong with that, but whole muscle cuts offer better texture, less chance for contamination, and more culinary preparations.

18.   Be an advocate. Many people oppose hunting. Do your best to represent the way of life well, to conserve the resources, and to share your knowledge.

19.   Learn your herbs and spices. It is amazing what a dash of this and a dash of that can do to a cut. I personally adore freshly ground black pepper, rosemary, and juniper berries.

20.   Don’t get greedy. Wildlife are limited, though renewable resources. Big game hunting often becomes a bragging game and we should avoid that at all costs.

November Was Always the Best

Every day spent in the November woods is a gift. This is the essential truth of hunting in North America. Through most of the continent, November is the fullest realization of our sporting hopes and dreams. The whitetail rut comes on during this time and the tremble-inducing buck of a lifetime makes the rare decision to expose himself to mere mortals like myself. The fall migration of waterfowl also begins in earnest during this season and those endless V’s of Canada geese trumpet their way through the moonlit sky. Squirrels, sensing the imminent onslaught of winter, scurry hastily to put up the required store. There is no finer time to be alive. Robert Ruark, a man of inestimable literary talents far surpassing the humble sentiments that I jot down, put it succinctly with a chapter title in The Old Man and the Boy: November was Always the Best.

In Ruark’s exchange between the Old Man and the Boy, the Old man favors November because it reminds him of himself: slightly aged, but sensible enough, experienced, and not quite at the end of his rope. The Boy has more pragmatic sentiments about November:

“What’s your idea of November?”, he asked, his eyes half-closed. I wanted to tell him that it was mostly the opening of bird season, the Thanksgiving holidays, the persimmons wrinkled and ripe on the trees, when the weather was real nice, and it was hog-killing time in the country, and the punkins  looked yellow and jolly in the fields, and the sun set good and red, and a lot of other things; but I couldn’t manage to squeeze it all out because I had no way with words.   

Like the Boy, I can muster no better justification than to say it is the best because it is the season of the hunter. Yet, the profundity of November is much deeper than that. If I might, let me offer you a brief story about how November began for me this year.

Saturday, 5 November 2016. My wife was away to a distant friend’s baby shower and that left me alone at home with nothing but my own inclinations. If you have known me for any amount of time, you might guess these inclinations would involve boot-leather and a shotgun. You would be right. I splurged for breakfast, knowing that I would make a day of rambling, and anxiously waited in line for a Chick-fil-A spicy chicken biscuit. This is the proper way to start any adventure. I then buzzed over to a local public hunting area where I had been so many times before. Yet, I was disappointed to find that a truck was parked in the lot when I arrived. Undeterred, I decided to check a large oak where I had found a Hen of the Woods mushroom a few weeks past. Since I knew where the other hunter’s stand was (and his salt piles—tsk tsk!) I knew that the path to the oak would prevent any confrontations.

The tree had previously produced a 3 lb 11 oz hen. These mushrooms (Grifola frondosa) are the ultimate fungal delicacy. Thus, I was overjoyed to find not one—not two—but three hens on the same tree! I harvested the larger two and left the third to propagate more of the enticing gray-brown pored clusters. Another hour of hiking was essentially fruitless. I found neither mushroom nor quarry and decided to relocate.

A few miles down the road I had returned to a spot not visited since fall of 2015. Like the first location, I knew there were large oaks abounding on the property. Yet, despite the prime hen habitat I did not find a single tree that was dying or injured. This is essential for hen flushes. Disappointingly, I also noted the particular absence of game of any kind. Other than a few crows I had seen no animal activity. At this point, I had been walking for about three hours and had covered some serious ground. I stopped near the bend of a creekbed and rested on the grassy bank above. It was here that I decided to lay out my gear for some glamour shots. If I didn’t harvest any game at least I could look cool!

I watched small fishes surface in the creek for 20 minutes or more and then recalled that a green, grassy field border had held turkeys the year before. So, I once again grabbed my trusty 870 and made my way across the remaining soybean stubble. This was going to be my last hoorah before returning home for a nice cup of black tea. Little did I know that I minute I stepped upon the grassy veranda I would begin to hear footfalls in the timber to my right. I immediately went prone into the grass and listened. The sound very well could have been a squirrel, scuttling around in the carpet of oak leaves. But, there was a heaviness and a cadence to the shuffling that suggested something else. I fished a diaphragm call from the front pocket of my red-green Christmas flannel shirt and made three soft yelps: yawp, yawp, yawp. This was met by more leaf shuffling and then a calculated reply: yawp, yawp.

I couldn’t believe it. The perfect scenario, incalculably rare, had presented itself. I retreated ten yards back to the welcoming arms of an oversized cedar and wedged myself tight against the base. Yawp, yawp, yawp. This series of yelps was answered by not one bird, but many—I had stumbled onto an entire flock. We made small talk for five minutes or so when the sound of footsteps started to fade. This was a bad omen. Was the bird simply uninterested or had a made a calling error? I promised to slow my pace. Two minutes later I called again and the woods came alive with yelping to my right and purring from my left. I was surrounded by turkeys! The bird to my left sounded very close but despite my straining I just could not make it out. I yelped once more and saw a group of birds break cover on my right and enter into the green field. I clicked off my 12 gauge’s safety and began to mount the gun when I glanced left and saw that the lone bird had entered the field too.

My mental triage didn’t take long. The bird to the left was bulkier, full-plumaged, and appeared to be more mature. I could not discern any jakes or toms to the right and they all appeared to be smaller-bodied. I aligned the rifle-sights on my cylinder-bored barrel and let loose with 1 5/8 oz of No. 5 shot. The result was instantaneous and the bird was immediately grounded some 30 yards away.

All of sudden, my legs didn’t hurt and my lips didn’t feel quite as dry as they had. I leaped to the bird, made a quick coupe de grace, and rejoiced in knowing exactly what I was going to have for Thanksgiving dinner: roast eastern turkey with wild mushroom dressing! November was always the best.

Franklin's 13 Virtues: Timeless Wisdom Rediscovered

When we think about historical figures that were wise, there are a number of standouts. However, if we restrict this to only Americans, one man stands apart. Benjamin Franklin was a man of wit and common-sense. He remains the archetype of the Renaissance Man, someone multi-talented and multi-faceted.  His annual publication, Poor Richard’s Almanack served as a wealth of wisdom for 25 years, starting in 1732.

If much of Franklin’s wisdom sounds familiar, it is because it has permeated American society. In examining Franklin’s writings (especially the 13 Virtues elucidated in his biography) we find that his wisdom is based on scripture.  Franklin’s virtues, as writ, are God’s virtues. This doesn’t discredit Franklin in any way, but rather serves to lend credence to his claims. Christians know that God is the source of wisdom (Proverbs 2:6) and that all scripture has a purpose related to our education (II Timothy 3:16). Knowing this, we can place our faith in the value of the Word. This also gives us a fuller appreciation of Franklin’s virtues, included below with appropriate references to scripture:

1. Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

Scriptural basis – Proverbs 23:20-21
 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags

2. Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

Scriptural Basis – Proverbs 10:19

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

3. Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

Scriptural Basis – I Corinthians 14:33

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

4. Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

Scriptural Basis – I Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

5. Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.

Scriptural Basis – John 6:11-12

And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

6. Industry. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

Scriptural Basis – Colossians 3:23-24

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

7. Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

Scriptural Basis – Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

8. Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

Scriptural Basis – Leviticus 25:17

Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the Lord your God.


9. Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

Scriptural Basis – I Corinthians 6:12
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.

Scriptural Basis – Leviticus 15 (Entire Chapter)

11. Tranquillity. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

Scriptural Basis – John 14:1-2

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

12. Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.

Scriptural Basis – I Corinthians 6:18
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

13. Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Scriptural Basis – Ephesians 5:1-2
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

A Brand Plucked from the Fire

While camping last weekend I sat next to this towering fire and listened to a pack of not-so-distant coyotes wail in the stillness. Since this was a hunting trip I was heeled the whole time, but I nonetheless thought about how our ancestors would have dealt with coyotes—or larger canids—during a tense nighttime encounter. No doubt they wouldn’t have had the benefit of the glossy .44 revolver that I had strapped to my chest. No, I decided that they would have plucked a brand from the fire. In that moment I imagined it all as clear as day: man, tense with fear, wielding a flickering, smoldering haft of cottonwood against the moonlit sky.  Then, it struck me. Why did I immediately go to those words? Plucked a brand from the fire.

I brought this up to my hunting partner and remarked on the curiousness of how certain phrases from literature permanently burn themselves into our subconscious. I couldn’t recall where I had read plucked a brand from the fire, but I knew that it was poetic, evocative, and meaningful. He was loosely familiar with the phrase and managed to trace it to a verse of scripture:

Zechariah 3:2-3

And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

It was at that point that I knew that this was more than a mere poetic phrase excerpted from some bygone piece of literature, but rather a piece of the prophetic vision given to Zechariah and recorded somewhere between 520 – 518 B.C. Zechariah had several such prophetic visions and used these gifts to encourage the people of Israel to reinstate the priesthood and its traditions abandoned for over 70 years. Perhaps more relevant to us today, Zechariah also foretold the coming of, life of, crucifixion of, and return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

This is particularly apropos because just as Joshua was a brand plucked from the fire (i.e. a man saved from damnation by God and chosen for a purpose), today’s Christians share the same status. Jesus saved us from sin (Ephesians 2), prevented us from suffering eternal damnation in hellfire (Revelation 20:15), and allowed God’s purpose to be worked in us (Philippians 2:13). Even if we view our lives as failures or inevitably doomed because of our previous sins, the reality is that the acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Savior is tantamount to literally being pulled from an all-consuming fire.

Just as Jesus overcame the grave (snatching victory from the jaws of death), He also overcame our deaths by his sacrifice. Let me be the first to tell you, I was a brand plucked from the fire. If you are not, you can be too. Nothing that you have done in your life is too much for Jesus to overcome (I Corinthians 15).

An Earth-Shattering Dove Hunt

Dove hunters afield in Oklahoma during the season’s opening weekend got more than they bargained for—

Few hunting experiences can match the frantic fervor of wingshooting mourning dove on opening weekend. The sportsman goes from composed to desperately shoving shells into an empty gun in just a matter of seconds. On a good day, this continues until the bag is filled and it is time to gather around the tailgate to pluck birds. Such was the case this year as I welcomed the coming of fall with the celebratory dove hunt with my parents.

In typical fashion we hunted a small combined cornfield where the doves would feed in the morning and early evening. Early season scouting had revealed a good number of doves loafing on the power-lines adjacent to the field and the county road. These doves would fly down to the field to feed and to drink from the small pond on the premises. It was the perfect setup. When we arrived early on Saturday, September 3^rd 2016 it was plain that the day would be bountiful. Barely had the sun risen when the birds started filtering into the field. I situated myself against a large oak that stood stalwart as the only major tree in the field. Fortunately, the tree was also positioned by the property’s watering hole. The birds were buzzing by and my dad had already taken a brace by 7:02 A.M. It was at this point that I looked over my shoulder to see his shotgunnery when I noted a pair of doves on the power-lines spanning the uncut corn. While watching these birds perch mockingly, I was suddenly made aware of the rumble of a distant locomotive.

This was peculiar. Although I often heard trains passing through the nearest town in dead quiet nights I had never noted the sound during the day. What sounded initially like a coal engine was quickly identified once my oak tree backdrop began creaking and my stool suddenly felt unstable. An earthquake! The event had me partially dumbstruck. I could hear my dad yelling in increasing tenor from across the field. “Can you feel it? Can you feel it!?” as the  earth pitched and rolled like a galley on dangerous seas. Though there was no real danger (at least not for us), the experience was quite disconcerting. What struck me most, though, was the little pond. Although I was unable to put together the facts of the situation at the time, the earthquake was causing some minor phenomena in the water.  Glancing at its surface I was puzzled to see a steady stream of bubbles gurgling up to the top. Near the center there was a 2 ft. diameter circle where the disturbance was marked.

The whole shaking episode seemed to last at least two minutes. Yet, who can trust their own perception in a time like that? I didn’t keep track of time but it was definitely one of the longest earthquakes that I have felt and there have been a lot of them in Oklahoma in recent years. We finished out the hunt without further drama. Despite my lack of practice, I managed to down and recover 13 birds. This was a great opportunity to try out a recipe that I had been eyeing, Doves a la Mancha. I got plenty of odd looks at home when I insisted that we fully pluck the birds instead of just removing the breasts. However, once I grilled them per Chef Hank Shaw’s recommendation, those reservations completely disappeared. Our family now agrees that Doves a la Mancha is the go-to recipe whenever we harvest a member of the Columbidae family.

Although all dove openers are memorable, this year’s story stands out. The mental Polaroids of perfect shots and the taste of fine dishes will fade. Can we say the same about the earthquakes? As sportsmen-conservationists (those two are inseparable) we are called to be stewards of the land. Each one of us knows that we should pick up our shotshells, to abide the law, and to protect the landscapes that provide us with cherished recreation and sustenance. Yet, it seems like many of us are all-too-willing to disavow the accepted science and insist that potentially dangerous wastewater disposal practices are continued. In Oklahoma, the petroleum industry is the economy. Sure, we have a strong and respected tradition of agriculture. Yet, the threshold for entry into agricultural practices gets higher every year. Folks that can’t afford arable acreages and expensive farm equipment become agricultural laborers (for low pay) or they go to the oil field (for increasingly low pay).

What we don’t do is bite the hand that feeds us.  The petroleum industry in Oklahoma puts food on the table and is undoubtedly a major political powerhouse. How then, do we promote environmental stewardship and public safety? More bluntly, how do end the fracking earthquakes (as one of my old emergency management professors calls them)? The first step has to be education. Oklahomans are intrinsically skeptical of regulation. They will not abide restrictions on wastewater injection any more than they would abide restrictions on firearms ownership.  Yet, wastewater injection wells will not be voluntarily relinquished. The only way for any regulation to be viable is for it to be sufficiently limited in scope (i.e. limitation of injection well depth, not a blanket ban) and for its value to be understood by the public.

 

In order such changes to be publically viable the issue has to be salient. Given that the September 3^rd 2016 Pawnee earthquake was the largest in recorded history in Oklahoma (5.8 MM) then it is likely that the issue is salient. This salience creates a policy window or mitigation window when the public is willing to accept change. This means that policymakers have to act rapidly to involve stakeholders, communicate messages, and garner support. Otherwise, they may have to wait until the next man-made earthquake strikes Oklahoma. How large will that one be?