Hunters take aim this bow season

BY JESSIE SCHMAC Schmacj@marietta.edu Early Saturday morning, while many were still asleep and an hour before daylight, Ohio bow hunters were already poised in their tree stands. They waited in those country woods away from the noise and distractions of the cities, camouflaged and “Scent Loked” from their rubber boots to their headcovers. Silent and unmoving, anticipating the profile of that trophy whitetail buck deer in the peep sight of their bow.

There is a culture around hunting, and that culture now lies within the city of Marietta. Some hunters don’t need to drive 40 minutes to 90 acres of land to hunt on. 2005 marks the first year that bow hunters can hunt deer within Marietta city limits.

No, there will not be broadheads whirling passed children as they play in the park. Nor will a hunter be in a ground blind in the middle of Parson’s field. Ordinance 201, section one issued by the city of Marietta in accordance with the state of Ohio, outlines the rules and regulations.

The biggest and most limiting factor for hunters to hunt within city limits is the “proof of combined single limit personal injury and property damage insurance in the minimum amount of one million dollars” states section 1D of the ordinance. Hunters also must provide proof of completion of an Ohio Hunter Education Course and National Bowhunter Education Course.

Bow hunting education courses were held in early September by the Washington Soil & Water Conservation District Office. These courses were provided for any hunters who had not taken any previous education courses in bow hunting. While hunting, hunters must carry with them their City of Marietta Bow Hunting permit card, hunting license, deer tags, and written permission from a landowner on whose land they will be hunting on.

“We have had roughly 38 people sign up for the course,” says Rebecca Moore with the Washington Soil & Water Conservation district office. “Those who have already passed testing and met all the requirements, have already been out scouting deer, but none have been harvested yet.”

Students won’t see any hunters with orange hats crouched next to trees in DU field, aiming a bow at a deer while they are making their way to class. According to section 15 and 6 of the ordinance, hunting is only allowed on at least four acres of adjacent property that is not within 250 feet of any occupied structure. Hunting within Marietta city limits was decided by city officials, the Washington Soil and Water Conservation District Office and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. The hope in this decision is to control the increasingly dangerous overpopulation of deer. Officials are quite positive about the new limited bow hunt within Marietta. “I look forward to a successful hunting season and fewer deer problems within our city limits,” says Mayor Michael Mullen.

There is more than just the benefit of population control in offering limited bow hunting within Marietta. According to a press release from the city of Marietta, Warren & Sons Processing has offered to process any unwanted venison and donate it to the Community Food Pantry. This hunting culture extends well beyond Marietta city limits and well beyond Ohio. This culture thrives all over the world, and has lived for centuries. Modern day hunters have traded in their sticks and twine for stateoftheart bows and crossbows. “I’m going into this bow season with a twelve hundred dollar Matthews' Switchback,” says Karl Bierman, Junior at Marietta College and avid outdoorsman.

Joey Baker, a junior at Marietta College, purchased all new Scent Lok realtree hardwood HD camo pants, jacket, boots, gloves, and headcover. He doused all his new apparel in scent cover which eliminates human odor and covers it with the scent of dirt and leaves.

Other hunters douse themselves in doe urine to attract deer rather than merely blend in with the natural smells of the hunting grounds. The urine scent may attract quite a few deer, but it’s strong, pungent odor is no savory smell to anyone within 25 feet.

Hunting is not just about the thrill of the kill. Hunters know there is a science to to the game. “Sure, a lot of hunting is about blending in, staying quiet, and having the patience to sit in a tree stand for hours,” says Baker, “But most of hunting is about location.”

Joey Baker and fellow classmate and hunter Timmy Neil, spent weeks before the season setting up their tree stands in just the right locations by scouting deer at dusk and finding out where they bedded down, ate, and frequented.

The culture that surrounds hunting is in its season, and will continue until January 31st. Whether they’re in their tree stands in the middle of head high brush, or in a portable tree stand on a five acre stretch of land within the city of Marietta, the year is just beginning for Ohio bow hunters.

For the next four months hunters will be in their own element, speaking their own language, conversing with the deer through rattling, grunts and bleats, layering on their traditional camo garb, and spending countless hours in sheer anticipation without a sound, waiting for that