As the lead guitarist of one of America’s most successful rock bands, Joe Perry of Aerosmith is used to being in the spotlight. What may come as a surprise to many is that on top of being a “Guitar Hero,” Perry also is pretty good with a gun and fishing rod.

This revelation in a recent interview published by Outdoor Life magazine placed Perry right in the sights of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal’s (PETA) senior vice president, Lisa Lange.

During the interview, Perry revealed that he was an avid gun collector and that hunting and fishing were important parts of his life. When asked if he hunted deer, Perry told Outdoor Life, “I do — but I don’t shoot anything that I don’t eat.”

He went on to say, “Hunters are conservationists and their heads are in the right place.”

He also stressed the importance of getting outdoors: “I love being in the woods; it does amazing things for my state of mind and helps me get away from the insanity of rock and roll.”

Perry’s comments immediately attracted the attention of PETA’s senior vice president, who commented, “People who take out their aggressions and frustrations on helpless animals are usually compensating for other shortcomings in their life.” She added, “We don’t know how Joe measures up, but it’s interesting that he seems to feel so satisfied when he’s handling long phallic-looking weapons.”

Perry is just one of many celebrities who have surprised people by their participation in outdoor sports. In February 2006, Eva Longoria, star of “Desperate Housewives,” proclaimed “I can skin a deer and a pig and a snake — and rabbits,” while talking with Oprah Winfrey about her childhood hunting expeditions with her father.

Longoria’s comments, like Perry’s, set off PETA spokesman Michael McGraw. “If Eva is set on going hunting,” McGraw said, “we hear Vice-President Cheney is looking for a new partner.”

As for Perry, it sounds as though he’s not about to let a few comments from an anti-hunting group get in his way. The rocking outdoorsman said, “(deer hunting) really gives you a great opportunity to keep in touch with reality. Meat just doesn’t show up at the supermarket in Saran Wrap.”