Focus on the big picture!
 

There are many topics in hunting, that are controversial! I am glad that for the most part, we've cut out most of the name calling here though!
We DO need to focus on the "big picture," as far as hunting goes though!
I have said many times, "if its legal, I'll support you!"
IF, the best "support" I can give you, is to keep my opinion to myself, I"ll try my best to do that too!
There are hundreds of different ways to hunt, hunting laws,weapons, styles, etc. Many are legal in one state, area, or region, and totally illegal in others!
Different areas, have big differences in deer numbers, deer size, hunting pressure, terrains, and food sources!
Many of us, (myself for one,) are really unfamiliar with whats legal, and accepted in other territories!
With the possible exceptions of "total canned hunts," and internet, remote controlled hunting, we need to focus on the big picture!
While it may be "too easy," for us, if it puts $$$, andPEOPLE into hunting, it IS GOOD for the sport of hunting!
Lets face it! The Anti's want "hunting" banned!
JUST because, "its not the way I do it," IS NOT a good enough excuse, to be against any legal form of hunting to please the Anti's!
What REALLY hurts "hunting," is poachers!
We needto support legal hunting, and educate people that there IS a difference between hunting, andpoaching!
Hunting is legal, poaching illegal!
Bashing legal hunting styles,HELPS the Anti's! It does nothing goodfor the sport of hunting! The big picture!

RE: Focus on the big picture!
 

Topic cancelled! Rallying the huntingtroups, doesn't sell!
Controversy does!:D

RE: Focus on the big picture!
 

i agree.......i for one will not stand by that hunters supporting that crap i watched earlier with jimmy houston in it...i'll be more than supportive when it comes to anything but that......it should be illegal.....a fenced in 3-6 acre plot is nothing more than shooting a caged critter ......

RE: Focus on the big picture!
 

Well said JMM!

RE: Focus on the big picture!
 

JagMan-

by your philosophy you would support and accept the Jimmy Houston video?

RE: Focus on the big picture!
 

Emmmm Emmmm Emmmm ...you know what I would like to see ...I would like to see all hunters that hunt legally no matter what part of the country they live in support one another. I see where mostbow hunters have a click and look down on rifle hunters ...and I have a good amount of experience doing both but its reminds me of a Harley riders looking down on a Honda rider ...or guys that do not use dogs to hunt with VS those that do legally... or guys that use crossbows instead of compound or recurves ..or guys who go on guided hunts vs those that stay at home and guide themselves....andthings reallyshould not be that way....and do not tell me it does not happen because I have seen it a lot on here ...and I have experienced that sameattitude in hunting circles locally..Ive had bow hunters tell me on here "Hey if you killed that buck with a rifle you ain't done anything" and they have no idea that Ivebow hunted for almost 30 years and most likely was bowhunting when they where still in baby shoes..seems its just the nature of our sport now...us agenst them... but just like the good book says "A house divided will fall"so when one side of the sport is slamming the other side ...down playing one or the other... and I know some of it is good natured BUTit seems to me to be counter productive when we should be taking that time to support one another and this great sport. When the "anti's" see us slamming one another it just gives them something else to use agenst us. I also think we have to be careful with what we say (bow and rifle hunters) to one another on here because of all the young people that read this ..if we say or do something on here that discourages just ONE child from wanting to rifle or bow hunt then we have done a terriable injustice to them and our sport. I for one enjoy talking to these younger hunters and hope I have not said or done anything to tarnish thier idea as to what hunting should be.

dd

RE: Focus on the big picture!
 

DD
I understand what you're saying and agree to a point. However I must say that a lot of the times on here people are simply stating facts that get misconstrued for a "holier than thou" attitude or giving the appearance of knocking another form of hunting. You can point out 100% facts to someone on here sometimes and somehow that turns into a "you think your better than me" situation when your intent isn't that at all.
Examples....
FACT:
hunting and killing a mature whitetail deer is totally different than hunting and killing a 1.5 year old deer.

INTERPRATATION:
you think you're holier than thou because you kill bigger bucks. Not everyone has the ability to hunt big bucks, I hunt for meat, I cant' stand you trophy hunters etc.......

FACT:
bowhunting provides a greater challenge than hunting with a high powered rifle with a scope.

INTERPRATATION:
you dam bowhunters think you are hunting Gods. you look down on us rifle hunters and think you're better than us. I work my butt off just like you do.

FACT:
hunting over bait is artificially changing the deers natural enviroment no matter how you want to sugar coat it or make comparisons to natural food plots, calls, etc...

INTERPRATATION:
you no good city slicker think your way is the only way to hunt. you use unfair advantages the same as baiting.

I do agree with you that we should try and support eachothers hunting as long as it's legal. I do believe however that people should be honest with the facts and accept them for what they are and not turn it into something it's not. Seems to me that sometimes people are quick to get on the defensive about a particular subject and are not objective to any kind of reasoning. They find it easier to label someone as "holier than thou". Just because someone is laying out the facts during a discussion doesn't always mean he/she thinks their way is superior or they are a better hunter.Just simply stating facts. You can still support a style of hunting and lay out the facts about it whether it's what others want to hear or not.

RE: Focus on the big picture!
 

NY those are some very good points and I agree.. I would only point out that depending onhow you deifne "fact" ...if you are referring to federal or state huntinglaws then inMOST cases there is only one way to interpet that law (with few exeptions) butsometimes some people confuse "fact" with opinion and then I think that opens up a can of worms. I think some hunters because of their passion for the sport state opinion for fact and confuse the issue being discussed ... I mean in a lot of ways "facts" are conjecture just like an opinion ..some think it to be fact where they hunt and state it as factbut another hunter may find it as opinion because it does not apply to the area HE hunts and take issue with it.. I do agree the we tend to be short fussed ( including the good Doctor ) and jump to conclusions ... I am going to do my very best from now on to PM a member if he or she says something that I take issue with and try to get an understanding of what they ment before I jump to conclutions and post my remarks .. but like I said in general I agree with what you said ... kind of scarry ain't it :D

dd

RE: Focus on the big picture!
 

"I reject your reality and substitute my own . "
Adam Savage

We all differ in some way , but I think that we all work toward the big picture for the sport we love , by and large . And with that said ... ;)

RE: Focus on the big picture!
 

i would have to agree with everyone.

and DD, i dont think you would have discouraged any younger people on here. im 15 and i look at you and all the older more experieced people as someone to look up to. you guys all love what you do and i hope i can do what you all do when im that age(not saying your old...) and yeah that was a little off topic. but i do agree with what everyone is sayin on here.