[Predator One]

Guys/gals...
I don't know if you have ever been challenged/attacked (verbally) by someone or a group of activists on why you hunt...but I have. It's small wonder too as our sport is considered blood thirsty and barbaric...portrayed that way in the Disney movies, and in various forms of media as such by well-meaning but mis-informed people,well-organized and well financed in their efforts to enfluence the hearts and minds of the vast majority who are non-hunters and who remain neutral on the subject.They are focusing more and more on enfluencing children of all ages and as I have visited schools in New Brunswick, speaking to classes about my books and my sport of hunting, I am encountering more kids who have very biased views on our sport.I find though that after I've had a chance to talk with those kids, they are at least willing to take a more balanced look at the sport and question the propaganda they have heard. The anti-arguments and statistics the antis offer are designed to cast the hunting fraternity in a poor light and eventually put an end to hunting.They don't want us displaying our big game animals as we go to register them nor do they want outdoor maagazines to featuress photos of "dead" animals and continue to actively lobby for such practices to stop. One magazine I write for actually listened to the anti argumwents a couple of years ago and informed its' writers they would no longer be publishing photos of "dead game"... Of course this incensed all the staff writers and they quickly responded that this was an outddor hunting/fishing publication and none of us would continue writing for them if that was the case. The owner of the magazine quickly backed off and continued to publish our hunter/big game photos. However, had the magazine given in to the anti-lobby-ests, hunting and hunters would have lost a major battle in protecting our sport! We, as hunters, are the sport's ambassadors...and defenders and what we do and how we do it either helps us sustain the sport or will give fuel to the "antis" cause. My question today is...Do you feel the anti-hunting movement poses a threat to our sport and have you ever had to defend/explain hunting to those people?

 

[mu'in]

Anti hunters - Yep there are a threat IMO ... Seem like an organized bunch of *******'s

never been challenged by them, but wouldn't be long telling them where they can go and what they can do when they get there..

Until they figure a way for me get a steak or roast of a Moose's A** without killing it, ill continue to do it my way!! LOL

 

[ARSENO]

they are anti hunting but I bet they enjoy there t bone steak at supper time from those slaughtered cows ...

 

[Sako]

I've only had the pleasure of meeting antis once. We were taking a moose into the forestry complex to register it and pulled into the lane to turn. A small car pulled alongside and started verbally taunting us. In the car were a young guy and girl. The young guy was saying we should be ashamed of ourselves and we were murderers and a bunch of other crap. He then spit on the windshield of the truck. We basically ignored them and turned through the intersection and registered our moose. That same year there were a few people at the registration station making comments about killing the moose. Everybody just ignored them. They wanted to get some press, whether good or bad, and got none.

 

[Bull's eye]

I'm a PETA member;

P eople who
E at
T asty
A nimals

 

[Bill Gass]

The bottom line is that you have to let your MLA know LOUD and CLEAR that you are a hunter and you support all types of legal hunting, whether you participate in all of them or not. Communities vary widely with the province, here in Geary where I live people have been known to take their moose by the local school for all the kids to see on their way back from registering it. The other key component is to get youth involved in hunting, I don't see too many young folks who are 'smoking up' out hunting. It's like sports something to focus and channel their energies into. The next pitch that I'll make is I ask everyone who is a hunter to contact your MLA, no matter what stripe you are and let them know where you stand on the reintroduction of wild turkeys to NB. If hunting in NB isn't moving forward then we are just loosing ground to the anti's. Take the gun registry for example, never heard much about it for the last few years, now all of a sudden everyone and their dog is jumping on the bandwagon of how we shouldn't get rid of it. But the registry of long guns is but a small part of the overall firearms program, we will still have the PAL card and safe storage laws, the only issue is whether we as taxpayers are going to pay for a system to keep track of who owns what firearm. Anyway with a election coming here is everyones chance to corner their local MLA's and let them know where you stand.

Bill Gass
Oromocto, NB

 

[mu'in]

"PETA"..

 

[NBG]

Do you feel the anti-hunting movement poses a threat to our sport and have you ever had to defend/explain hunting to those people?

Threat to our sport. Absolutely.

No since in explaining your reasons to hunt or trap. They will never accept it. I see it all the time on my trapping videos on youtube. They thinks its cruel to trap animals but are all for trapping and killing me.LOL Twisted headed group of people in my mind.

 

[SlickTrick]

Do you feel the anti-hunting movement poses a threat to our sport and have you ever had to defend/explain hunting to those people?

Absolutely! They have a lot of money, and propaganda behind them.

I have had to defend myself against anti's.

It's quite fun actually. When they start their rant, I let them spew. When they are done, I ask them to prove it.

As they list off their reasons, I debunk them as they go along.

Personally... I get enjoyment out of pissing them off.

I hunt to eat. I don't like grocery store food. Its full of preservatives, and chemicals that I would prefer not to consume.

Vegetarian is a native word for lousy hunter.

 

[Hunttoomuch]

There was a couple that came to our house a couple of years ago and we BBQ'D some steak for supper. During the meal the lady started talking about hunting and there was no need of it. I never said a word until she finished eating her steak and then I asked her how it was and she said " That was the best piece of meat I have had in a long time." I said " I am glad that you enjoyed the moose meat and that is one of the many reasons why I hunt" She doesn't have negative things to say about hunting anymore.

 

[Murray]

This is another great post that gets people thinking.

Are they a threat to our sport...I say NO, because I don't consider hunting a sport. There is no other "sport" in the world that puts food on my table at the end of the day, nor nourishment in my family's mouths, so I don't think that hunting should have ever fallen in to the category of "sports". I don't hunt because it's a game of outsmarting animals and coming out victorious. I hunt because I want good organic meat for my family, and I've chosen wild meat because I think it's more ethical than farmed meat (just my opinion), and it's also more economical than farmed meat. I do not kill for sport...I kill for organic meat.

Are they a threat to our chosen lifestyle...absolutely! Humanity all over the world heavily relies on hunting and always has, so they are also threatening the realization of our human heritage. Their intent is to abolish hunting, and many of them are organized, so how could they not pose a threat.

Although, I do agree with Predator One...these anti-hunting folks are generally good people who are just misinformed by media and propaganda. Disney does a lovely job of this. I know because I used to be an anti-hunter. I wasn't in an organized group, but there was a time when I believed that it was completely unnecessary. I was a believer in live-and-let-live, that all creatures had their own right to life, and I had no right playing God. I believed this until I started looking at my diet of farmed meat, and I also was gaining a strong desire to live more traditionally.

After a lot of research and contemplation, here is what I realized, which is what convereted me in to a hunter, and this is what I tell anti-hunters (I have a lot of anti-hunting friends). It's very true that all creatures have the right to life, however hunters are not playing God. If we believed this, then we could say that any animal, insect, plant, bacteria, or virus that consumes another living thing is "playing God". The natural world is set up in a system where one living thing relies on another to survive. We all know this as the food chain. Do you think a wolf is happy after it has successfully killed a deer?...Is it happy it happy it came out victorious over the deer?....I'm sure the answer is NO to both questions. I'm quite sure that the wolf is only happy that it's belly if full...the rest is just part of life. I'm sure there is not one ounce of guilt after one animal kills another...it's a very normal and necesssary thing to do.

So I raise the question, why should we feel guilty about hunting and killing animals?

There is a human mentallity that says that we should no longer rely on wild animals for food, but eating wild plants is fine. This was never a common mentallity until animals started to become humanized in marketting and media. It is surprizingly powerful stuff, and it totally convinced me that animals are cute furry little versions of humans. Because of this humanizing effect, I quickly felt a bond with animals, and I assumed the role as their protector. I now realize that these warm fuzzy feelings I had about animals were just feelings of misplaced affection. I was having feelings that are suitable to feel about other humans (family and friends), but I realize now that this misplaced affection was skewing my realty of the natural world. The natural order of the world does not care about the killing of animals or plants...it only cares about balance.

Balance is the key to my response when discussing hunting with anti-hunters. As long as hunting is managed in a way that sustains our animal populations, then I am going to continue hunting. I also show them videos and photos about the indignity of high density farming practices. I don't believe that all animal farming is bad, but I do believe in making informed choices about which farms to support.

I find that best anti-hunters to deal with are actually vegetarian-anti-hunters because they are at least informed well enough to avoid being hypocrates. I have also found that many vegetartians will evolve in to hunters if they continue to inform themselves about the natural order of the world. Many of them will evolve in to a hunters who eat a very limited amount of meat in their diet.

If we hunters continue to inform ourselves about proper diet and health, we would all likely reduce the amount of meat we actually eat. We really don't need much meat to stay healthy. Most of us eat way too much meat.

Our grandparents didn't believe that animals were cute little humans (Disney mentalitty), but they also didn't eat as much meat as we do. Just because we can, doesn't mean we should.

Happy hunting.

 

[Axeman]

Great thread to get people thinking....but in my humble opinion you need to understand a few things about this issue.

First - not everyone is an "anti". If you think Anti's are misinformed, you my friend are misinformed. Anti's are VERY WELL informed, and are schooled in the effective use of both the media and human behaviour. You can recieve a degree currently in "activism" at several USA colleges. These are the Anti's.....represent about 5% of the populus, but funded by about 20% of the populous. These people ARE misinformed, by the well - informed Anti's. The balance of the public are 10% hunters, and the remaining 65% don't really care or have an opinion unless provoked or asked. If informed, this 60% will side with hunting (what I'd call the wise, regulated and susutainable use of wildlife) ....but they need to be informed.

You need to be very wise in how you answer P1's question - "How do you respond to an anti". I'd say - it depends. You will NEVER convince or change the mind of an anti. Take the advice here that "You can't win a peeing match with a skunk". You CAN change the minds of the 20%+65%. I have taken on "anti's" in public forums to reveal their ignorance....however, you need to do this with facts, stats, wisdom and couth. If you just blaze from the hip and show all your camoflage colors, you will lose all respect and do hunting little good, and they will continue to believe anti's claims that we are all blood thirsty red necks. Remember, you're not trying to convince the Anti - because you never will....... but you are trying to convince the silent 85% that we are legitimate.

If you plan on doing this, you need to raise the arguement to a much larger scale. They focus on how inhumane and cruel it is for you...mr big bad hunter is for killing miss tenderfoot, doe-eyed deer. Get away from this level ASAP.....it is all about the bigger picture....should humans use animals. Take the discussion to this level just as soon as you open your mouth. Most people can relate to it, and it includes them right off the bat. Otherwise, it becomes about you, and you are the big bad killer.....you'll never win this. If you make it about the bigger question, you have just included most of the listening audience - because all us humans impact animals.....and no one listening wants to be pained by the brush the anti's try to use.....so you very quickly gain support.

If it's all about people's use of animals, most will say - yes...it's OK if people use animals for food, clothing, etc....because most of us do. Most eat hot dogs, hambergers, wear leather shoes, belts, etc. etc. Now you have well over 60% of the public on your side that think indeed it IS ok to use animals. What it comes down to is that the use, is humane. If an animal has to be "put down" it's done humanely. Again, 60% plus will agree with you. Then you can discuss just how humane is ...whatever - hunting, trapping, etc.

Then, my friend, you have won your arguement. Trapping is more humane in Canada than any other country on the planet. Who can argue that shooting a deer is inhumane? Death in under a minute. Or by an arrow that causes almost no pain. Know your stuff here, and you have just won over the masses.....NOT the anti.

 

[Predator One]

Well stated Axeman and it was interesting to read the other respones. I guess the main reason for my initial post was to see how you would react in a specific verbal confrontation with an "anti." I agree that in most cases, you will never change an "Anti"s mind on hunting. You can tell 'em where to go and what to do if you wish...and that may make you feel good... but that does nothing to reassure onlookers that you are right in your role as a hunter. You will meet ignorant "well informed" people in life( well informed with incorrect or flawed information and manipulated stats) who will spit on your windshield or criticize you for hunting...and often in a manner to gain attention for themselves...but I believe you must rise above their ignorance. Oh yes, they may be a high school drop-out or an academic with several post secondary degrees...but ignorance knows no educational bounds. To the onlookers at such an encounter, how you respond to such a situation casts hunting and hunters in a favorablwe light or...a bad one! Thanks for your responses...all!

 

[newtothehunt]

It's just an organization of unorganized people. They need to get their facts straight, they probably only look at the pochers, and not people that actually care about being humane.

 

[MOOSEBUCK]

We as hunters should start by not supporting companies that give those anty groups $$$$ every year, we should start a post on the companies supporting them....like Levis jeans, Disney, feel free to add on...i know i have a list somewhere on my puter, ill try and get more info on these companies...

 

[lobsterman]

I don't respond to them.

 

[700 Lefty]

Thanks Predator one for starting such an excellent and vastly important topic. The antis are indeed a dangerous threat to our existence and due to such well funded propoganda machines, the majority of our population is succeptable to their spews of lies.

As in any activity, we have idiots who unfortunately catches the public eye. The antis love to use the image of Joe slob hunter who hunts with gun, rum and lights and kills everything that moves. We can combat this by joining organized groups that protects our interests and defend our rights and poke holes in their perceived image of us. Plus, we can defeat our perceived image by our own actions and code of ethics and not be afraid to defend at a moments notice with a knowedgable and respectful rebuttal.

I am extremely proud to be a hunter and not afraid to be who I am, to no one. I have had exposure of anti hunting mentalities both personally and though our fish and game club. The three codes that I follow and have been successful in portraying our sport are the following:
Ethics
Knowledge
Pride of who you are and what you do

Ethics
I follow the game laws and the fair pursuit of game. I hunt with very few people but trusted and like minded friends. I love a good drink of rum as much as most men but liquor is not touched until I am home or back at the camp that evening. I only take the best shot possible and will do all that is humanly possible to retrieve lost game. I also respect private property and others who are hunting and leave them a wide berth as not to disturb them plus many more.

Knowledge
I make myself aware of the issues that are the focus of the antis and prepare well documented, scientific data fueld rebuttals. I keep abreast of habitat issues and readily support conservation methods to benefit all parties.

Pride
I feel that I have been taught well by my father and mentors plus the various courses taken to become a hunter. I know that as a hunter, we are on the front line of witnessing changes to our environment and can become a strong voice of change and protection.

At any given time, I can state why I hunt, what are my reasons plus the benefits across the board. I will strongly condone illegal activity and unethical activies portrayed by others and will readily state that this is the actions of the very few and not a representative of the majority. Plus, I am proud to say I am teaching my children the wonders of hunting. Not once have I received a negative comment.

If we keep the high road in our pursuits and be proud of what we do, the antis will have a hard time to defeat this perception and most importantly, the immensly larger non hunting community will accept us as what real sportspeople are all about.

 

[Predator One]

Thanks Predator one for starting such an excellent and vastly important topic. The antis are indeed a dangerous threat to our existence and due to such well funded propoganda machines, the majority of our population is succeptable to their spews of lies.

As in any activity, we have idiots who unfortunately catches the public eye. The antis love to use the image of Joe slob hunter who hunts with gun, rum and lights and kills everything that moves. We can combat this by joining organized groups that protects our interests and defend our rights and poke holes in their perceived image of us. Plus, we can defeat our perceived image by our own actions and code of ethics and not be afraid to defend at a moments notice with a knowedgable and respectful rebuttal.

I am extremely proud to be a hunter and not afraid to be who I am, to no one. I have had exposure of anti hunting mentalities both personally and though our fish and game club. The three codes that I follow and have been successful in portraying our sport are the following:
Ethics
Knowledge
Pride of who you are and what you do

Ethics
I follow the game laws and the fair pursuit of game. I hunt with very few people but trusted and like minded friends. I love a good drink of rum as much as most men but liquor is not touched until I am home or back at the camp that evening. I only take the best shot possible and will do all that is humanly possible to retrieve lost game. I also respect private property and others who are hunting and leave them a wide berth as not to disturb them plus many more.

Knowledge
I make myself aware of the issues that are the focus of the antis and prepare well documented, scientific data fueld rebuttals. I keep abreast of habitat issues and readily support conservation methods to benefit all parties.

Pride
I feel that I have been taught well by my father and mentors plus the various courses taken to become a hunter. I know that as a hunter, we are on the front line of witnessing changes to our environment and can become a strong voice of change and protection.

At any given time, I can state why I hunt, what are my reasons plus the benefits across the board. I will strongly condone illegal activity and unethical activies portrayed by others and will readily state that this is the actions of the very few and not a representative of the majority. Plus, I am proud to say I am teaching my children the wonders of hunting. Not once have I received a negative comment.

If we keep the high road in our pursuits and be proud of what we do, the antis will have a hard time to defeat this perception and most importantly, the immensly larger non hunting community will accept us as what real sportspeople are all about.

 

[Predator One]

Thanks Guys and thank you 700 Lefty!
Your post summed this whole issue up well. We are either the good will Ambassadors of hunting or...the examples that the anti-hunting movement uses to make their arguments!
happy hunting to all! Ray

 

[soldier]

Guys/gals...
I don't know if you have ever been challenged/attacked (verbally) by someone or a group of activists on why you hunt...but I have. It's small wonder too as our sport is considered blood thirsty and barbaric...portrayed that way in the Disney movies, and in various forms of media as such by well-meaning but mis-informed people,well-organized and well financed in their efforts to enfluence the hearts and minds of the vast majority who are non-hunters and who remain neutral on the subject.They are focusing more and more on enfluencing children of all ages and as I have visited schools in New Brunswick, speaking to classes about my books and my sport of hunting, I am encountering more kids who have very biased views on our sport.I find though that after I've had a chance to talk with those kids, they are at least willing to take a more balanced look at the sport and question the propaganda they have heard. The anti-arguments and statistics the antis offer are designed to cast the hunting fraternity in a poor light and eventually put an end to hunting.They don't want us displaying our big game animals as we go to register them nor do they want outdoor maagazines to featuress photos of "dead" animals and continue to actively lobby for such practices to stop. One magazine I write for actually listened to the anti argumwents a couple of years ago and informed its' writers they would no longer be publishing photos of "dead game"... Of course this incensed all the staff writers and they quickly responded that this was an outddor hunting/fishing publication and none of us would continue writing for them if that was the case. The owner of the magazine quickly backed off and continued to publish our hunter/big game photos. However, had the magazine given in to the anti-lobby-ests, hunting and hunters would have lost a major battle in protecting our sport! We, as hunters, are the sport's ambassadors...and defenders and what we do and how we do it either helps us sustain the sport or will give fuel to the "antis" cause. My question today is...Do you feel the anti-hunting movement poses a threat to our sport and have you ever had to defend/explain hunting to those people?