The Cheney Hunting Accident: A Texan's view of the so-called "Texas hunting protocol"

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Doug Pike is a Field & Stream contributing editor who covers the outdoors for the Houston Chronicle. Here's what he has to say about reports suggesting that bird hunters in Texas follow different gun safety rules than bird hunters anywhere else.

by Doug Pike

Upland bird hunters everywhere knew exactly what had happened when word spread this past weekend that Vice President ####### Cheney shot a quail-hunting companion in South Texas, but some media reports made it sound as if the victim were to blame.

A quail flushed. Vice President Cheney swung his 28-gauge shotgun on the bird and tugged the trigger. His 78-year-old buddy, Austin attorney Harry Whittington, took a piece of the shot string in the upper body and face. Luckily, they were about 30 yards apart, far enough that pinhead-sized quail shot did minimal damage.

Reports from the owner of the ranch where the VP was hunting that Whittington violated some sort of ``Texas protocol'' requiring hunters to make formal announcement of their comings and goings in the field were a bit misleading. Everywhere that upland birds are hunted, the drill is pretty much the same. It makes sense to let other hunters know when you're moving to the left or right, or that you're back after visiting a nearby tree, but there's no requirement to do so. The onus is on everyone who carries a gun not to shoot at anyone else.

Cheney shot another hunter. Sooner better than later, he should own up to his mistake.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/fieldstream/...1159375,00.html

[Sister Fracas 5]

Yeah, I heard the same thing on TV from some other Texas hunter...they'd never heard of this supposed protocol thing.....

[almaty 19]

i hunted when younger.. they were a bunch of rednecks..and i damn made certain where i was at...

[Sister Fracas 5]

i hunted when younger.. they were a bunch of rednecks..and i damn made certain where i was at...

But isn't it also the responsibility of hunters to make sure they know what they are shooting at...???? Sounds to me like he wasn't paying attention...

[rclouse 0]

The Daily Show, Feb 13 2006: Dead-Eye #######.

It's gold, Jerry, GOLD!

[Satisfaction 1]

Perhaps no one expects politicians to have non-political accidents...

(was Harry Whittington dressed as a giant quail when Cheney potted him? )

[almaty 19]

Perhaps no one expects politicians to have non-political accidents...

(was Harry Whittington dressed as a giant quail when Cheney potted him? )

no a turkey..wait a minute, he was a lawyer..he is always a turkey

[Peter Miami 0]

What is Quail any ways?

[almaty 19]

What is Quail any ways?

a small bird..about the size of a dove...likes to hang around on the ground....

[Jasman0717 9]

i hunted when younger.. they were a bunch of rednecks..and i damn made certain where i was at...

I hunted when I was younger too but quickly gave it up when I saw how crazy people got with loaded weapons!

[Scott & Lai 12]

I'd still rather go hunting with ####### Cheney than driving with Ted (hic!) Kennedy

[rebeccajo 14]

i hunted when younger.. they were a bunch of rednecks..and i damn made certain where i was at...

I hunted when I was younger too but quickly gave it up when I saw how crazy people got with loaded weapons!

...or how loaded people get crazy with weapons.....

[Sister Fracas 5]

I'd still rather go hunting with ####### Cheney than driving with Ted (hic!) Kennedy

I love how the Cheney fans can't stay on topic...gotta bring up ted Kennedy...

[*Robert* 2]

What is Quail any ways?

Funny... Quail is a former VP, and the current VP was hunting quail!