Geoffrey the Gay Huntsman
Waterfowl
Upland
Big Game
Gundogs
Conservation
Shooting
Videos
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Duck hunting
Gunning for goldeneyes on the Tay River in November, 2011.
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My beloved Juno
Portrait of me and my beloved Juno in happier times. She was claimed by cancer at four years old in August, 2012.
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Duck hunting on the Castor River
Picking up decoys after a morning hunt for mallard and wood ducks on the Castor River in October, 2012
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Canada goose hunt
My first banded Canada goose shot on a harvested bean field in Eastern Ontario.
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Deer hunting
Seated in my deer stand during rifle season for deer in November, 2011.
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Goldeneye
Hen goldeneye shot on the Tay River in November, 2011.
Why create a page about being gay and a hunter? As a gay man with a passion for hunting I have experienced negative attitudes and prejudice for both being gay and a hunter. I tried to cope with this reality in concealing who I am and the ethical choices I make in taking up hunting. I convinced myself it was easier this way, that the people around me in day-to-day life and my heterosexual hunting buddies would be more comfortable if I kept all this to myself. It bothered me, particularly concealing who I am, because I felt I was being deceptive and honestly, there is nothing unusual or wrong in being gay. I understand that many people find hunting offensive so to avoid futile arguments and to spare their feelings I make a point of avoiding the topic in their presence. In fact, I have more venom spat at me for my choice to hunt than the fact I am gay. Yes, hunting is a choice, being gay is not. As of the 2012 hunting season, all my hunting buddies know the whole truth about me. I am gay, partnered with another man since 1998 and they have accepted me wholeheartedly. It is a non-issue. They like and respect me for the man I am. I feel much better for having come out. A great weight has been lifted.
Still, I realize there is a great deal of prejudice against gay people. While I have rarely been confronted directly and personally by anti-gay prejudice, I have experienced it indirectly. I have been in situations where people around me use anti-gay slurs, make crude jokes and say unkind things about gay people, all the while assuming I am heterosexual. Then there is the crackpot theorizing of ignorant religious zealots who blame the "homosexual agenda" for everything from natural disasters, terror attacks, the decline of Western civilization, outbreaks of disease, pedophilia, ad nauseam. While this is obviously not aimed at me personally, it is still very offensive and hurtful to gay people. I decided that concealing the truth about who I am only enables this kind of prejudice. I hope that in coming out and telling my story I can help dispel this prejudice and effect a change in attitude.
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Juno, 2008-2012
My beloved Juno in her second season after shooting nine chukar and two pheasants over her at Banin Farms. Her untimely death to cancer was a devastating loss.
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Maggie, 2000-2008
Shooting a flushing chukar over Maggie's point at Banin Farms. She is gone, but not forgotten.
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Christie, 1994-2004
My first dog, Christie, a great huntress, fondly remembered.
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Upland gunning
Woodcock shot over Christie's points in the Marlborough Forest.
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Juno hunting
Juno and I hunting at Banin Farms.
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Juno in her prime
My beloved Juno coming into her prime as a gundog.
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Duck and goose hunting
Picking up Canada goose decoys following a morning hunt.
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Pheasant hunting
Juno and me during a pheasant hunt at Banin Farms.
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Duck hunting
Scoters shot on the Rideau River.
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Pheasant hunt
Grouse taken along with pheasants on a late season hunt.
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Pheasant hunt
Grouse and pheasants in snowy weather.
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Duck hunting
A nice bag of goldeneyes shot on a November morning.
