It's a real shame - please read
08-23-2005, 01:18 PM
#12
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,555
RE: It's a real shame - please read
Great post Justin! Very clear and to the point.
There is nothing wrong with open dialog, exchange of ideas and preferences but I agree that personal attacks and attacks on a specific method of hunting do nothing for our sport. Without a united base we will see hunting disappear in the next few decades if not sooner.
There is nothing wrong with open dialog, exchange of ideas and preferences but I agree that personal attacks and attacks on a specific method of hunting do nothing for our sport. Without a united base we will see hunting disappear in the next few decades if not sooner.
08-23-2005, 01:22 PM
#13
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Columbia, Md.
Posts: 1,211
RE: It's a real shame - please read
I was thinking about starting a thread on this very topic the other day. Imagine this scenario:
You and forum user X go back and forth with the name calling and putting each other down, etc.. Basically you start to hate this person even though you have never met them. Then one day you are out hunting and you tag a nice animal. While cleaning it, another hunter comes by and congratulates you and helps you drag it out. He's a really nice guy and you two start to talking and guess what, it turns out to be user X who you hate. Now what do you do?
A lot of people bash other people because they will never see them face to face and I think it is childish. We don't really know who the other user is in most instances. The arguing could ruin a potential friendship. I have met a few people from here that are very nice. I have hunted with one of them also. I am grateful that I was able to meet them.
People live in different ares and have different opinions based upon that. What works for me in the woods here won't work in the praires of the midwest. If I prefer to use a certain method or equipment, why is it wrong if you don't agree. That is what makes America great. We have the option of being different. Who here would have prefered to live in communist Russia and be told what to do and when? We, as a people(Americans) are spoiled. We have always had these rights and we take them for granted. Appreciate the fact that you can choose how you want to hunt and respect another's hunters' choice.
(On a side note, be grateful that you have the ability to go hunting. Be grateful that you can get up out of bed, shower, get dressed and go to work. There are many people with disabilities that can't do these simple things. OK, now I digress)
Bottom line is exactly what Justin said. We need to pull together and stop all the bickering. Use this forum to spread personal knowledge and friendship and strengthen the hunting community as a whole.
You and forum user X go back and forth with the name calling and putting each other down, etc.. Basically you start to hate this person even though you have never met them. Then one day you are out hunting and you tag a nice animal. While cleaning it, another hunter comes by and congratulates you and helps you drag it out. He's a really nice guy and you two start to talking and guess what, it turns out to be user X who you hate. Now what do you do?
A lot of people bash other people because they will never see them face to face and I think it is childish. We don't really know who the other user is in most instances. The arguing could ruin a potential friendship. I have met a few people from here that are very nice. I have hunted with one of them also. I am grateful that I was able to meet them.
People live in different ares and have different opinions based upon that. What works for me in the woods here won't work in the praires of the midwest. If I prefer to use a certain method or equipment, why is it wrong if you don't agree. That is what makes America great. We have the option of being different. Who here would have prefered to live in communist Russia and be told what to do and when? We, as a people(Americans) are spoiled. We have always had these rights and we take them for granted. Appreciate the fact that you can choose how you want to hunt and respect another's hunters' choice.
(On a side note, be grateful that you have the ability to go hunting. Be grateful that you can get up out of bed, shower, get dressed and go to work. There are many people with disabilities that can't do these simple things. OK, now I digress)
Bottom line is exactly what Justin said. We need to pull together and stop all the bickering. Use this forum to spread personal knowledge and friendship and strengthen the hunting community as a whole.
08-23-2005, 04:18 PM
#15
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 140
RE: It's a real shame - please read
Very well said Justin! I really enjoy this site, but it saddens me to see such open hostility towards fellow hunters. Life is too short to be that bitter, and we should thank God we still have the ability to hunt rather than focusing on attacking a fellow hunter because we don't agree with his/her methods.
08-23-2005, 04:29 PM
#16
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location:
Posts: 13,082
RE: It's a real shame - please read
I, for one, would like to apologize for the recent threads over activated carbon. Although I felt at the time like I was acting OK, I now can see how maybe I was also being a bit childish at the same time. My apologies.
I agree 100%. I, like alot of people that visit this awesome site, am just a very passionate person about whatever it is I am involved with. Whether it be relationships, my job, or hunting, I feel very strongly about it and am passionate about the same. I think an aweful lot of us here are much the same, but in my case, I need to think a little before I open my mouth...(or fingers,in this case ...
) and be a little more professional and mature.
Again, my apologies, I hope I have not ticked anyone off, and people don't pass by my posts now because of it.
I agree 100%. I, like alot of people that visit this awesome site, am just a very passionate person about whatever it is I am involved with. Whether it be relationships, my job, or hunting, I feel very strongly about it and am passionate about the same. I think an aweful lot of us here are much the same, but in my case, I need to think a little before I open my mouth...(or fingers,in this case ...
) and be a little more professional and mature. Again, my apologies, I hope I have not ticked anyone off, and people don't pass by my posts now because of it.
08-23-2005, 07:22 PM
#17
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Beautiful Western Montana
Posts: 2,308
RE: It's a real shame - please read
For too long, too many hunters are too concerned with the antis. Antis will not be the death of hunting, hunters will. I think it is not only prudent, but morally responsible for hunters to start calling out questionable and unethical hunting, legal or other wise. To say that we are all hunters and should stick togather is nonsense. Many of the practices by "hunters" I will not stand by or stick up for. I think some real positive things have transpired over the last few years. More and more threads are tackling issues like: canned hunts, commercialization, horn porn, and TV shows. In many ways we are privy to seeing trends right here on this board. The fact that more and more hunters are becomming hostile to certain aspects of the modern hunting culture is an early indicator of what's to come. Hopefully, members of this board will continue to voice their opinion in an articulate and respectful manner, and not succomb to the "lets all be one" mentality.
08-23-2005, 07:37 PM
#18
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lehigh County PA USA
Posts: 12,157
RE: It's a real shame - please read
Nice post Justin. I was going to say that I had no idea how I missed this but then I noticed you only posted it today. Must be a hot topic with so many people commenting.
In the grander scheme of things I agree with you. As a group we need to directly combat those efforts against us by the Antis...but many hunting methods are tough to swallow for most folks. In the end I hope it is not the end for us all.
Must be a hot topic with so many people commenting.In the grander scheme of things I agree with you. As a group we need to directly combat those efforts against us by the Antis...but many hunting methods are tough to swallow for most folks. In the end I hope it is not the end for us all.
08-23-2005, 07:38 PM
#19
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin/Michigan
Posts: 9,679
RE: It's a real shame - please read
I kinda agree with muley on this one. I won't sit back or turn my head when I disapprove of something I feel is wrong. I wasn't taught this by my father nor will I teach it to my son!
But, let's try to be respectful to the persons about it as much as possible.
But, let's try to be respectful to the persons about it as much as possible.
08-23-2005, 08:07 PM
#20
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Northern Illinoise
Posts: 2,464
RE: It's a real shame - please read
Nobody is saying that you should turn your heads to things that are morally or legally wrong in the hunting world. Poachers and slob hunters give the rest of us who are truely passionate and care about this sport a bad name and of course we need to differentiate them from real hunters. I'm talking about people fighting about using crossbows or wearing activated carbon clothing or hunting on a 10,000 acre high fence ranch in Texas. Things that are legal, ethical, and nothing more than a personal preference regarding the way you choose to hunt.
The weapon or methods you use to harvest any game animal does not make you better or worse than any other hunter who persues animals legally and ethically. The person who takes a trophy with a 7mm is just as much of a sportsman as the person who takes their first forkhorn buck with a recurve bow as long as the reason they take to the woods each fall is the same. When are we going to stop worrying so much about finding faults in other people's methodoligy and simply be happy for a hunter who is successful?
The weapon or methods you use to harvest any game animal does not make you better or worse than any other hunter who persues animals legally and ethically. The person who takes a trophy with a 7mm is just as much of a sportsman as the person who takes their first forkhorn buck with a recurve bow as long as the reason they take to the woods each fall is the same. When are we going to stop worrying so much about finding faults in other people's methodoligy and simply be happy for a hunter who is successful?