September 16th, 2008
By Arthur
I am really struggling with hunter image lately.
I go out of my way to portray a positive image when it comes to my hunting. I try to portray myself in a way that shows I am respectful of people, animals, and the outdoors. I really try to counter the common misconceptions when it comes to hunting. I try to show that I am not the beer drinking, redneck, barbaric killer that plenty of people think I am.
People are honestly shocked sometimes when they learn that I am a hunter. I have even had people tell me “Well, you don’t look like a hunter.” Those type of comments have always made me wonder what most people’s idea of a hunter really is. And since I have found that a lot of what most people associate with hunters didn’t really fit my mold, I go out of my way to show a different side of hunters. I try to portray us as people who are passionate about the outdoors, have a great love for animals and the outdoors, and are all around good people.
How do I do that one might ask? One way is to talk about hunting with other people. Taking the time to explain hunting is a great way to leave people with a good vision of what hunters really are. Since, normally, these people aren’t around hunters all the time, I feel that we need to be a little conscious of the terms we use and the things we talk about. Obviously, talking about blood and guts, and those types of things, isn’t the appropriate way to go about explaining hunting to a person who hasn’t been exposed to hunting that way. Basically, what I’m trying to say, is there are certain things we need to do, in order to portray us a certain way, to certain people.
It is too bad that plenty of hunters out there are going out of their way to make us look bad.
First, let me start by saying that I don’t think we need to apologize for hunting. That is far from the case. What I do think we need to do is stay away from certain things that put is in a bad light when viewed by people who are on the fence about hunting.
“Kill deer, drink beer” and other such shirts and bumper stickers don’t do a thing to help out image. I could name many other examples of things like that, but I think all of you get my drift. How can one be surprised, if they wear a shirt such as this, or sport this type of bumper stick on their truck, at how we are viewed by the non-hunting public. Symbols such as these, while meant in fun, can’t really do much for our hunting image can they?
We have enough of an uphill battle when it comes to our image. Do we really need to help how we are perceived by flashing our beer and deer sweatshirts? I am a little frustrated by these types of shirts and such, and it seems that a lot of guys go out of their way to wear these things. Don’t they realize the image they are portraying by wearing these types of shirts?
I go out of my way to project an image of hunters, and hunting, that shows who most of us are really are. We are compassionate, outdoor loving, regular guys, who care about people, care about the outdoors, and really care about the animals we hunt.
So, can you guys do me a favor and leave your “Drink beer, kill deer” shirts at home?
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