37Becca shrank into the folding chair. She had not been raised around hunters. Had never shouldered a rifle nor handled a weapon of any kind.
Oscar tilted his head and watched her. “You're bothered by the killing of the bird?”
Becca furrowed her brow. “Aren't you?”
He shook his head. “No. That dove was taken in-season. If we assume that the hunter is now searching for the bird, and will eat it at some point, and that they are fully licensed to hunt, there is no wrong in that.”
“But you're a birder. You love birds. So how can that be alright?”
Oscar smiled. “It does seem a bit contradictory, I admit. But we do need hunters.”
“Why?”
“Well, without hunters the money we use for conservation efforts would be very limited.” Oscar reached into one of his vest's many pockets and produced a
