what’s a father to do?

north-central montana is home to what we call here "gophers." technically, they are known as "richardson's ground squirrel;" they look exactly like prairie dogs but are about 1/2 their size, maybe a little smaller. they tend to eat the normal prairie herbivore fare plus their own dead and i imagine any other carrion they come across. like all rodents, i am sure there is a potential for many vermin-borne illnesses.

my boys and i grabbed our .22s and went hunting for these yesterday for an hour or so. we shot a few, but they all fell or crawled back down into their holes except one. i had shot it in the front shoulders across the top of the spine. i was going to shoot it again, but my oldest son started yelling no dad! you're ruin the pelt! i looked over at him like he was on drugs or something, but sure enough, a moment later when it stopped doing the headless-chicken dance, my boy runs up and carefully picks it up with plastic and puts it in a plastic bag, careful not to actually touch it.

at first i told him there was no way in hell he was going to eat the thing or even bring it home, but he said he had no intention of doing that and even got a little ticked that i thought he was going to do that. he said that he just wanted to skin it.

before i could tell him what i thought about this, he explained. evidently, he'd done this a few times last year and made (you're not going to believe this) gopher-skin wallets for his friends, which i have decided must be about as dumb as kids come. these kids give him 10$ for each wallet.

what could i do? it's stupid as wiping before you poop, but at the same time, there seems to be a market for it around here and my boy is making a little off it. hardly seemed right to discourage him from it, even though it seems about as disgusting and ridiculous as can be. he's taking all the precautions not to get any infection, so what can a dad do excecpt be glad that his son isn't actually BUYING the damn things?

Taz;

Never discourage entrepenourship, that boy's millions may be your salvation 40 years from now.  Just try to make sure he turns out a decent product.  Get him some education in cost/benefits & turn him loose.

 900F

Ron

Sad as it might be, and I'm a dad also. I read a articule in I believe Varmit Hunter a few years back. The gist of it was that the pluege is making a comeback, and it aint jolly old England. It's here and it's in our P dog and gopher towns. The peice advised on not taking undue chances when out hunting these fun little targets. And do not pick them up!

I will see if I can find it. Man that had to be 10 years ago I read that. Will see what I can find

MM

There is a rabbit fever, toluene (sp), but I believe it's in hot country.

Tularemia