Comments on: Hunter’s Biggest Threat: Fighting Amongst Ourselves

By: The Envirocapitalist

The Envirocapitalist — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:19:52 +0000

I tried to make this point the other day by commenting on the fat of the Land blog (http://fat-of-the-land.blogspot.com/2009/03/sad-record.html)He had equated the fisherman who had just caught a record wild steelhead trout to someone killing the last siberian Tiger. I was rebuked while trying to defending the trout fisherman who legally kept wild trout. they didn’t understand that by saying killing and eating these fish is wrong they were siding with PETA. we don’t need to judge our brother outdoorsman so harsely, we have animal rights activists for that. When PETA comes after the catch and release crowd who will be there to defend them? Not the guys they slammed for keeping a trophy thats for sure.
Your friendly neighborhood Envirocapitalist.

By: Othmar Vohringer

Othmar Vohringer — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:30:36 +0000

Excellent post Arthur. I have written about this very topic several times and often maintained that hunters are their own worst enemies. The case in Tennessee is ample prove of that and by no means a single case.

The wasteful energy and effort given to squabbling on forums is the reason why I have given up visiting these places. The sad part is that we complain about the anti’s yet we’re the ones that provide them with the arguments. How sad.

-ov-

By: Greg Brownlee

Greg Brownlee — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:48:26 +0000

I can’t stand this and it really gets my blood boiling. I know first hand, since I’m one of the few guys out there who will say with a loud voice that I ENJOY HUNTING DEER WITH DOGS! There are still-hunters out there that hate the practice of dog hunting, so they want to make a LEGAL practice ILLEGAL to suit their beliefs – letting their experiences with a few rotten apples spoil the whole basket. There are many dog clubs out there who hunt ethically and with the utmost standards (the one I belong to included)!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:47:00 +0000

Arthur, I am with you on this. I too see and hear the uncivil debates that go on in the forums about hunting with different weapons, methods and techniques. It is just a shame that they can’t use that energy against the REAL enemies of our sport.
I also think that it is ironic that the gun hunters in TN have done to the bowhunters what the bowhunters did to the crossbow hunters in many other states. Maybe everyone should start working on getting as many hunters in the woods as possible instead of out.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:37:38 +0000

It is very unfortunate to have others be so narrow minded when you work so hard for the betterment of the sport. Those small and selfish people make you feel like it was all for nothing. But the truth is that if we keep our minds open to others hunting ways, weather we agree or not, in the end the sport we love will prevail. We can not let selfish people keep us from what we love and work so hard for. We will just have to work harder to get the word out for the betterment of our sport.
I for one have no problem defending my opion. lol

By: Kristine Shreve

Kristine Shreve — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:08:52 +0000

You’re right on the money with this. Sometimes I think all the antis need to do is sit back and we’ll destroy ourselves. Very sad.

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:20:51 +0000

Sigh… Frustrating indeed. One of my other favorite quotes that relates to this is, “If we do not hang together – surely we will hang separately”.

By: Rick

Rick — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:44:44 +0000

excellant post indeed Arthur. You are so right and so was Lincoln when he said “A house divided amongst itself cannot stand.” We must all work together as a TEAM if we want to accomplish our goals.

By: Blessed

Blessed — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:17:29 +0000

excellent post – unfortunate topic and I agree with you 100%. There are things I don’t hunt, fish I won’t fish for, methods of hunting or fishing I won’t use, but I’d never stand in the way of someone else being able to do those things in the legal manner they choose.

By: Bitter

Bitter — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:38:32 +0000

I recall reading a report of exit polls in Michigan that showed when their dove hunt ban went to the ballot, a significant number of hunters voted for the ban. The argument they put up was that they didn’t hunt them, so they didn’t mind it being banned. I was seeing red for a few days.

I don’t know if the report is online since it’s been years, but I’m sure the numbers add up if you look at the vote totals in rural counties. There’s no way that thing passed without hunter support.