BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[moderator]

August 2002 BGH Poll:
Is hunting really threatened by animal-rights activists?

Please use this area to post comments or questions about this poll.

[cowgal]

I truly hope the animal activists NEVER get the upper hand - I cannot see myself becoming a vegetarian!

[bitmasher]

The one thing that seems to be missing from any arguement for "banning hunting" because it is "cruel and unusual" is simply. How do these animal-rights types plan on keeping game populations in control? Without predation they will grow to become more nuiances than they are....

Or maybe they don't want to control the populations at all (some sort of grand critter eutopia) and then just let the various game populations grow until they eat themselves "out of house and home" and then die in mass by either:

-drought
-hard winter
-disease

Any way you cut the dice, the game species have to be kept within population limits. These limits can either be enforced by human hunters, other predators (aren't enough these days to do it alone), or nature/disease. Take your pick, I'll choose hunters any day, it is more ethical than the alternatives.

[ontarget]

These 'groups' really don't care what happens to game populations. All they want is nature to take it's course no matter what the consequences. Besides, if they ever get their way, you wont need your guns any more, will you! We have a fight a both fronts, guys and gals. If we don't think the anti hunters and gunners are working together we are all naive.

[ This Message was edited by: ontarget on 2002-08-02 15:22 ]

[cowgal]

Ontarget - do you really think its that serious? Living where I do (western Colorado) I guess I've been rather naive about how the outside world feels about guns & animal rights. Here its just a part of our life and not a big issue.

Looks like awareness of impending problems does need to be raised. Obviously if we pretend the anti 'groups' can't win - we are being naive!

So listen up everybody... get involved and voice your opinions! More importantly voice your opinions to the folks that have control over the laws that will take away our rights.

[Unit5A]

I think the issue is very serious. It's happening one little piece at a time. Most of the population now live in the big cities and are easily swayed by these groups. All they can visualize is Bambi being blown away by some slob hunter. Unfortunately that is where most of the votes are. We have to make sure that the truth be heard as well. Pay attention to whom is running for what in your state. Know what they stand for, and get out and vote. Be assured that the anti's will!

[bitmasher]

Well said Unit5a, I think the urbanization of America will play a huge factor in determining the future of hunting. As an individual hunter, we can all:

-vote
-hunt ethically (vast majority do anyway).

I hope that common sense will prevail on this issue.

Just playing the devil's advicate for a moment. If people are banned from hunting because it breaches the "rights" of animals. Are other predators (lions, tigers, and bears) going to be penalized (locked up, killed, removed) because their "lifestyle" breaches the "rights" of prey (deer, elk, mice)?

If not what gives a lion the "right" to hunt, kill, and consume prey; but yet a human cannot hunt these same prey?

[sidebyside]

you bet it is. they take a little at a time
before you realize that your hunting is truly endagered. take californias ban on hunting cougars and some other states banning the use of dogs to hunt lions. sportsman must speak out. the best way is to join the us sportsman alliance http://www.wlfa.org
they were instrumental in getting ohio a dove season and trying to pass an amendment in our states constitution that would make hunting and fishing a state heritage that could not be tampered with the comings and goings of each poltitical party every 4 years.they are a very good group that does not harass you for money every week.this group does nothing but defend your right to hunt and fish. thats all they do and they
do it well. check out their website. but please fellow hunters,speak out and be proud of our group and allways be polite and understanding of land owners and the non-hunting public.



[ This Message was edited by: sidebyside on 2002-08-05 19:25 ]

[bitmasher]

SidebySide, thanks for posting about the US Sportman's Alliance. I had sort of heard of them before, but didn't really know what they were about. I'll check out the link...

[orp0741]

After reading your posts, I believe you are looking at this topic in a very limited perspective. Talking about becoming a vegetarian, keeping game populations in control and all they can visualize is Bambi being blown away by some slob hunter. The politicians must throw these groups a bone to keep them appeased so they cannot find major support from large population groups and corporate backing. Lets look at the hunting industry, a multi billion-dollar industry and all the people (tax payers) that would be affected by restricting or outlawing hunting.

Raw materials: people producing plastic, glass, iron, wood and oil would be affected.

Manufacturing: people in engineering, tool & die, printing, assembly of finished product and let’s not forget oversea imports of manufactured goods (that can have tariffs more tax dollars).

Transportation and advertising: think of all the people it takes to get that product to the stores and in your home. In addition, you must include TV hunting shows that are designed to move products and you transporting your self to your hunting area be it by car, truck ATV or airline all of them using consumables.

The list can go on and on. I personally believe that no major hunting controls can be implemented because it would be political and economic suicide.

My quote: All they can visualize is tax dollars and jobs being blown away by some slob animal-rights activists.

Respectfully,

ORP

[ChesterGolf]

Your right... the gov't will never ban it but they can make it soooo expensive that just the elite can do it. By doing that they maintain revenues and appease the animal rights groups. We, as hunters, have to stick together.

[orp0741]

This story is a little off topic but it will make you feel good. About two years ago, I took my daughter to Bass Pro Shop for her hunter safety course and the DNR from Illinois came and spent a 1/2-hour just on the topic of hunters’ rights. This included animal rights groups, harassment, and your rights as a hunter. Then he talked about how to gracefully get away from the harassing group or person and document the assault so DNR and Police can take action. He made it quite clear that they have zero tolerance for harassment.

He went on to say that three hunters near the Wisconsin, Illinois border went hunting for waterfowl and an animal-rights activist flying an ultra-light airplane was harassing them. The three men took photos and documented what happened and call the DNR, the DNR gave them this cell phone number and said if you see him tomorrow give me a call. The next day the ultra-light airplane was their buzzing them. The DNR came out to see what was happing and said he will take care of this. The end result was over $10,000 dollars in fines the ultra-light airplane was confiscated and sold an auction. This animal-rights activist did have a history of harassing so DNR, FAA and Police went for maximum punishment in this case.

We do have some rights.

Regards,

ORP


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[ This Message was edited by: orp0741 on 2002-10-11 19:20 ]

[ This Message was edited by: orp0741 on 2002-10-11 20:10 ]

[ChesterGolf]

We do have rights but nobody wants to be the first to stand up for them.

[bitmasher]

Hi Orp0741,

That is a good point which I had not thought of. By eliminating hunting it does eliminate jobs and it does effect local economies greatly. This is the same arguement (in essence) made by the logging industry (hug a logger not a tree).

Chestergolf is right too, the long term trend is that the ability to hunt is getting more and more expensive. Our granddad's went and shot a deer for the cost of a gun and a bullet. Now you have to pay all kind of fees, that seems to spiral upward with every passing year. These cost barriers do inhibit new people from trying hunting.

I'm not saying that our Granddad's had it right though either. Free for all hunting did drive a lot of species populations to all time lows and some to extinction within certain regions.

I've heard stats thrown around that something like 10% of the U.S. populations hunts, 10% is against hunting, and the other 80% don't care. The 80% is critical in preserving hunting. The 80% are the ones that get tired of deer eating their crops, gardens, flowers, or running into them. The 80% are the ones that are terrified of bears anywhere in the backyard and want them gone. As game populations spiral upwards through reduced hunting (either by legistation or reduced hunters), these 80% start coming out in favor of hunters, even if they aren't hunters themselves. So it is critical to maintain a good relationship with this non-hunting-but-not-against hunting population.

Although, I'm not quite sure how "maintaining a good relationship" is achieved....

[ This Message was edited by: bitmasher on 2002-10-13 21:22 ]

[bitmasher]

That is interesting about that ultra-light too. Never heard of such a thing. I guess seeking a fine would be the civil thing to do. However, where I hunt the bastard stood a damn good chance of getting his a$$ shot out of the air with a rifle. No fooling.

Hello??? :???: Are these animal-rights types all brain dead?

This guy is going off to "save the ducks", by pissing off a bunch of hunters who:

A.) Have guns.
B.) Know how to shoot guns.
C.) Like to shoot things out of the air.
D.) Would like nothing more than to teach a few of these ijits "a lesson".

Not saying I'd shoot the guy out of the air, but I've been around hunters that probably would take a pot shot or two, just to wing the plane (not kill him).

Maybe this would be "duck saver" was actually trying to commit suicide. I mean, ***sheeeesh***, this is like going to the running of the bulls over in spain, and wearing a big red flag on your rear end (gore me, please!).

In any rate if this pilot did get himself killed he would definitely be a candidate for a Darwin Award.

[ This Message was edited by: bitmasher on 2002-10-13 22:29 ]