Welcome to the Snake River Hunting Club (SRHC).  Every member of the SRHC have one thing in common, I knew each of them first.  This is mainly a result of being stationed with them at some point in the Navy.  John Keizer and I met on the USS Cochrane DDG -21, Don and I during shore duty at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Mike and I while working staff jobs in Everett.  What’s the most frightening thing one does in life?  I say it’s inviting a group of virtual strangers to hunting camp? Somehow this has managed to work well for us over the course of many years while being alot of fun to boot.  The core group of Don, Mike and I (John always finds an excuse not to show up) have been at it now for 13 plus years.  From our “rustic” tent camps to campers and finally today’s comfortable fifth wheels.  

An important issue of mine is the promotion of safe and ethical hunting practices. During the coming months I will be pursuing my Master Hunter Certification.  My experiences during this process will be material for my upcoming blogs.  It’s my personal feeling that this program makes a statement about hunters respecting the rights of property owners and the laws governing the animals they choose to pursue.  I recall my first hunting trips with dad in the mid 1960’s. Hunters took time to stop and talk to each other, exchanged reports of animal sightings and just passed the time of day. Once permission was given to hunt on private property you followed the rules of the land owner. In recent years I have seen a decline in hunting etiquette and of the manners that I learned growing up.  The results of this decline can be clearly seen in the loss of growing numbers acres which have been closed to hunters. So please join me and the rest of the fellows as I pursue my goal of becoming a Master Hunter.

Maybe somewhere along the way we’ll figure out why they call me the “Big Hairy One”.

Steve