Gone are the days when Native Americans gracefully hunted through the plains of North America, bow and arrow in hand, bare feet lightly treading the ground. It was about food. It was about warm hides for the winter. It was about survival.

Now, like nearly everything else in today’s world, it’s become complicated. Hunting can be about the connection to nature and the art of skillfully tracking an animal. It can also involve big guns and mounted heads. Some hunt to eat, some hunt for sport, and some do both. Whatever the reason, there are some who abuse the rules of hunting. When it involves animals – and one of our most primal, ancient forms of interacting with animals – it is particularly sad when we misuse our power.

Hunting with high powered rifles, such as the kind used in mid-November here on Orcas, is illegal in the state of Washington. In San Juan County, it is only legal to hunt with a shotgun (slugs or buckshot), muzzle loader, or bow and arrow. Hunting on private land is also against the law without written permission from the landowner.

While it may not be illegal to leave wounded animals to die a slow death, as the hunters allegedly did on Orcas, it is most definitely not within the ethics of proper hunting. A true hunter is appreciative and mindful of the animal he or she is pursuing. It’s a gift from the earth.

Has the time come to outlaw or limit hunting in the San Juans? With our ever-growing population and a finite amount of land available to us, the actual space needed to hunt safely is becoming hazardously small.

Many of the Orcas residents quoted in last week’s Sounder say they’ve heard gunshots close to their homes. What conversation would we all be having right now if a five-year-old was struck and killed by a wayward bullet?

According to Laura Leschner, regional director for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, San Juan County has a long history with deer hunting. At one point, hunting was banned. The deer population began dying from diseases, and the WDFW decided that the only way to control the overpopulation was by allowing recreational hunting.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission sets the rules for our state but each county can designate no shooting areas. Leschner noted that there has been a rise in Washington of people mishandling firearms, resulting in shooting of trees and damage to private property. Designating more areas in San Juan County as off-limits to hunters may help reduce the potential danger for citizens.

In addition, regulation and supervision is particularly important in the San Juans because a good number of those hunting in this area are from the mainland. These hunters are likely to be unaware of the topography and density of the islands.

A possible solution is for WDFW to designate and supervise areas on private land for hunting. WDFW initiated a similar program on Shaw Island, but it was recently dropped due to lack of funding. Leschner encouraged locals who are interested in the idea to call WDFW.

Hunting has a time and a place. Let’s not allow one person’s negligence to ruin it for everyone else. But let this be a reminder that hunting has the potential to kill innocent passersby. We would be wise to take steps to prevent such a tragedy.

NOTE: If you hear or see any illegal hunting, please call the Washington State Patrol at (360) 596-4000 or the Department of Fish and Wildlife at 1-877 933-9847. If possible, try to obtain a license plate number, the location of where the shots were fired, and an ID of the person (details of clothing, gender, etc).