Douglas S. Beck, CPRP

Recreation Superintendent

Auburn Parks and Recreation Department 

As a certified Maine hunter safety instructor for close to 20 years I have helped teach hundreds of hopeful hunters the basics of hunter safety. Among the required topics: proper handling of firearms, survival, first aid, map and compass, hunter responsibility and landowner relations; the last two, in my estimation, are the most important as they relate to hunter ethics.

Hunters take to the field in small numbers or absolute solitude often well out of sight of any observers. Here the hunter has only his / her own sense of right and wrong as a guide. As we teach in the class, there are laws that must be obeyed during the hunt, but they will also face situations not bound by law where they will have to make an ethical decision.

Maine has a great tradition of public access to private land. Legally, a hunter can traverse property that is not posted without issue. Ethically, the hunter is well served to contact that landowner and get permission to hunt on that property. It is not illegal to be a poor shot, but it is irresponsible and unethical. The ethical hunter dedicates the time necessary at the range before every season to become a good shot, to assure a clean kill. It is not illegal to take the bag limit every time the hunter goes afield, but the ethical hunter takes only what will be used, and uses everything they take. The ethical hunter insists that their peers practice all elements of responsible hunting, takes action to correct unsafe behavior and reports serious infractions when observed. Finally, the ethical hunter understands his/her role as part of a tradition of conservation unique to this country and supports efforts and organizations that further this cause.

We hunters are a minority in this democratic society. The privilege to pursue our passion to hunt is subject to the opinions of the majority who do not hunt. We must maintain the highest standards and work to assure the general public that we can be trusted with this privilege. Developing and practicing a strong hunter’s ethic is the key.