Reply To: Public Land hunting ethics

[lyagooshka]

#7733

Dave, I didn’t really want to bring some things up, but you nailed them, so thanks. The increasing (human) population and decreasing habitat is HUGE. I posted a “poke the skunk” topic a few months ago about high-fence game preserves. One thing I did not mention, but it was one of the reasons preserves were on my mind at that time, is that preserves may be the next big cash-cow in hunting. Soon, the lack of viable hunting land and the dwindling game numbers may force the entire industry into a lottery system much like Elk here in PA. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning while winning the Power Ball than drawing a Pennsylvania Elk tag. So may it be for others and much sooner than people realize.

One bad thing is that the anti-hunters are being suckered into backing developers. I apologize in advance to Robin (and others) for this comment, but the idiots like PETA are dumb enough to be dangerous. I know these forums are not a place to be mean, or to name-call, but they are causing actual harm to the very animals they claim to protect. Most (I would guess) unknowingly, but I am sure there are those who are in the pockets of developers, politicians, etc. They have no concept as to the role hunters (2-legged, 4-legged, etc) play in habitat management. When you try to tell one of these people that loss of habitat is the number one cause for the decline of any animal, they say it’s just hunter propaganda so that we can keep on killing to fulfill our blood-lust. I have learned that there is no talking with these people to educate them, much like the radical hunter types who actually have the very blood-lust PETA is referring to. But where is there an organization that is truly for the ethical treatment of animals? One comprised of hunters, farmers, ranchers, vegetarians (which I at one point was), regular concerned citizens? I used to laugh, but now I cringe every time I see some PETA-like group protesting a hunting spot, or the like, all of them holding their name-brand coffee, coffee that came from a strip mall, a strip mall that was built over habitat that was used by all the things that the group claims to be protecting, habitat that will never again be used by those animals, animals who probably died of hunger or disease, or being hit by cars (probably causing human harm as well). Good Job! Meanwhile, organizations like DU and NWTF (and many others) have set aside millions of acres that will NEVER be a strip mall, or a mega-store, or anything but natural habitat for animals to live in. And many of these millions of acres are open to hunting because these organizations realize that hunters manage wildlife better than any politician or organization ever could.

OK, I am done my rant (for now). I know that whole tirade was off topic, but it is (loosely at least) on topic in that if we are busy fighting ourselves, and busy setting a bad image to the 80% of people who are not hunters, but who are still supporting us, we are going to be in BIG trouble. I’m going to take my BP meds now. Sorry again. Be well.

Alex

😡