Why torture the bears, and readers?

I retrieved my copy of The State from the driveway on Nov. 2, unfolded it, and thought I had picked up Field & Stream by mistake, because on the front page was a huge picture of a bear corpse hanging by its feet next to a grinning character taking pride in his gruesome handiwork. The article said he “plans to mount the animal’s head and arms (arms?) in his home to remember the adventure.”

Charming.

And on page 6A was another bear, this one lying on the ground and looking into the camera with its dead eyes, surrounded by hunters who had, according to the caption, “harvested” it. Like it was wheat or okra.

I’ll never understand why some people think it’s fun to invade the home of a creature who is minding its own business and make it suffer and die. But as long as they do, I think their deeds should at least not be glorified in a general-circulation newspaper. As for me, I’m making a donation to the Committee to Abolish Sport Hunting, PO Box 562, New Paltz, NY, 12561-0562.