What John Q. Public thinks of hunters.....

[Snowwalker]

What hurts us the most are the dimwits who post pictures of their African trophies on Facebook. Worst are the losers who kill giraffes. I've worked in southern Africa and giraffe are easy to find, not particularly wary (lions excepted) and not in great demand as food. Shooting a giraffe would require the same degree of hunting acumen as shooting a Canada goose waddling around a municipal park in Ontario.

Interesting how you seem to pick an animal that 99% of Anti-Hunters never even think about. Care to fill us in as to why?

I am not sure as to your level of experience with the systematic removal of animals for the purpose of Population control or Conservation. With the exception of Plains Game( Wilder Beast, Zebra, and the other smaller African animals with a high reproduction rate) only older members of game species are taken. The older animals are taken for many reasons although the most common reasons would be they will become a danger to people( lions attacking people because they can not hunt), they no longer would be able to contribute to the health of their Species, the area can not support the number of animals in it, or they are lame and are suffering.

[Badenoch]

Trophy hunting usually gets a very adverse reaction among Canadian hunters,too,until the intricacies and nuances of African game preserve hunts with professional outfitters are explained in detail by those who have had that experience.

Too often the nuances are a fatass who has read too much Capstick and Hemingway is taken in a bakkie to a hide adjacent to a waterhole where he promptly shoots a zebra, warthog and a giraffe. He is hauled back to the camp where everyone calls him "Bwana." Then he goes home to wait until the hides arrive and boast to his friends about his "African Experience."

The PHs like him because he's easy picking and as one told me, "If some silly bugger wants to pay me to help him shoot an effing zebra then I'm happy to take his money."

[Fox]

Trophy hunting usually gets a very adverse reaction among Canadian hunters,too,until the intricacies and nuances of African game preserve hunts with professional outfitters are explained in detail by those who have had that experience.

Being naive is what hurts us in all cases. Teaching people about what trophy hunting is and how it works in this country really helps. The number of people who thought you did not have to take the meat is amazing to me, they just do not know.

[Badenoch]

Interesting how you seem to pick an animal that 99% of Anti-Hunters never even think about. Care to fill us in as to why?

I am not sure as to your level of experience with the systematic removal of animals for the purpose of Population control or Conservation. With the exception of Plains Game( Wilder Beast, Zebra, and the other smaller African animals with a high reproduction rate) only older members of game species are taken. The older animals are taken for many reasons although the most common reasons would be they will become a danger to people( lions attacking people because they can not hunt), they no longer would be able to contribute to the health of their Species, the area can not support the number of animals in it, or they are lame and are suffering.

My experience comes from working in southern Africa and getting to know PHs and safari outfitters. Don't fall for the myth. "Yes mighty Bwana, our poor little village needs you to fly from far away to protect us from the old lion! Yes, mighty Bwana we would starve to death if you did not provide meat to our little village! Thank-you so much mighty white hunter!"

Get the client out, drop the best animal you can find, get back to the lodge before cocktail hour. It's a business.

[Snowwalker]

My experience comes from working in southern Africa and getting to know PHs and safari outfitters. Don't fall for the myth. "Yes mighty Bwana, our poor little village needs you to fly from far away to protect us from the old lion! Yes, mighty Bwana we would starve to death if you did not provide meat to our little village! Thank-you so much mighty white hunter!"

Get the client out, drop the best animal you can find, get back to the lodge before cocktail hour. It's a business.

You did not answer the question.

You sound like you have an axe to grind. when it comes to Phs and Safari operators. Please do tell,
what troubles you so.

[finsfurfeathers]

It's a business.

Which is why I would support someone who wants to legally indulge in a fantasy. Bottom line is if keeping animals on the landscape is more profitable than clearing it and farming guess what I'd choose.
Here in southern Ontario habitat loss is the fall of most upland and game. Lets face it its more profitable to clear land than hunt it. Had there been profit in hunting there would be a lot more critters out there.

[canadaman30]

This weekend I encountered a citizen bird watching, and he asked to be allowed on my property (combo defunct farm/cottage/hunting camp). I agreed, but asked that he only come on when I am there. He said he understood, as he had "hunters trespass" on his own property. Another time someone approached him to retrieve a dead deer. He said it turned out that deer had been shot from the road, and the guy was charged.
I explained that I am a hunter, and hate to hear stories like that. The bird watcher then said he does allow hunting, and has no problem with that part, just that he really doesn't like trespassers, for any reason. I guess he and I have the same point of view.
The reason for this post is that it reminded me how the average citizen is really on our (the hunters) side, but it is very easy to put people off with bad behavior. Something to keep in mind.

Its no surprise land owners are put off. Heck there are threads about tresspassing here on hunting forum. Some on here believe as long as theres no signage or fencing you have the right to tresspass until your told to leave. Sad as these are the people that ruin it for so many others as many land owners want nothing to do with hunters because of tresspassing

[Badenoch]

You did not answer the question.

You sound like you have an axe to grind. when it comes to Phs and Safari operators. Please do tell,
what troubles you so.

PHs and safari outfitters are decent people for the most part who are making a living. No different than guides in Canada. It's a legal activity and profitable business.

What hurts the image of hunting around the world are "trophy" hunters who go to Africa and boast about animals that are not hard to find or take. Stalk a kudu or square off against a Cape Buffalo and you deserve respect. Shoot a giraffe, zebra or warthog and post it on Facebook and you're an asswipe.

[canadaman30]

PHs and safari outfitters are decent people for the most part who are making a living. No different than guides in Canada. It's a legal activity and profitable business.

What hurts the image of hunting around the world are "trophy" hunters who go to Africa and boast about animals that are not hard to find or take. Stalk a kudu or square off against a Cape Buffalo and you deserve respect. Shoot a giraffe, zebra or warthog and post it on Facebook and you're an asswipe.

Who needs enemies with hunters like you. What hurts the image of hunting is when other hunters hate on each other because of what and how they choose to legally hunt......

[Snowwalker]

What hurts the image of hunting around the world are "trophy" hunters who go to Africa and boast about animals that are not hard to find or take. Stalk a kudu or square off against a Cape Buffalo and you deserve respect. Shoot a giraffe, zebra or warthog and post it on Facebook and you're an asswipe.

I could ask you about Baboons, but lets talk about Local Game. Am I an Asswipe, for shooting Groundhogs, Ground Squirrels, Squirrels? How about thinning out a few Coyotes?

You seem to be stuck not only on the word "Trophy", but have a strange belief that if one does not walk hundreds of miles in primitive conditions to kill a lion with a pebble from a sling it's not a "real" hunt.

A hunt is not a success because of the size or type of game taken, nor the hardship endured to find it. No matter if the game has Fins, Feathers or fur ALL game taken is a "TROPHY".

I am guessing you would not be impressed with the photos of my TROPHY size 26 Oz grey Squirrel or my TROPHY size 1.8 Pound Fox Squirrel. You know because they "are not hard to find or take".

Now Glen and his friends may not have been calling me "Bwana", they did call me a few things I can't write on the forum well the handshakes and back slaps were going on.