ORIGINAL: NEW61375
I AM A LIFE LONG, DEDICATED, AND CONCERNED HUNTER. WHILE I DO AGREE AND UNDERSTAND THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THE W.H.A. I ALSO BELIEVE IN A BIG PICTURE VIEW OF THINGS AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE W.H.A. IS BEING GIVE A FAIR SHAKE. HUNTINGISABOUT SPENDING TIME IN THE OUTDOORSWITH OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES, IT IS ABOUT HERITAGE, IT IS ABOUT PASSION, IT IS ABOUT THAT FEELING YOU GET DEEP INSIDEWHENTHE SUN RISES ON OPENING DAY, IT IS ABOUT RESPECTING THE LAND AND OUR PREY,IT IS ABOUT PASSING SOMETHING ONAND PRESERVATION FOR THE FUTURE, IT IS ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS ANDMUCH MORE. THAT BEING SAID I DONT BELIEVE IT IS THE W.H.A.'s GOAL TO TAKE AWAY FROM THATINTENTIONALLY. HOWEVER, I THINK IF THEY ARE NOT CAREFUL THEY WILL, INTENTIONALLY OR NOT. HUNTING IS NOT LIKEBASEBALL, FOOTBALL, NASCAR, OR ANY OTHER MAINSTREAM SPORT AND I CERTAINLY DON'T FEEL IT SHOULD BE MARKETED LIKE ONE.WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT WITHIN THIER ORGANIZATION THERE ARE HUNTERS THAT SHAREOUR FEELINGS AND CONCERNS. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE SAYING "THIS IS HUNTING" BECAUSEWE ALLKNOW THAT WOULD BE A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT. ITIS HOWEVER A FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT THAT IF MANAGED CORRECTLY COULD,AS THEY SAY IT WILL, RAISE MONEY FOR HUNTING RELATED CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS ASWELL AS PROMOTE HUNTING PRODUCTSTO ABIGGER AUDIENCE. I FEEL A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE "FENCED IN ASPECT" AND THAT MAINSTREAMINGSOMETHING TENDS TOLEAVE OUT A LOT OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS, LIKE THE ONES MENTIONED ABOVE.HOWEVER, THE FORMAT REMINDS ME A LOT OF THE PROFESSIONAL FISHING FORMATS AND NOONE SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEMWITH THOSE. THE ONLY REASON I MENTION THAT IS BECAUSE IFEEL LIKE PROFESSIONAL FISHING TOURS HAVE COME A LONG WAY AND THEY ARE QUITE BENEFICIAL TO FISHINGAND ENTERTAINING AS WELL. MAYBETHE W.H.A.COULDHAVE AN EFFECTLIKE THAT WITH HUNTING,I DON'T KNOW.I SAID EARLIER THAT I WAS A CONCERNED HUNTER AND I AM. BEING THE FATHER OF THREE SMALL CHILDREN I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE SAME HUNTING OPPURTUNITIES AND LIFESTYLE THAT I HAVE. WITH THE NUMBER OF GROUPS OUT THERE AGAINST HUNTING AND THEFACT THAT OUR LAND AND HERITAGEARE OFTEN UNDER ATTACK,WE SHOULD STAND STRONGLY TOGETHER TO PRESERVE OUR FUTURE.SOMETIMES THAT MEANS TAKING A TOUCHY SUBJECT LIKE THISONE AND EVALUATING IT FROMMORE THAN JUST A NEGATIVE ANGLE.FEEL FREE TO RESPOND.
Ok NEW61375, not a lot of time, so a quick summary of my thoughts on your post.
You were right on when you stated: "HUNTINGISABOUT SPENDING TIME IN THE OUTDOORSWITH OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES, IT IS ABOUT HERITAGE, IT IS ABOUT PASSION, IT IS ABOUT THAT FEELING YOU GET DEEP INSIDEWHENTHE SUN RISES ON OPENING DAY, IT IS ABOUT RESPECTING THE LAND AND OUR PREY..." Problem is, the WHA proposes none of this...they are outdoors w/a camerman, a vet, and a bit frigg'n dart, no family involved...don't think darting and drugging deer can be considered any neer one's heritage (unless your a pygmy from Africa)...the only passion Farbman has is money-driven....and as far as I am concerned it disrespects the animal---besides being drugged, thier sit'n in a pen.
I can see nothing good being "passed on" or any preservation values here...is this how you would like your children growing up and thinking, "hey, this is Ok, this is how it is done".
Whether the WHA is intentionally taking away from these things or not, they ARE! Plain and simple.
You are right on the money when you state that hunting is not like any mainstream sport and should not marked like one. The WHA is marketing it like one...go to their website and check it out for yourself.
There obviously isn't any one in thier organization that "shares our feelings and concerns"...if there is I haven't heard of any. The whole idea is ethically bankrupt.
If the WHA isn't saying "this is hunting...",
why are they called the World Hunting Association? Hello?!
Yes, a lot of people have a problem with the fenced in aspect, good point. They, me included, would naturally be against this idea, then. I believe they are a lot of people who are indifferent to the penned deer, but dissapprove of this idea...sounds like a good poll idea to me....
Catch and release fishing like the professional fishing tours compared to darting a live deer with a high powered weapon, then administering drugs to "revive" it and hope it does ok seems a little more difficult to me than popping the hook out of a walleye and dropping it back in the water. Hunting is not catch and release, no matter how you spin it.
Your are again right to say that our hunting land and heritage are under attack, because they are every day. This is only fuel for the bac guys. Look at it this way. Regardless of how PETA views this, it is a lose lose situation for hunters and sportsman alike. If they support it, they will stand on the platform of "no need to kill deer, just dart them and let them go"...why should we kill them...I can feel the lobbyists now. So much for venison steaks tonight. If they don't support the idea, then we are all bad guys hurting these poor, poor animals for monetary benefit, fast cars, beautiful women, and a shot at fame. Ouch.
So much for the short version. I appreciate your views. It is necessary for us to see someone's point of view for the minority, and it takes guts to post it. Thank you for your post, and I am looking forward to reading more. Sorry my response may have gotten a little passionate. Iwish your kids the best hunting future God can give them.