"It is, I guess, but if you calculate it in terms of hours spent versus meat gained, it's fairly economical." And there's no more efficient way of gathering delicious spines. "And they are heavy, though they become a bit lighter once you've gu- once you've cleaned them. I actually drag mine on a sledge, since I can't exactly sling them across my shoulders."

"Hunting is like anything else: it sounds terribly difficult until you've done it a few times." Or until you bring down a deer by breaking it's back, then use its former skeleton to carry the meat home. One of those.