This is the first of a two-part series about the cancellation of a Ted Nugent concert at the Clark County Fair.

The phone was hooked to my left pant pocket when it began to ring. The time was 11:30 a.m.

"Hello, this is Dennis."

"Hi Dennis, this is Ted Nugent. Are you enjoying this 2014 spring?"

We visited for several minutes, as he asked about spring hunting and fishing in Eastern Washington. He had just returned from the Sweden Rock Festival 2014, leaving his wife, Shemane, and youngest son, Rocco, in Europe to tour Rome.

He asked about The Hut Crew, our hunting group, consisting of Lani Schorzmen, Hut 1; Jerry Lester, Hut 2, Thomas Steffens, Hut 3; Chuck Buck, Hut 4; Ted Nugent, Hut 5; I'm Hut 6 and Rudy Lopez is Hut 7.

Then it was down to business. Ted was scheduled to play at the Clark County Fair, near Vancouver, on Aug. 5.

However the concert was cancelled after a resident by the name of Troy Maxcy started a petition drive on moveon.org writing "I have attended the Clark County Fair since the 1970s and cannot remember a time when such a personality was booked for entertainment. Clark County does not need to be open for business to the sort of well-known negative rhetoric that is espoused by this character."

Ted has played this venue before, with 2005 the last time, so don't know how Maxcy missed it. Admittedly Ted criticizes those in the world he feels are for taking away many or our rights, such as our guns, but, hey, he is speaking for me when doing so. His comments are not all negative, as he applauds the correct actions of the powers to be.

Example: When there is a problem cougar posing a threat to local citizens, Fish and Wildlife was hiring a hunter with hounds to eliminate the threat. Now there are permit hunts in areas where the cougar population is high. The hunters with dogs will pay for a permit to do the same or similar hunt the state was paying them to conduct. Ted congratulates the state for offering the permits.

The same goes for turkey; if there are too many turkeys, offer more tags, so hunters can pay to hunt the birds.

Ted has been a board member of the National Rifle Association for over 10 years.

The signers of the Maxcy petition are an interesting bunch. Are they a bunch of Washingtonians who don't care for Rock 'n Roll? No, these people have multi reasons for not liking Ted and are from around the United States and the world.

Comments include: "He's a bad example for kids and his open view of debauched blood lust and killing is not the kind of thing that should be celebrated" and "This is no artist. He is an animal killer. We do not want to have people like this among us in the name of art."

Plus: "Don't support this hate filled racist and warmonger." And "Say no to racism and hate."

Why are people in Germany, South Africa, Illinois, California and other states influencing the Clark County Fair in Washington State?

Seems many of these signers are an anti-hunting bunch. Others think he is a racist, which he is not. He does have the right to express his opinion of whoever is in office and at any level of government.

The warmonger comment has me baffled. Ted is supportive of the military and law enforcement. He offers free concert tickets and passes for injured military personnel.

Next week: The real reason the Aug. 5 Ted Nugent concert was cancelled.