[meteorite-list] Just for the record - Sutter's Mill

[wahlperry at aol.com]

 Hi List,

I wanted to make a few comments about my time hunting the Sutter's Mill 
fall. Overall it has been a great experience. The majority of hunters 
and landowners seemed to work well together. I met some great people 
and several have invited us back to hunt some areas that were hard to 
obtain permission to hunt (later in the season when the grass dies). I 
will be uploading pictures over the next few days. It is such a 
beautiful area. 

I do have to mention something that really disappointed me. I heard 
that a sore subject was brought up again by a member of the meteorite 
community. Apparently he called me a liar. Interestingly enough, I 
thought that this was water under the bridge since we have discussed 
the topic and shook hands several times in the past. Sometimes one 
finds themselves in a difficult position regarding privileged 
information and must honor another person's request. A few years ago I 
was asked to keep the whereabouts of certain individuals confidential 
due to the potential of a mad rush of hunters into an area. I chose to 
honor that request and keep their whereabouts quiet. Another 
individual( who I barely knew) took offense to the fact that I chose 
not to disclose information and felt that I was invading his 
state/backyard. In hindsight I guess I should have said "I really can't 
tell you" rather than being evasive. But again it is none of his 
business where any of us hunt meteorites. I am free to hunt any state I 
chose. The same as he is free to hunt wherever he chooses.  This 
individual asked me how I would feel if he were to hunt in my 
state/backyard without letting me know. It is none of my business where 
he hunts. And for this person to make a statement over the last week to 
a few friends of mine that it was not him on the phone talking to a 
landowner who had surveillance video. We both know that is not true 
because he called me right away and told me that he had just got off 
the phone with this person.

 I have information from respectable sources in the meteorite community 
that this individual provided derogatory information to another list 
member to post about me on this List on more than one occasion. Then 
later this individual was running for an elected position and made 
phone calls to my home insisting that I call a few well known meteorite 
hunters and clear his name of any wrongdoing or rumors. It definitely 
seemed like he was trying to blackmail me. Stating something like "I 
can make things a lot worse for you". What did that mean?  I was not 
sure what exactly he was accusing me of saying about him since I never 
said anything in public about him (good or bad). This phone call (which 
we have a record of) really upset me and my wife. I was able to get my 
friends to call this individual and reassure him that I never said 
anything negative about him. This individual then called me back and 
apologized for threatening to "make things a lot worse" and said he 
hoped he had not upset my wife too much. We agreed to try and put this 
behind us and move on( I thought we had). Due to the fact that I no 
longer have restrictions about this issue I can speak freely without 
fear of reprimand. I have since dealt with the initial issue and no 
longer want to have my name dragged through the mud. Those that know me 
know that I am a good man. They know what I do for a living over the 
past 28 years. I worked hard to get where I am in my career and as a 
meteorite hunter. I have never been handed anything and I am proud of 
that. Enough is Enough.


Sonny