Never Gut-Shoot a Wampus

"Never Gut-Shoot a Wampus" by Winston K. Marks is a mid-20th century science fiction story about a bachelor landowner who joins Major Daphne, a rich and loud hunter, on an interstellar hunting trip. Set on the protagonist's own neglected planet, Tigursh II, the story looks at greed, wanting more than you have, and the problems with being too proud in a universe full of weird creatures and difficult decisions. As they hunt alien animals, especially the deadly Wampus, the characters show their true colors, especially Daphne's wife, Annellica, who wants more from her life. The story ends in a sad fight with the Wampus that causes messiness and death, making the main character rethink his choices and how he treats others, with an ending that surprises you and shows the harsh side of hunting and relationships.