The stink of caribou...

Disclaimer: This post is not commentary on the current political climate in America or my personal feelings on Sarah Palin.

Yes, I watch Sarah Palin's Alaska. I am fascinated by Alaska and for sh!ts and giggles I plan my dream vacation there in my spare time. In this week's episode, Palin and her father hunt for caribou in the northern most part of the state. As you can imagine, the internet has been ablaze with anti-hunting comments regarding the episode. I have no problem with hunting, I feel it is a necessity to keep wildlife populations in check, especially in my area where whitetail deer have no natural enemies unless you count the front bumper of my pickup truck. My husband and I hunt, our children will hunt, and hopefully their children will hunt. Every fall we fill our freezer with meat and eat every bit we put in there.

With all that said, I was appalled by this week's episode of Sarah Palin's Alaska. Not because they were hunting, but because of Palin's obvious lack of hunting experience. Supposedly she's been hunting for over 20 years, but here are some things that make me question that:

1. She goes into noted bear country to hunt caribou without her own gun.


2. When a caribou is spotted and within range, she asks her father if the rifle kicks.


3. She doesn't cycle the bolt herself after each missed shot.


4. When handed a new gun and told the safety is off, she immediately puts her finger on the trigger before getting set.


5. She didn't field dress the kill herself.

I know, I know, some of this could be due to editing. But the fact that Palin has stated she has final say in what is shown, I find it far more likely that editing was done to make it appear she shot the cow herself. I have no problem with novice hunters, but even the most green hunter should know basic firearm safety. I think most viewers would have found it much more endearing if she had admitted this was one of her first hunts.