Anti-hunters, anyone have to deal with these guys?

outdoor338 · 08-28-2003, 05:47 PM

Anti-hunters, anyone deal with these...

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Well, its about that time of year again, and I am looking for your stories of having to deal with anti-hunters! Again, this is one segment that I am looking forward to putting together.

Several years ago, while hunting deer in the mid-west, I was sitting on my stand on opening morning, it was about 10:00 in the morning, when I first noticed the sirens on the highway just east of my hunting stand, the siren seemed not to move but was stationary. This went on for a half hour, I was getting worried with no movement of the ambulance. I found out later that anti-hunters spiked the road used mostly by hunters and thank goodness no one died, what is so ironic that this ambulance was getting a hunter who was shot, these people are scary and will stop at nothing to stop us from enjoying the outdoors..send your stories to Mbrooks33@aol.com

Dr. Mike

Beans Morocco · 08-28-2003, 07:59 PM

All the time. I' ll tell you where I get beat up pretty badly: #1 " Hunting" shows. If any of you has not tried to view these things through the eyes of a non-hunter, try it...or watch a few with a non-hunter...ouch. #2 Living for many years in an area with great hunting where it is a part of the culture and the economy, and hence receives a great influx of hunters...some, BAD hunters...it pains me to say so but fully half of the folks I run into out there every year are NOT exercising the best moral, ethical and enviromentally respectful behavior that they could, leaving us all open to criticism precipitated but the actions of some.

I suppose that I have become best able to rebut the killing part of hunting criticism better than anything. My point is simply this: I believe firmly and deeply in the fact that life is sustained by other life. If someone expresses horror at my ability to take an animals' life for food, I tell them that I do not feel morally qualified to discern which form of life it is OK to kill and consume (other than human beings) To me the taking of a deer, elk, duck, etc. is no more morally reprehesible than to pluck a carrot from the the ground. I ask them, " Do you feel somehow morally qualified (and superior) to decide which forms of life it is acceptable to kill and comsume?" and if yes; By what divine appointment they feel they can mete out such judgement.

I will further tell them that if they consume flesh, is it better to thoughtlessly and dispassionately pluck a foam-trayed plastic-wrapped chunks of meat from a cooler and consume it with complete lack of thought for its' source; or, is it more noble to take responsibility for that which sustains you and those that care and provide for?

Bottom line: It is hypocritical to criticize the killing and consumption of anything when it is done with appreciation for all that sustains us. It is, however, morally reprehensible to consume without gratitude whether it' s a tomato, a pork chop, a loaf of bread or a pheasant breast. Seriously. How many Vegans so you think sit down to a tofu stir-fry and cast their mind to planting of the seeds and the care and labor that produced the dish in front of them? Probably not as many as there are hunters who tuck in to a medallion of venison loin and are taken back to time and place when the creature that provided it fell to a bullet or arrow and are touched with appreciation for that sacrifice.

Grizzlybear · 08-29-2003, 06:42 AM

Beans-

Very well said.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with you on one point - that most of the folks I run into in the field are not who I would label a hunter. I wouldn' t trust most of them with a cap gun.