[Jeff Higgins]

I've had exactly one run-in with the PETA crowd in my lifetime. My oldest son was about five, we had a new dog, and we were heading out pheasant hunting at a local release site. My son just wanted to tag along to keep me company and watch.

Here in Western Washington, ground nesting birds simply do not survive our wet falls and winters. As a result, the only way to "hunt" (and I use that term very loosely) them around here is to hunt the Game Department's release sites, where they release farm raised birds. Good stuff for a new dog and a little kid.

They do not allow access to the sites before either 7:00 or 8:00 am. All of the hunters mill around in front of the gate and b.s. while waiting for it to open. Great place for PETA ass holes to come and harass the maximum number of hunters with the least effort expended. That's what they were doing this morning, with their obligatory news camera crews in tow.

When it was time to hunt, the PETA putzes lined up at the gate (more like just a chain across the road) and attempted to block our passage. That's about when the ranger pulled in. Just in time to see one of the PETA guys grab my kid in an effort to not let him past. And, therefore, just in time to see me break his jaw and knock all of his front teeth out with the comb of my shotgun stock. By the time the ranger got there, I had my three shells in the gun (one chambered and two in the magazine) and the muzzle about a foot from this bastard's head, as he lay sprawled on the ground. Everyone else was loading their shotguns, too.

Of course the other PETA morons were all screaming and raising hell about me. The ranger then said (in a very loud voice addressing the PETA folks) something like "every last god damn one of you - spread eagle on the ground, face down - NOW!!!" He then told the hunters to cover them (there were about seven or eight protestors, and about twice that many hunters).

When enough back-up arrived to properly handle the protestors, they quietly rounded them up and carted them off. "Mine" in an aid unit. The rangers and deputies got all of the hunters' names, then demanded the film that was shot. He said "my" guy would be charged with assault, and the rest with criminal interference of a lawful hunt. Not sure what ever became of it; I was never contacted. Oh well - I think I got my point across.