Theres some people that just want to argue for the sake of arguing. And still others that wont change their opinions for anyone no matter what. I don't make a practice of arguing with antis, although I will answer letters to the editor, and such when I see incorrect information being passed about hunting. I'm a member of several clubs, and I try my best to be a good person so that I represent hunters in a positive light. There are people I know, and even some in my own family, that don't like hunting. However I don't make a practice of arguing with them. I think that would just make them hate it/and me, all the more. I have had some of the non hunters that I know personally that have told me they don't think I am like most hunters, and that they somewhat understand my love for it. Keep in mind not all non hunters are antis. And these are the ones I would like to be a good influence on the most. Thats why I don't try to push it in their face. I answer questions when asked, but I do not seek out confrontations.
I have a cousin that hates hunting. One year while our families were gathered together for Christmas dinner she made the statement to me, across the dinner table yet, that she thought someone that showed such a love for the outdoors such as myself would have grown up to be something better than a hunter. Everyone at the table stoped talking in an uncomfortable silence while they awaited my response. I must say she caught me a bit off guard. I don't like being the center of attention, but I got up from the table and pulled out a book from my book shelf. The "Yukon Writings of Jack London", turned it to a story called "In the Forests of the North", and handed it to her. Then I recited a paragraph from the story.
"When I creep through the snow upon the great moose I am glad. And when I draw my bow so with my full strength, and drive the arrow fierce and swift to the heart I am glad. And the meat of no mans kill tastes as sweet as the meat of my kill. I am glad to live. Glad in my own cunning and strength. Glad to be a doer of things. A doer of things for myself. Of what other reason to live than that? Why should I live if I delight not in that which I do? And it is because I delight and am glad, that I go forth to hunt and fish. And it is because I go forth to hunt and fish that I become cunning and strong. The man who stays in the lodge by the fire grows not cunning and strong. He is not made happy in the eating of my kill, nor is living to him a delight. He does not live!
Then I sat down and ate my turkey. To this day she has not said another thing to me about my hunting


The spirit of the woods is like an old good friend