Bear

O.K. so for those of you who do not know me I live in a remote area of North Eastern Washington. I live on a mountain overlooking a valley. It is amazing. We do not have grass because I literally have a house the sets on the edge so there is really no room for grass. I am south of the Canadian border about 15 miles and about 80 miles from the nearest Wal-Mart.

We have abundant wildlife and great seasons. With this said I have to tell you what happened today while sat down to get my homework completed, I got the a good old soul jarring fright. It took me about an hour to settle myself to get focused on my assignment. I have to say we have had our share of gun shootings in the rural area lately. In fact yesterday we had a hunter killed 30 miles west of me.

Anyway, I heard a gunshot and I felt like it was coming from below the deck of my home. I look out the window and I see cows everywhere. (We don't have cows, but it is open range here.) There was a truck parked in the county road with the passenger side car door open. Now, I own both sides of the road and I am thinking this guy hit a cow and is just putting it out of his misery. I watched from the window of my home with binoculars for about 5 minutes thinking he would just move on. When he didn't I decided I would head down and see what was going on or if I could help. I don't know what I was thinking. I didn't bring a weapon, only my cell phone. 

When I get down to road where he was at, I notice he was moved and turning to leave the area. I thought you are not going to kill a cow and leave it on my property to deal with the authorities. I am not buying a cow I didn't kill. I pulled up to get his license plate number and before I realized it I blocked his truck and  had gotten out of the car and confronted this man. I asked him what he was doing and his reply was I saw a bear.  He reported that he wasn't hunting, but his partner got out and shot at the bear. I then reminded him he was on country road and shooting on private property. He had the nerve to tell he had the owner’s permission. I said. I kind of doubt that because I was the owner. At this point I realized I was all alone and only armed with my cell phone. I was wondering where the person with the gun was at and had I made a grave mistake. 

I informed the man that he best be on his way and that he doesn't have permission to hunt either side of the road. 

I called my husband as the man drove away and gave him the license plate number in case there was a problem later and we needed to contact someone.  I came up to the house and proceeded to distress when I heard a truck come up the drive way.  When it gets up to the house, the passenger pops out and says hello Mrs. Odell, and low and behold it was the young man who house sites for us. He apologized to me and said he would call next time. Oh, the life and times of city folks trying to live on a mountain.