Globe & Mail - Opinion piece on hunting

[trimmer21]

So while the author states that hunters make-up less than 10% of the population, he goes on to say we need to segregate ourselves into two groups, those that advocate on behalf of prey animals and conservation, and the heathens that hunt predators.

It is my opinion that one goes with the other. Almost every aspect of wildlife is managed from large game to invasive plant species. The requirement of this management is in large part due to societies interference with the landscape. I don't think something like a cougar or grizzly deserves a pass on management based on the emotion of those who have never spent a day in the field, and don't contribute any of their time or money to habitat restoration/management. The result of un-managed predators is likely going to yield a plummet in prey species the non-hunters and hunters both love.

Whether it's popular opinion or not, managing predators is a component of balancing an eco-system. Better educating the population when it comes to hunting quotas, the infrastructure that supports our privilege to hunt, ESA protection, and the money trail of conservation efforts will hopefully open eyes and promote some kind of level of understanding. That should be our goal.

Further segregating the community of hunters is akin to us losing ground in the battle of protecting our past time. Our small community has to stick together to maintain our privileges, or risk losing it by way of death from a thousand cuts.

This is absolutely the truth,IMHO.. Either we stand together against all comers or we shall surely contribute to our own demise,collectively.

[sabmgb]

Manyo, your post is very well written. I believe though that there are still a lot of us that have a heritage that goes back many generations, and I hope my son will keep it going for many more.

I really can't see cougar hunting, having a bunch of dogs tree the cat than walk up and shoot it. To me this is not hunting, this is just shooting. A lot of our problems come from the TV pro people. They do make it look easy. My oldest boy got his first deer his second time out in the bush and said "what's so hard about this". I had to teach him that it was so easy if you look at all the time I spent in the bush making it look easy for him. I also made him say a small pray of thanks to the deer as I do every time I have shot one. AS hunters we do put a lot more back into the hunt than we take out. Just by being a member here OOD is one step. I'm also a member of several other organizations that help waterfowl and other game animals. I have had run ins with tree huggers and they have all been so holly, but none have ever done anything to put back other than to try and stop me from what I have the right to be doing by my Canadian Heritage.

[Gilroy]

Well a pretty deep topic but well written never the less.

How about we just reverse this whole situation and imagine that ALL THE HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS in Canada suddenly disappear.How does the landscape look in a year,two,five,ten..........years.

How does the millions of acres of Crown Land and tens of thousands acres of Private land look in the same time period without hunters and trappers caring for it and paying for its upkeep......

[glen]

Lol that right there is the funny that happens. Then they got to pay someone to do the management and the animals are not used as much.
Call the cops a bear is in my Newmarket back yard. Do you want to hunt them deer or kill them with your car.

[Gilroy]

Lol that right there is the funny that happens. Then they got to pay someone to do the management and the animals are not used as much.
Call the cops a bear is in my Newmarket back yard. Do you want to hunt them deer or kill them with your car.

Or how about the Trappers Associations all across Canada issue a press release that they are no longer going to trap nuisance beaver and the millions of dollars it would cost to repair washed out roads, fully justified as they could say the members cannot make any money on furs because of the anti movement.

[rick_iles]

“ I really can't see cougar hunting, having a bunch of dogs tree the cat than walk up and shoot it. To me this is not hunting, this is just shooting.”....Quote

Be careful there,.....not any different than baiting.....except there’s a lot more work involved chasing hounds for miles to get a possible shot....IMHO

[jaycee]

“ I really can't see cougar hunting, having a bunch of dogs tree the cat than walk up and shoot it. To me this is not hunting, this is just shooting.”....Quote

Be careful there,.....not any different than baiting.....except there’s a lot more work involved chasing hounds for miles to get a possible shot....IMHO

An excellent reply and post!
There are many out there that sit over a bait pile and call it deer hunting .

[redd foxx]

Be careful there,.....not any different than baiting.....except there’s a lot more work involved chasing hounds for miles to get a possible shot....IMHO

Agree. Also raccoon hunting at night.

[MikePal]

There are many out there that sit over a bait pile and call it deer hunting .

No kidding, let's also include all those hunters who sit on food plots. They've been fattening up deer all year so they can snag a Trophy Buck come fall..

Or hunters who sit on the edge of farmers field and wait for deer to come and eat the soya beans or corn the farmer left behind..

Not to mention all the bear hunters who proudly sit over elaborate, custom designed bait piles to hunt...

Anyone one else you want to call out Jaycee...??

[jaycee]

No kidding, let's also include all those hunters who sit on food plots. They've been fattening up deer all year so they can snag a Trophy Buck come fall..

Or hunters who sit on the edge of farmers field and wait for deer to come and eat the soya beans or corn the farmer left behind..

Not to mention all the bear hunters who proudly sit over elaborate, custom designed bait piles to hunt...

Anyone one else you want to call out Jaycee...??

I see you got up on the wrong side of the bed today ! , or are you " trolling again to try and get an argument going ?? "