quote:

People, we are losing this battle and we are happy to ignore the threats against us and watch our hunting rights disappear.

"United we stand, divided we fall" - Problem though, united or not, we the hunting community are heavily outnumbered.

Some hunters have opted to keep a low profile and continue pursuing their hobby without making waves while others are adamant at being entitled to exercise and publicize their rights, which is fair enough though be prepared to take and accept the heat.

We are living in different times, in a world full of pansies and warped laws.

Damn it, up until the other day, gays were ostracized - today they get legally married (tells you something just isn't right)

quote:

The sad part of this is there is no way we could get 100,000 hunters to band together and petition against the anti-hunters.

Even if we could get 200,000 hunters together, it would not be enough. Not meaning to be Buzz Killington here, but even though the majority of members on here are avid hunters and don't want lose hunting, as can be seen from many discussions that take place on here, as a group, hunters can not get along.

All one has to do is view enough discussions in either this topic area or the American Hunting topic area, and they can readily see how quick hunters are willing to rip each other apart over the way someone chooses to hunt or where they choose to hunt or the size animals they choose to kill, ad infinitum.

quote:

Originally posted by SDR:
The sad part of this is there is no way we could get 100,000 hunters to band together and petition against the anti-hunters. I am also shocked at the lack of outrage expressed by hunters on this board. Instead was want to think that this is just ranting by a few radical lunatics. People, we are losing this battle and we are happy to ignore the threats against us and watch our hunting rights disappear.

We better wake up, band together and fight back everytime and everywhere or we will only have a website talking about the good old days when we could hunt.

I'm willing to be the first of 100,000 to band together and sign, just let me know!

I am willing also, and I imagine a lot of other folks are willing.

How many are going to be willing to put aside ALL differences and support ALL hunters that hunt in a legally recognized manner?

Just passing along some information that ties in with this topic. How many of those willing to stand united against the anti hunting movement are comfortable with this concept.

http://www.militarytimes.com/a...hunting-reality-show

The hunting and shooting sports industries, have for far too long allowed for our detractors to define us. Just take a look in the American Hunter magazine. We are continually shown (by our own industry) as rednecks wearing camo or extreme "gun nuts" wearing black goretex everything.

We are for the most part conservative, honest, hard working people with businesses to run, jobs to do and lives to live.

Our antagonists are crusaders, whom find a cause, form a coaltion, out organize and out spend us. Just look at the budgets of some of these lobby groups. Without quick and desisive intervention from NRA and dare I say SCI, i think the ending is written. It just hasn't been released as yet.

The part that amazes me is the velocity of all these countries and specie closures and the USFWS.

Just some random thought floating through my head.

Steve

That was the plan the anti's went with, when they realized that they could not get it all shut down at once. They realized they would have better luck doing it piece meal, starting with the species that readily elicit strong emotional feelings from humans in general.

Once the ball started rolling, it was basically all down hill. I believe it will be a while before all hunting is shut down, but I believe that by 2030 the face of hunting is going to be quite different than it is today in many aspects, species and countries available/open to hunting being the foremost.

Aaron,
I, personally, have never been on facebook. Why worry about the kids that embrace the "new age". If they censure you, so be it. You still have the shows, AR. You don't need the negative from facebook in your life.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:
The hunting and shooting sports industries, have for far too long allowed for our detractors to define us. Just take a look in the American Hunter magazine. We are continually shown (by our own industry) as rednecks wearing camo or extreme "gun nuts" wearing black goretex everything.

We are for the most part conservative, honest, hard working people with businesses to run, jobs to do and lives to live.

Our antagonists are crusaders, whom find a cause, form a coaltion, out organize and out spend us. Just look at the budgets of some of these lobby groups. Without quick and desisive intervention from NRA and dare I say SCI, i think the ending is written. It just hasn't been released as yet.

The part that amazes me is the velocity of all these countries and specie closures and the USFWS.

Just some random thought floating through my head.

Steve

Pretty accurate depiction of the current situation!

quote:

Originally posted by pagosawingnut:
Aaron,
I, personally, have never been on facebook. Why worry about the kids that embrace the "new age". If they censure you, so be it. You still have the shows, AR. You don't need the negative from facebook in your life.

Agreed, but that's not the point!! The point I am trying to make is, we are getting our asses kicked as a collective group - and unless we start doing something about it, we are screwed!!!

Like it or not, social media is a powerful tool. If one is really paying attention to the links, etc, you will see that its not just FB. They are using PR firms to mass e-mail, solicit support/funding, spread the falsehoods, etc. FB is simply another vehicle they are using to transport the message.

quote:

Like it or not, social media is a powerful tool. If one is really paying attention to the links, etc, you will see that its not just FB. They are using PR firms to mass e-mail, solicit support/funding, spread the falsehoods, etc. FB is simply another vehicle they are using to transport the message.

Accurate estimation of the situation.

Aaron - it's becoming crystal clear we have a serious problem on our hands that will simply not go away by turning a blind eye, so where do we begin? I'm not willing to let our future generations loose out on our hunting heritage due to misinformation. It would be very easy to sign every year multiple counter petitions at our DSC, shot show SCI ...conventions as a start. 100,000 signatures no problem.

Like it or not in this day and age multi media is the answer to mass messaging without the paper costs and time required, we need not shy away from this technology but embrace it as a tool.

Another simple idea to promote our message could be a well presented documentary story on hunting ,conservation and it's benefits. Air it on Nat Geo for all to watch?

Any other constructive thoughts?

Aaron:

You posing on FB with dead animals immediately inflames antis; they see it as you bragging about killing animals. You can argue about that all day long, but that is how they see it.

Let me ask you one question: how many letters to the editor have you written? How many op ed pieces have you offered to write? I personally have appeared in print three times in USA Today, once in Smithsonian magazine, and a few times in local newspapers.

Stuff like that is what gets people to re-evaluate hunting.

One more thing...my software biz generate money from the oil industry. Whenever I get into a debate amongst my friends about global warming, they point out that I have a vested interest in fossil fuels. It doesn't matter what my honest thoughts are, I have a credibility gap. Similarly, you have a credibility gap in that hunting is your livelihood.

quote:

Originally posted by pagosawingnut:
Aaron,
I, personally, have never been on facebook. Why worry about the kids that embrace the "new age". If they censure you, so be it. You still have the shows, AR. You don't need the negative from facebook in your life.

Why worry about the future if you're no longer around? (That seems to be the essence of what you're saying.)

The answer: Because Facebook and other social media has a major effect on the younger generations that will define whether or not sport hunting and the ability to utilize renewable natural resources will exist in the future! It isn't just your kids that will make a difference, its whether or not the kids whose parents never hunted will decide to give it a go or fall for the antis' propaganda. Failing to recognize the threat and respond to it in kind is what you're suggesting when you discount the importance of current and evolving social media.

If you check out Kendra's FB page, you'll note that she's still there, still posting pics of game taken legally, still getting far more "Likes" than comments, and still presenting an image of hunters that we all should appreciate.

quote:

Originally posted by Pulicords:

quote:

Originally posted by pagosawingnut:
Aaron,
I, personally, have never been on facebook. Why worry about the kids that embrace the "new age". If they censure you, so be it. You still have the shows, AR. You don't need the negative from facebook in your life.

Why worry about the future if you're no longer around? (That seems to be the essence of what you're saying.)

The answer: Because Facebook and other social media has a major effect on the younger generations that will define whether or not sport hunting and the ability to utilize renewable natural resources will exist in the future! It isn't just your kids that will make a difference, its whether or not the kids whose parents never hunted will decide to give it a go or fall for the antis' propaganda. Failing to recognize the threat and respond to it in kind is what you're suggesting when you discount the importance of current and evolving social media.

If you check out Kendra's FB page, you'll note that she's still there, still posting pics of game taken legally, still getting far more "Likes" than comments, and still presenting an image of hunters that we all should appreciate.

Well said!

quote:

Originally posted by AR MAN:
Aaron - it's becoming crystal clear we have a serious problem on our hands that will simply not go away by turning a blind eye, so where do we begin? I'm not willing to let our future generations loose out on our hunting heritage due to misinformation. It would be very easy to sign every year multiple counter petitions at our DSC, shot show SCI ...conventions as a start. 100,000 signatures no problem.

Like it or not in this day and age multi media is the answer to mass messaging without the paper costs and time required, we need not shy away from this technology but embrace it as a tool.

Another simple idea to promote our message could be a well presented documentary story on hunting ,conservation and it's benefits. Air it on Nat Geo for all to watch?

Any other constructive thoughts?

I, and others are talking about/working on some ideas at the moment. I believe DSC, SCI and others are doing the same, from what I was told yesterday by DSC.

Regardless, we do need to move forward - and to ignore social media as pointed out "Pulicords" would be a grave mistake IMO.

the past half-century Capitolism has faced an increasing focused threat from socialism.

People like you are a threat to that attack.

Fantasy has to replace Reality for a one world government.

Aaron - great news to finally hear something is being worked on. Media personalities such as yourself certainly have a greater network of individuals who are in the know and also have the ability to make a difference. In the end it's not so much the " anti's " we are trying to educate as it is the general population that are on the fence post. As small as Craig's interviews were they were still watched by many , many people however a documentary on the subject would be far greater reaching being able to reveal the facts about hunting as a conservation tool and all of its successes. Mr. Baldry's area would be one of many stories to speak of, a grand tale to tell no question.

Wishing the best for all of us that love the outdoors,animals and the wild places they call home!

This thread, like so many others on AR, has me clambering onto my soap box. Like everyone, I am appalled by the speed with which the world is evolving (or devolving) thanks to things like Social Media and the Internet.

I have been both dismayed and inspired by some recent events which speak volumes in a world in which ignorance and self gratification have been taken to new levels... mostly fueled by the advent and proliferation of social media and the instant results it provides. I am not sure so many ignorant people have always walked this earth, or if it is in fact the ability to search topics on the Internet, and then consume all manner of BS just because it is written? “I saw it on Google, so it must be true!” The power of the pen has been understood for millennia, and as the saying goes, is mightier than the sword. But when the human race is unable to filter the good from the bad, it seems we are doomed to fail at the apex of life itself.

As a publisher, I have been fortunate to spend what I consider is above average time with Mr. Joe Public, and certainly in Africa have always felt that we as a people, understand the natural order of things. Without preaching to the converted, it is suffice to say that we understand that Man the hunter is as integral to the natural order of things as the air we breath, and as Ron Thomson points out, if Man is removed from the equation, the whole house of cards is threatened. I thought this was easily understood by Africans. It seems I was wrong.

The Kendall Jones’ Face Book story was circulated recently in Zimbabwe via a wide-reaching local e-mail newsletter published daily. Rubbing my hands, I sat back to watch reader’s comments pour in to support her right to hunt, and the intrinsic good it does (especially as Zimbabwe was one of the beneficiaries). After all, we are Africans - and Zimbabweans at that - one of the few countries where hunting is still considered a mainstream tradition rather than just a sport. I could not have been more wrong, and still am not sure if the intelligent people sat back and could not be bothered to comment, or if social media has corrupted our solid foundations too. The blithering and idiotic comments infuriated me, as it seems this idiocy disease has infiltrated the core of our society too. Some well worded and balanced comments did bring me some comfort, and even our voice as a magazine was added.

But like everyone, I feel despondent in the face of such overwhelming odds. How will our sport, indeed, way of life, and all we love, fare against the sea of ignorance so easily shared like some kind of plague or virus?

Not long after, I had occasion to visit the doctor, and while sitting in the waiting room, watched the other patrons. A mother, and what I gather were her three kids ranging in age from three years old to about 7 years old, sat patiently... the kids rifling through offerings of toys in a basket, and the magazines on the little table in front of me. Naturally, copies of both our publications were there, as I had just brought bundles to replenish the waiting room’s reading material. The middle child, a little boy was immediately drawn by the fish pictured on the cover of the African Fisherman magazine, held triumphantly by a boy not dissimilar in age to himself. It sparked animated conversation among the kids, the mother nodding patiently as she was happy they were now occupied. Across from me, another lady was sitting with a young man probably just in his teens, and with the self consciousness kids his age have, he nonchalantly leaned over and picked up a copy of the African Hunter, his phone momentarily stored in his baggy-pants pocket. We have never published pictures of dead or trophy animals on our covers, and I am not sure what that young man (or anyone else really) perceives it to be at first glance. But within seconds I could see he was engrossed in the content. I saw his mother grimace a little at some of the dead animal pictures inside, but it did not stop him showing her items of interest, and discussing them in hushed voices - as is right in a doctor’s surgery.

They were next to see the doctor, and as he left, he placed the magazine back on the table. It was immediately snapped up by the 7 year old, and he and his siblings chattered like little birds over the images. No grimacing from them.

After I had my turn of being poked and prodded, I walked back through to the reception, and noticed at least two of the magazines had been removed. Always my hope, and always gratifying. A new batch of people sat waiting, and some of them too were flicking through the magazines.

This was passive education at its most golden. It is the one thing I have come to believe very strongly about the printed media when stacked up against “social” or Internet media. You do not have to be searching for it, and will see it even if the subject does not really hold your interest. In the case of the children, it immediately planted a seed of acceptance in their fertile minds, and by extension, infiltrated the adult’s world too. Hunting and fishing magazines are not outwardly offensive (unlike pornography for example which is socially unacceptable), and it is impossible to explain quickly to a 3 year old, or even a 7 year old, why they should not look at trophy fish and animals and talk freely of the sport of hunting or fishing. This is indeed a mighty power and responsibility I believe we as publishers all have.

We have a policy with unsold magazines whereby we pay associated costs to have them returned to us undamaged, from the retailers. Other publishers usually accept their torn-off magazine covers back as proof of unsold copies, but I feel this practice is sacrilege and contradicts my own commitment to the environment, and respect for the natural resources which contribute to the paper we print on (which as far as possible, is often recycled anyway). Regularly, we bundle selections of back issues - about 30 at a time - and distribute them as widely as possible, starting with safari camps and other tourism facilities, but including schools, doctor’s rooms, corporate reception areas, hospitals, children’s homes and old folks facilities. If I am able, I also supply various rural schools and community centres with these magazines when traveling.

I am happy to say that some of these magazines find their way into the hands of new subscribers, and I know it extends our advertiser’s reach, but for the most part, I see this ancillary distribution as MY social responsibility. Because I believe and know beyond any doubt that these magazines offer an incidental education tool, unmatched in the cyber world. Parents, peers and teachers can monitor and prohibit what others look at or are exposed to via the Internet... but happening upon a magazine in a waiting room somewhere or while in a photographic or fishing camp (some do agree to display the African Hunter), is, in my opinion, the most powerful way to plant seeds of wisdom and acceptance, and educate those who are sitting on the fence. It reduces sensitivity to this kind of exposure, and helps prevent knee-jerk reactions in later situations. It continues the tradition and perpetuates our heritage.

With a printed magazine, the reader has little instant recourse, and is therefor unable to succumb to a “knee jerk” reaction, as has become the norm with social media. All they are left with, is more time to consider what they have seen, and this I believe desensitizes them. I also believe, that the next time they are confronted with hunting or fishing images, that magazine exposure at some time in their past, will temper their reactions. Furthermore, they have now become a bit more educated and are more likely to “search” the Internet from a more balanced angle. Instead of searching “Hunters bringing elephants to extinction” they might look for “Hunters supporting conservation”.

Internet and social media seem to be taking over the world (and minds of outwardly ordinary people), and like others, we have a strong presence in this media too. But the printed magazine has a place and power which is unmatched, and valuable beyond the sum of its pages. Sadly, it is a dying presence as readers move to “searching” information they want, and advertisers (who pay print bills at the end of the day), follow them.

I see a good number of people on this forum taking time out to do their bit... lecturing at functions, speaking to children in schools and so on. These efforts are to be commended, and it is sad more people are not reached by the time given at any “talk” one might give. One single magazine can last for 10, 20, or thirty years and influence hundreds if not thousands of people in its life. By comparison, a Face Book post (http://edgerankchecker.com/blog/2012/01/post-lifetime-how-long-does-a-facebook-post-live/ ) lasts all of 3 hours! While we should not ignore social media as a tool, I believe our longer term goals are served by print.

The purpose of sharing my views and experiences, is to reinforce the significance of printed media in the realm of “What can we do to fight the onslaught of anti-hunters?”. Responsibly published material not only needs to be actively supported in order that it survives, but I implore all who read this, to take the time of collecting and storing unwanted quality magazines - especially of our beloved sports and outdoors - and distributing them to likely places where a seed may be planted in a young or fertile mind, and a new wave of support and even enthusiasm might germinate and proliferate. Supporting print in any way is a powerful tool which feeds our common goals of influencing people and changing opinions and should be in the back of all our minds in the same fashion as our other social responsibilities.

This has been my calling over 25 years of publishing, and while it has often eaten up profits and funds which might have been utilised elsewhere, it is the major part of the reason I do what I do. It is my (and your) soap-box, so to speak. Our subliminal message to the undecided and open minded. It is the ONE tool we have which can do more in the long run than fleeting social media.

Thank you for your ear.

Excellent input Ant.

Thanks for a refreshing insight into printed media... really got me thinking!

Right on the money, Ant!

Thank you for sharing Ant...much respect for your commitment and dedication

Many Thanks for the input Ant. The hang up however lies in the fact that hunting is still an important part of life in Africa and in Alaska.

I have never had the opportunity to look at your magazine, sounds like an excellent publication.

Here in the states however, our magazines and hunting shows are nothing more than advertisement/infomercials.

Here in the states, actual hunting has been replaced in many cases with the concept of who can kill the biggest, the fastest, with the most toys and no regard about the amount of $$$$$$$$ spent.

Add to that the concept that too many "Hunters" draw lines of division concerning who is and who isn't a "Real" hunter.

Shooting an animal inside a High Fence is not considered hunting by many. Same goes for shooting an animal near a waterhole or within 200 yards of a vehicle, or over a bait although many see no problem shooting a lion or leopard over a bait, but feel that shooting an antelope over a bait as beneath contempt.

In my opinion, until hunters as a group accept the concept that anyone shooting game in a manner that is considered legal under the laws of the state/country they are hunting in, is a hunter, we will never be able to stand against the anti's.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AR MAN:
I'm willing to be the first of 100,000 to band together and sign, just let me know![/QUOT`` I'll second that and hope that 1,000,000
sign up to support this call!

The bottom line is this: The liberal bleeding hearts from all over the world want to stop all Hunting period. Not just what they deem to be threatened or endangered species, ALL hunting. While the idea of hunting elephant, lion, or rhino does not appeal to me there are the game animals that I do love to hunt in California and the other game animals in Africa that I also want to hunt and quite frankly I don't want these brain dead morons taking away from me or my boys something that I have done and I love to do for the last 44 years.

Should hunters be quiet and let these people continue to hammer all hunters? Or should hunters hit them between the eyes with facts? They say they are against Trophy hunting? What exactly is the definition of a trophy hunter? To me a trophy hunter is one who hunts for the oldest male of the species he is hunting who is no longer a viable animal for reproduction of his species. Does not have to have the biggest horns or largest tusks. Some of the cape buffalo I see many hunters take, broken horned, scrub cap horns are true trophies.

How many hunters believe that someone shooting game animals inside a high fence, is a hunter?

How many hunters believe that someone shooting from a vehicle, is a hunter?

How many hunters believe that someone shooting game near a water hole, is a hunter?

This is just a partial list of the issues I have witnessed in the African Hunting section alone, and I am fairly sure others beside me have seen these brought up along with other issues, that break down into pissing matches. Simply put, folks that believe themselves to be the only "Real" hunters, feel that even though the three scenarios I listed are perfectly legal, the persons doing such things, should not consider themselves hunters.

All anyone has to do is take the time to read thru ANY discussion started about Mark Sullivan, or some of the discussions concerning Craig Boddington.

Until people can move past stuff like that, we can never form a united front to oppose those that want to end hunting.

I certainly agree we are our worst enemies sometimes. Bowhunters don't like rifle hunters, traditional bow hates compound bow hunters, poor whitetail hunters hate rich safari hunters, everyone hates trappers etc, etc. If you don't believe that just read this forum, monster muleys, archery talk or Facebook. All you have to do is post hunting topics and some asshole will attack you especially other hunters. If the hunt isn't exactly like you hunt then it must be unethical, illegal and akin to sodomy.

While I like that the fact that some posted about signing a petition at SCI or DSC next year to get 100,000 signatures supporting hunting. These lunatics got that kind of response against Aaron in a week. Right now it would be iffy to get 50,000 by SCI 2015. That scares the crap out of me. I would like to take my future grandchild to Africa and shoot his/her first big game animal like my 8 year old daughter just did 2 weeks ago. That reality is slipping away right before our eyes.

Our only hope is to support the main hunting organizations such as SCI (even though that is not popular here), DSC, Conservation Force and others. Not only join but make your voice heard to make sure they are doing what is in our best interest not theirs.

We also need people like Aaron and Corey Knowleton and other high profile personalities to present a coherent message about our role in conservation of all animals. The examples of our successes are numerous but the general public doesn't know it, even other "hunters" are ignorant in the role of hunters preserving the species we kill.

For example Corey Knowleton, could have explained much better in TV interviews why white rhinos were brought back from the brink of extinction to present day numbers and why anti-hunters are helping ensure their demise today. I support him 1,000% getting a Black Rhino but even other hunters really don't know why his actions will help the species survive.

This could go on and on but we need to really look at what is going on right now against us and the incredible speed in which it happening. Hiding and not participating in any social media will only aid the enemy and promote our collective ass whooping.

I hope I am wrong.
Steve Robinson

ant,Excellent post and philosophy.jc

So called "social media" has killed common sense!

When some drug laden drunk has the same weight of opinion as someone who has devoted his life to learn something and share it with his fellow man, do we really expect anything else?

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
When some drug laden drunk has the same weight of opinion as someone who has devoted his life to learn something and share it with his fellow man, do we really expect anything else?

. . . kinda like AR.

Absolutely, I agree that just as there are bad hunters out there who tarnish our collective reputations, so too are there publications (and videos, blogs etc) which are not worthy of our support. But getting the right material into the hands of open or young minds incidentally, is to me, a powerful tool many have lost sight of. It is an easy weapon we have in the form of quality printed media. I do not discount the importance of social media, and do believe we need a balanced presence there to counter the anti’s, but feel it is only part of the armory we have available.

As to what is considered acceptable hunting, that is a discussion which will rage on forever. But like many, we take the stance as a publication, that if it is first of all legal, then it cannot be discounted out of hand. I have learned over the years, that many topics which were ‘hot potatoes” 20 years back, are today less so. Mostly because they are better understood. We have published both controversial and popular ideas, which have led to heated or protracted discussion, which has eventually arrived at an acceptable guideline or norm. Like all things, hunting is an evolving sport and new ideas cannot be trashed because we fear them. African Big Game hunting today, is based on what can be considered “subsistence” or commercial hunting of over 100 years ago, though it bears little resemblance. It has evolved, and what might have been distasteful to those great white hunters of that bygone era, is today by-and-large, what sport hunting is.

Again, I feel the power the printed media has over social, is that our material can be months and even sometimes years in the making/writing. Content is carefully considered and verified and will often have a longer term goal than just being an entertaining read. FB posts, blogs and even forums such as AR, are often subject to that knee jerk reaction we all hate, and the need to generate sensational material every four hours for FB or blogs often makes social media content highly questionable.

Crazyhorseconsulting... I would love to send you a couple of magazines to have a look at, and pass on or even sneak into a pile of magazines in a waiting room somewhere, ready to spring onto an unsuspecting passerby. PM me your postal address if you are interested, and I will get them off today. That goes for anyone else who has not seen the African Hunter, but would like to.

I also feel that there are things we can do as hunters to show the anti's and others who are on the fence that we are not monsters/murderers as they claim we are.
1. When we take pictures with the game we take, wipe off the blood or cover it up as best as possible and put the animals tongue back into the mouth.

2. Don't sit on or take foolish photos with the animal that can be deemed disrespectful.

3. Even some of our comments made the verbiage and general discussion of the reaction to the shot can be toned down.

Treachery is everywhere and these Antis will stop at nothing to end hunting.

There is also a problem with the credibility of SCI. Many of the Antis have found out things that some of the officers past and present may have done that were unethical in the field of hunting and are using that against hunting. I have to admit after going to a couple of SCI conventions in Reno some of the attitudes came off as being really pompous assholes.

People want to get 100,000 or 200,000 hunters to unite and stand against the anti-hunting element.

Here is a prime example of just exactly why that is not going to happen.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...861036202#5861036202

The Antis are actively check out all the forums on AR. I just got some of my comments I posted here sent back to me from one of them. No matter. Even when they are proven wrong they will never admit it. The bottom line is that their agenda is to have ALL hunting banned, not just endangered or threatened species, ALL hunting. They want to stop what is legal in many countries of the world, a lifestyle that provides hundreds of thousands of jobs and Billions of dollars in revenue around the world to stop because a few out of touch people think that hunting is barbaric in this day and age?? Hunting barbaric? I don't think so. Killing a human being is barbaric, not killing an animal which is plentiful and self replenishing. Sorry Lion Aid Temp, but I will continue to hammer you on this as much as possible until you see the light.

Aaron, Pulicords
Don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting that we stick our collective heads in the sand. I am merely suggesting that FB, Tweets and the other social media that seems to be the rage with the younger generations might not be the media we should choose. Knowing the backlash that other hunters have faced by posting pictures that inflame the non hunting crowd, which might be the majority on FB. Even unlocked Photobucket pages can be perused by anyone and some of the negative comments posted by nilly-willy's with way too much time on their hands (and not a clue about conservation or hunting)can be disconcerting to most of us. Look at the backlash with Steven Spielberg posing with a mock up of a Triceratops. While realizing that when you post a picture of some "dead animal", say a lion that you took legally, they don't see the hard work, long hours or dollar signs that went into the hunt. Nor do they recognize the pride of accomplishment for taking that animal. They don't see a hunter that is participating in a legal sport, helping to ensure that conservation has some backbone and future. What they see is a vicious killer that didn't even give the lion a fair chance, or the cape buffalo, or the elephant..... It doesn't mean it's wrong, it's just their take on the situation. My point was, that while you may have a following on FB, it also is "followed" by others that don't appreciate what we, as Hunters, try to accomplish.
We are outnumbered by a newer generation in which their parents don't own guns, don't hunt and don't have a clue as to what we, as hunters, accomplish. They weren't educated about hunting and conservation by their families so it isn't a tradition or an aspiration for them. They don't believe that by hunting, we actually are trying to help conserve the wildlife we pursue.
I do agree that we need to stick together or the cause will be lost but we might have to pick our battles so they are in our favor. Exposing yourself to the vindictive, hate filled filth that comes from these new age neanderthals, IMHO, could be less than productive.
They need to be educated and I don't believe they'll get the proper education from the computer.
It's just my take, no insults intended to anyone.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
the past half-century Capitolism has faced an increasing focused threat from socialism.

People like you are a threat to that attack.

Fantasy has to replace Reality for a one world government.

Yes sir!!!

quote:

Originally posted by pagosawingnut:
Aaron, Pulicords
Don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting that we stick our collective heads in the sand. I am merely suggesting that FB, Tweets and the other social media that seems to be the rage with the younger generations might not be the media we should choose. Knowing the backlash that other hunters have faced by posting pictures that inflame the non hunting crowd, which might be the majority on FB. Even unlocked Photobucket pages can be perused by anyone and some of the negative comments posted by nilly-willy's with way too much time on their hands (and not a clue about conservation or hunting)can be disconcerting to most of us. Look at the backlash with Steven Spielberg posing with a mock up of a Triceratops. While realizing that when you post a picture of some "dead animal", say a lion that you took legally, they don't see the hard work, long hours or dollar signs that went into the hunt. Nor do they recognize the pride of accomplishment for taking that animal. They don't see a hunter that is participating in a legal sport, helping to ensure that conservation has some backbone and future. What they see is a vicious killer that didn't even give the lion a fair chance, or the cape buffalo, or the elephant..... It doesn't mean it's wrong, it's just their take on the situation. My point was, that while you may have a following on FB, it also is "followed" by others that don't appreciate what we, as Hunters, try to accomplish.
We are outnumbered by a newer generation in which their parents don't own guns, don't hunt and don't have a clue as to what we, as hunters, accomplish. They weren't educated about hunting and conservation by their families so it isn't a tradition or an aspiration for them. They don't believe that by hunting, we actually are trying to help conserve the wildlife we pursue.
I do agree that we need to stick together or the cause will be lost but we might have to pick our battles so they are in our favor. Exposing yourself to the vindictive, hate filled filth that comes from these new age neanderthals, IMHO, could be less than productive.
They need to be educated and I don't believe they'll get the proper education from the computer.
It's just my take, no insults intended to anyone.

None taken either, I definitely get your point. Its just unfortunate that social media has become such an easy and POWERFUL tool for the spread of mis-information/facts.

Like I say, 99.9% of them claim that many of the species I have hunted are "endangered"?! The facts are simply unknown, and often times ignored - as they don't fit the emotional criteria they seek.