Hunting enthusiasts fear the sport is dying. Can ‘locavores’ save the age-old pastime?

Edwin+Pierre-Lewis%2C+a+native+of+Haiti+who+attends+graduate+school+at+the+University+of+Georgia%2C+uses+a+buck+call+as+he+hunts+deer+west+of+Athens.+He+learned+to+hunt+as+part+of+the+Field+to+Fork+program+and+has+become+a+mentor%2C+now+teaching+others+how+to+hunt.

Beau Cabell

Edwin Pierre-Lewis, a native of Haiti who attends graduate school at the University of Georgia, uses a buck call as he hunts deer west of Athens. He learned to hunt as part of the Field to Fork program and has become a mentor, now teaching others how to hunt.

In a tree stand 16 feet above the leaf-covered ground of suburban Clarke County, Jennifer DeMoss peeked through the scope of a black crossbow, searching for a hoof or a fluffy white tail. As the setting sun slunk between the trees on a Wednesday evening in December, DeMoss knew she was running out of time. Soon, it would be too dark to see through her viewfinder.

Hidden in head-to-toe camouflage, DeMoss tried not to make a sound. With each rustle of the wind or footstep of a scampering squirrel, her ears perked up, and she peered as far as she could through the corner of her eye.

“You’re looking for a deer trail. You’re trying to figure out where they are,” DeMoss said. “If your feet smell like your house, your shoes, and if you touch things as you walk along, they’ll smell it, and they’ll know you’ve been out there. And it may or may not make them avoid you.”

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