AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 • NEBRASKAland 5
Bruce Thiel of Lincoln sent in this photo of Mayberry Wildlife Management Area
just east of Burchard.
Casey J. Koltz photographed this dragonfly on the Upper Dugout Creek north of
Bridgeport.
Tiara Kush of Omaha took this photo at Standing Bear Lake in June "after an ugly
line of storms passed through the area."
An Open Letter to Hunting
By Erin Diegel
I am a single mom of three
children, enjoy everything
outdoors, and before 2014, had
never given hunting a second
thought. I had never used a bow,
never shot a gun, and I even went
14 years without eating meat.
I remember it like it was
yesterday. I was on my first ever
online date with a guy named
Eric, and he spoke the words "I
am a bowhunter." I immediately
flinched. Unsure and completely
raw, I agreed to exchange some
golf lessons for some shooting
lessons. What was this hunting
stuff all about?
Little did I know at the time, but
my life changed forever. Big game
draw deadlines, land access, Pope
and Young, bugling, books about
elk and deer, the rut, date nights
with Eric to Cabela's, tree stands,
rangefinders, grunt calls, bows,
arrows, 3D targets, fletchings,
guns, bullets, .243's, shotguns,
and camo – so, so much camo.
After 18 months, three arrows,
two bullets and a lot of hard work,
I wish to express my gratitude to
the hunting industry and what it
stands for. I have said goodbye to
the city girl vegetarian, and hello
to a new way of life.
Thank you hunting for
educating me.
Ti K h f O h t k thi h t t St di B L k i J " ft l
