A perch some 20 feet up a backyard tree offers a peek into every manner of activity in the neighborhood. One guy in a uniform sets down his running leaf-blower, backs into a bush, squats and relieves himself. Another guy wearing pastel and khaki rides tight circles on his mower; his facial contortions suggest he’s singing his ass off. A woman washes dishes at her kitchen sink. A man grills on his deck and searches for me in the treeline.

This is urban hunting. And it sucks. All the way around. But here’s the truth: it’s necessary – for hunters, for homeowners, for the community and our economy.

New York City infamously invested $6 million in taxpayer funds to give bucks vasectomies

New York City infamously invested $6 million in taxpayer funds to give bucks vasectomies

As a hunter, the suck starts when you pull into a stranger’s driveway. “Hi, I’d like to stab an animal to death in your backyard. That cool?” Obviously that’s not what you say, but that’s the nub of it. You usually get a “no.” Sometimes it’s a nice “no.” But if their dad or grandmother ever took them hunting, you have a real chance.

As a homeowner myself, I don’t want armed strangers on my property. I imagine this instinct fuels many of the........

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