F
Field Ethos
Guest
By Edgar Castillo
It is widely acknowledged that those individuals who are running for or in public office are held to much higher standards, but on occasion do make mistakes. These lapses can range from significant political blunders to minor errors that cause embarrassment such as misidentifying the wrong bird during a hunt. Oops.
It’s Thursday, September 1, 1994, about 30 minutes before legal shooting light. Both Democratic Governor Ann Richards and her Republican gubernatorial opponent, George W. Bush, are in rural East Texas at separate locations. Each has an entourage of friends, business and political backers, and media on their heels. Reporters and photographers are there to capture each candidate’s publicity event during the state’s annual dove opener.
At about 6 a.m., Bush, who is at a privately leased dove field near the town of Hockley, Texas, takes up a position along a tree line and waits for birds to arrive. The temperature that morning is a balmy 76 degrees and is set to climb into the 90s. The eldest son of former President George H.W. Bush, he has done this many times before with his father, as both often hunted quail, ducks, pheasants, and doves together. Bush’s casual sporting attire of blue jeans, cowboy boots, a trucker’s hat, and a khaki-colored shirt and matching tan bird vest with well-won blood stains is further evidence of his experience afield. Or one would think. For some reason, Bush is using a borrowed over-under 20-gauge shotgun, possibly a Ruger Red Label.
Milling about are spectators and media paparazzi. At Bush’s side is a hunting guide from a local outfitter. Within minutes, doves start whizzing overhead. After the seventh shot rings out, the guide directs Bush to “Shoot!” at a flock of birds flying by. At precisely 6:15 a.m., Bush obliges and brings down one bird, which is quickly retrieved. The bird is not yet dead in his hand, and Bush dispatches it and gives it to the guide who puts the bird away in a gamebag. A nearby Houston TV reporter who was filming the hunt asks the guide to check the bird. Upon examination, it is confirmed that it is not a dove, but a killdeer, a federally protected bird illegal to hunt, kill, or possess.
Like a Texas wildfire, murmurs ignite and snickering spreads throughout the dove hunt. Word of the hunting fiasco soon reaches Governor Richards, who is 200 miles north, about Bush’s botched dove hunt. It is released through her staff that a real Texan would never have committed such a gaffe. Killdeer have distinctive white markings and fly in a different pattern than doves. Experienced bird hunters should be able to properly identify the difference and not confuse the two. A spokesperson says, “It’s like not knowing what a bagel is in New York City.” Richards’ dove hunt continues, but no doves are seen. She doesn’t waste the opportunity for some exposure and puts on a show by shooting into the air while pictures are taken.
Back in Hockley, Bush immediately admits his error, “I thought it was a dove.” He tells the media, “I’ve spoken to a game warden. He’s going to write a citation, and I will pay the fine. I thought it was a dove. I made a mistake and I’m going to pay for it.” Staffers are sent to appear before the local judge to declare his guilt. Punishable by a fine of $25 to $500, Bush is ordered to pay $130. He tells reporters that he will mail the court a money order or cashier’s check. One of Bush’s campaign advisors is quick to redirect the blame to the guide, who was pointing out birds to the soon-to-be governor. By the next morning, Bush’s slip in misidentifying the killdeer has become news fodder. Newspapers carry headlines and cartoons mocking Bush. The story eventually blows over.
Almost eight years later to a tee, Bush finds himself involved in another minor dove hunting predicament. On August 13, 2002, while at his ranch outside of Crawford, Texas — the Commander in Chief is asked about his activities while on vacation. Bush responds by saying, “I was thinking about, among other things, hunting doves on an afternoon last week.”
The media being able to spot misconduct like no other entity informs President Bush that dove season doesn’t begin for almost three weeks, on September 1st. Once again, Bush inadvertently finds himself in the spotlight. His extended stay ends abruptly soon afterwards. Later, with some quick thinking, the White House clarifies that there had been a misunderstanding, “What the president was talking about is what he enjoys doing when he’s at the ranch. During dove season, he sometimes will go out and hunt dove.” The AP refuses to budge on their reporting.
The moral of the story is that if you’re running for a political position and/or the president of the United States, take some time to educate yourself with the proper identification of legal game birds, and be weary of journalists asking questions about your hunting habits.
The post Wrong Bird in the Hand appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...
It is widely acknowledged that those individuals who are running for or in public office are held to much higher standards, but on occasion do make mistakes. These lapses can range from significant political blunders to minor errors that cause embarrassment such as misidentifying the wrong bird during a hunt. Oops.
It’s Thursday, September 1, 1994, about 30 minutes before legal shooting light. Both Democratic Governor Ann Richards and her Republican gubernatorial opponent, George W. Bush, are in rural East Texas at separate locations. Each has an entourage of friends, business and political backers, and media on their heels. Reporters and photographers are there to capture each candidate’s publicity event during the state’s annual dove opener.
At about 6 a.m., Bush, who is at a privately leased dove field near the town of Hockley, Texas, takes up a position along a tree line and waits for birds to arrive. The temperature that morning is a balmy 76 degrees and is set to climb into the 90s. The eldest son of former President George H.W. Bush, he has done this many times before with his father, as both often hunted quail, ducks, pheasants, and doves together. Bush’s casual sporting attire of blue jeans, cowboy boots, a trucker’s hat, and a khaki-colored shirt and matching tan bird vest with well-won blood stains is further evidence of his experience afield. Or one would think. For some reason, Bush is using a borrowed over-under 20-gauge shotgun, possibly a Ruger Red Label.
Killdeer a Killjoy
Milling about are spectators and media paparazzi. At Bush’s side is a hunting guide from a local outfitter. Within minutes, doves start whizzing overhead. After the seventh shot rings out, the guide directs Bush to “Shoot!” at a flock of birds flying by. At precisely 6:15 a.m., Bush obliges and brings down one bird, which is quickly retrieved. The bird is not yet dead in his hand, and Bush dispatches it and gives it to the guide who puts the bird away in a gamebag. A nearby Houston TV reporter who was filming the hunt asks the guide to check the bird. Upon examination, it is confirmed that it is not a dove, but a killdeer, a federally protected bird illegal to hunt, kill, or possess.
Like a Texas wildfire, murmurs ignite and snickering spreads throughout the dove hunt. Word of the hunting fiasco soon reaches Governor Richards, who is 200 miles north, about Bush’s botched dove hunt. It is released through her staff that a real Texan would never have committed such a gaffe. Killdeer have distinctive white markings and fly in a different pattern than doves. Experienced bird hunters should be able to properly identify the difference and not confuse the two. A spokesperson says, “It’s like not knowing what a bagel is in New York City.” Richards’ dove hunt continues, but no doves are seen. She doesn’t waste the opportunity for some exposure and puts on a show by shooting into the air while pictures are taken.
Back in Hockley, Bush immediately admits his error, “I thought it was a dove.” He tells the media, “I’ve spoken to a game warden. He’s going to write a citation, and I will pay the fine. I thought it was a dove. I made a mistake and I’m going to pay for it.” Staffers are sent to appear before the local judge to declare his guilt. Punishable by a fine of $25 to $500, Bush is ordered to pay $130. He tells reporters that he will mail the court a money order or cashier’s check. One of Bush’s campaign advisors is quick to redirect the blame to the guide, who was pointing out birds to the soon-to-be governor. By the next morning, Bush’s slip in misidentifying the killdeer has become news fodder. Newspapers carry headlines and cartoons mocking Bush. The story eventually blows over.
#2 in the Bush
Almost eight years later to a tee, Bush finds himself involved in another minor dove hunting predicament. On August 13, 2002, while at his ranch outside of Crawford, Texas — the Commander in Chief is asked about his activities while on vacation. Bush responds by saying, “I was thinking about, among other things, hunting doves on an afternoon last week.”
The media being able to spot misconduct like no other entity informs President Bush that dove season doesn’t begin for almost three weeks, on September 1st. Once again, Bush inadvertently finds himself in the spotlight. His extended stay ends abruptly soon afterwards. Later, with some quick thinking, the White House clarifies that there had been a misunderstanding, “What the president was talking about is what he enjoys doing when he’s at the ranch. During dove season, he sometimes will go out and hunt dove.” The AP refuses to budge on their reporting.
The moral of the story is that if you’re running for a political position and/or the president of the United States, take some time to educate yourself with the proper identification of legal game birds, and be weary of journalists asking questions about your hunting habits.
The post Wrong Bird in the Hand appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...