RE: The Enemy Within......
 

I didn't take the same thing away from the article as others I guess. Mr Hendricks stated several general types of hunting (bow, crossbow, hounds, standhunting, gun). I felt he was saying that if an area/state DNR determines what is legal and right for hunting in your area you should support that. Now supportingan individual style of hunting and participating in an indivual style of hunting are seperate things. I don't hunt with a crossbow, however if someone were trying to prevent crossbow hunters from hunting then I would support the crossbow hunters. I huntusing dogswith a great group of reponsible men and women at a club in my area, if someone were trying to prevent dog hunting (which they do) support from other hunters would be nice but it never happens, too many people have had bad encounters with bad dog clubs. I understand that. If you don't like dog hunting why would you support it. But think about this ifall of those clubs and huntersare told they can't hunt with dogs many would quit hunting, we will lose hunters, clubs andland.I don't think that is a good thing. In my areait is a huge tradition and a major boost to the economy. Not to get on the whole dog-hunting issue because that is not what this thread is about. I completly agree inpolicing ourselves more and raising and introducing good, responsible hunters and bringing back some honor & prideto hunting. I agree there is a perception problem with hunting and thehunting shows/industry needs some PR help desperately. I don't know what practices you(manuman) feel should be stopped but there are some for sure. I didn't feel Mr. Hendricks was saying accept everything titled hunting he was saying and I quote

"As long as a hunters are using legal weapons to harvest legal game, we must fight for their right to do so." ....

"If hound hunting is legal and someone is trying to take away the houndsman’s rights, as hunters, we are obligated to support him in his battle. Even if we are not hound hunters ourselves, his rights have to be protected. If we allow his rights to be taken away, we’ve lost ground to a force that will not let up until all hunting is a thing of the past"....

"Don’t let petty indifferences or selfish reasoning cause you to say harsh things about another hunter regardless of his chosen method or the weapon he uses. "

The last quote really hit home because I know guys that think the deer are "MY" deer. And a lot of the time they don't want someone else to hunt (with whatever method)because they might kill "MY" buck. Some dog drivers at a club I used to hunt with wanted no primitive weapons hunting on club land prior to the opening of gun season to keep the woods from getting"spooked up" but the same guys will run their dogs year round to "keep them fresh". They had a selfish reason for not wanting people using primitive weapons plain and simple.

Any hunting that is stopped or banned will the be used to establish precedents in futher attempts to find similiar areas or hunts to stop. And if that happens we as hunters lose ground. I don't want to sit around singing kumbayah and a think differences in opinion are necessary to view things from a different perspective.

If anyone is familiar with Charlie Daniels (which I hope most are) he has a great quote in a songI believe is titled "In America" it goes something like this

"...and we may have done a little bit of fightin' amongst ourselves but you outside people best leave us alone. Cuz we'll all stick together, and you can take that to the bank, that's the cowboys and the hippies and the rebels and the yanks!...."

I just hope we huntersall stick together whenwereally need to. Here is a link to the article for anyone reading the end of this thread.




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The Enemy Within

RE: The Enemy Within......
 

I agree with most of whatyou have said. Most of those posting feel that it is a 'take all or lose all' proposition, and that is what I am talking about as being foolish. You don't lump in the good and the bad to attempt to save the whole.Discernment and commom sense dictates what needs to be weeded out. The selfish reasoning for wanting to continue in many of these practices and an unjustifiable, irrational fear that by doing some weeding, then the door is opened for those opposed to use this as a precedence to take further measures is illogical. If I am concerned over something as being questionable, and someone is willing to ,reasonably, examine the issue, and conclude that my concerns are legitimate, and then take the next step to eliminate or at least take some control measures against these concerns, then I would be much more apt to be receptive and open to the remaining legitimate activities. For the legitimate that those in opposition continue to view as illegitimate, then my job is to construct an argument,with sound evidences, and reasoning supporting it, to take away their objections. This is more difficult, but the only truly lasting solution. Being in a blanket position of unity, while including illegitimate, unethical, and distasteful practices appears as militant and 'red neck'. Hunting and outdoorsmanship is an extremely legitimate and easily defended position as a lifestyle--unless you include the practices that need to be cleaned up among our ranks. Without the clean up, there is no line drawn or distinction between the legit and the illegit. Consequently, they are all lumped together, and those in opposition see no differences, leading to a blanket ban of anything we want to keep.

RE: The Enemy Within......
 

Very well put manuman, policing our ranks and clean-up/reform of some questionable practices is a necessity. On an individual level it seems like a massive undertaking. But even individuals can make a differenence. Mentoring young or new hunter focusing more on values, respect, morals, ethics, and things of that nature is vital. Unfortunately there will always be the bad apples, people that don't follow game laws or lackmost of things mentioned above andthere is no easy solution there. These people are hurting us all but how dowe implement clean up/control on all of them. Itmeans the good applescan't turn a blind eye, call people out, andhold thoseleaving a stain on our lifestyle accountable. That's asking a lot of most. As far asquestionable practices getting changed that seems like an issue for State and Federal DNR and it takesa lot of hunters voices to implement changes there, but it is not impossible.