Roger,
Your point is well taken, though I have to point out that even though T.N. may not speak for you or me, go out opening day of rifle season to any public land and you will see that he does in fact represent a large portion of the hunting population.
Here is the issue. You (and I, though I am still learning) are out miles from the beaten path enjoying the process as much (if not more) as taking game. Meanwhile, the slob (got my hand slapped for that term, but it seems the most fitting 4-letter word I can write) is 20’ from the truck in plain view of cameras, both press and anti-hunters.
I really don’t want to take away from Ted. His intentions might be good. He is a fellow hunter and don’t see anything that says he should not be hunting. That said, I am in disagreement with his methods.
I guess the issue is that there are not enough of us to represent what hunting should be. And even if there was, it is very hard to compete with glitz and glamour. Who has time to shoot thousands of arrows just to hopefully get a shot at 10 yards when they could pick up a “bow” and be shooting 70 yards the next day.
I guess on top of everything else, this too falls on us. Like I mentioned in another post, lead by example. How many hunting photos out there where a hunter has a death grip on a six-pointer’s rack with a caption “This is what it’s all about”? Just make sure it’s not us. Nothing wrong with being proud of a trophy, but it’s all in how you present it. I would say police our own ranks, but the more I’m out, the more I think it’s an exercise in futility. Besides, I really am starting to think it’s not “our” ranks. Let uncle Ted have ‘em. Wish there was an easy answer, but as it stands, I will be out sitting in the woods, or teaching my kids to shoot a bow, or taking a walk in the autumn forest with my wife, looking at the miracle that is before us and being content knowing that THAT is what it’s really all about.
Alex
🙂
