Hi atlasman,

Now, your last argument was more cogent. You took the time to not only break down differences required with different weapons systems...but to logically support each of them.

I don't think you will find any one willing to attempt a "serious argument" with you that the shot itself doesn't require less skill with a centerfire rifle than say a long bow. Nor, would they argue that the hardest part of either of those is "setting yourself up" for the shot in the first place. I think where you will find argument is if you attempt to "portray" one as more "worthy" than the other. They all take varying degrees of differing skills. Some more dependent upon woodsmanship....and some more dependent upon marksmanship. But where people are willing to argue is if you attempt to say that one of those skills are somehow "better....or more ethical....or more worthy than the other skills". Each hunter decides for him or herself which form of the sport they enjoy. And that is the important distinction! If you take your chosen "form" of hunting and apply it in an ethical manner....that is what is most important. The rest is just minutia...trivial...non-important.....EXCEPT IN THE MIND OF SOME ONE ELSE!

As hunters we should be policing our ranks of "outlaws". We should not tolerate the slobs. We should shun the unethical. We should NOT argue amongst ourselves over the minutia! That is what is important!

You and I may be mature enough to sit here all day and argue vehemently for or against one another's position. But there may be less experienced, less mature, "less certain of the ethics of hunting", individuals sitting here reading these posts. And what "picture of our sport" do we want to present to them?

When it is done ethically....all forms of hunting are equally worthwhile! And therein lies the truth.