Info for Hunters

In this age, I feel it is vital that all sportsmen know who they are up against. We need to know who is speaking against us and what their messages are. This is the only way we can counterattack their "facts" with facts of our own.

There are those who do not understand how we can "hunt"; and to those, do not turn your back. Help them understand why. Educate them on how taxes from hunting (et al) conserve and restore habitats, and improve animal health and numbers. Share with them how you feel as you become a part of a natural order; taking your place in the outdoors. If they do infact eat meat, explain how game animals are much healthier than store bought meats. There are chances that you may not sway their opinion; they are entitled to their own, after all. But, you won't have the chance to at least find common ground if you do not try. They may not see a need for hunting for them, but they may see your need to hunt, and that can make a major difference when issues come up to vote on.

There are those who think hunters have all the advantages in the outdoors, and that the game animals stand no chance. To them, do not turn your back. If at all possible leave your gun at home, arm yourself with a camera, and set out on a "hunt" together. Show them how to track animals and watch for sign. Show them how we have to play the wind and how quiet we have to be. Simulate an actual hunt doing things you would normally do, explaining the whole while, and instead of "shooting" an animal with your gun, "shoot" it with your camera. As you are watching the (for ex.) deer, point out how it's ears are moving, listening for any noises. If it raises it's head to look around, point out why. The goal would be for them to walk away educated; knowing that wildlife have great senses as their defense and so they aren't unarmed. Perhaps they can understand that at times, the animal's senses trump our own, and we walk home empty handed.
"Sometimes the zebra gets away from the lion".

continuing............

Take a kid hunting. Mentor kids who want to hunt(et al) but have no one to take them. How many of you still remember the bond between you and your parents or mentors out in the field? All children should know that bond.
* Sometimes, with a youngster, it's a great idea to take one gun: theirs. It's important they feel they are a partner in the hunt and not a tag-along.
* The smaller the kids, the shorter the patience fuse. Carry along a fanny pack stuffed with snacks, drinks, and always be armed with stories or jokes to keep them entertained while waiting on game.
* Help them learn to identify animals by their tracks. Show them different rubs and scrapes. Ask their opinion often. ("What do you think made this track?" "Do you think this is a fresh scrape?" etc.)
There are many ways to share productive hunting experiences with a child.

Banding together is something I wish all hunters would do.
We each go by our own personal hunting ethics; that's fine because that's how it is with individuals. There are things that "Hunter A" does that "Hunter B" does not agree with, and vice versa. "Hunter A" may only shoot does because he likes the meat and wants bucks to grow. "Hunter B" may only shoot bucks and not agree with shooting does. "Hunter A" may be a bow hunter who feels crossbows aren't classified as archery weapons, and "Hunter B" may be a crossbow hunter who shares archery season with "Hunter A". We hunters pit ourselves against each other every year. We have one group who calls another slob hunters because their ethics or ways of hunting differ from ours. And that group turns around and finds fault in the ways we hunt.
There needs to be a time when we can push our personal ethics aside.
I grew up in a place that does not allow baiting. Therefore, I could never see myself baiting.
I grew up in an area where foxes were slim, so I could never see myself shooting a fox.
I am also here to tell you I would fight tooth and nail to help allow other hunters to bait or shoot foxes if it was in danger of being banned in their respected areas.

Everyone's ethics are different. We have to see things through the other's eyes at times. Just like we need anti's and nonhunters to see our need to hunt a certain way, we hunters need to do that often with each other as well. We need to see their need.
If we give anti's an inch,they will take a mile. They will not stop until their ultimate goal is reached: the end of hunting (et al).

It is up to us.