Zimbabwe lion

[Hunter1983]

I think as hunters we should do a better job talking to society and clarifying what it is we do...and what we don't do...now that society's view about hunting is skewed...more than before.

[flowerjohn]

Zim that is a great thought. I think if you join the ofah and your local rod and gun club It's a good way to be able to communicate with the government. I don't see the need to explain to people who don't know what we do but care about what they think we are doing.

[Hunter1983]

You got me. You're absolutey right (my generation is screwed then)

[flowerjohn]

No hunter your generation is not screwed I'm just saying do what you are doing and its legal what you're doing and work for what you're doing but don't explain to those who have no idea what you're doing.

[trimmer21]

With virtually all anti-hunting people,they're way beyond listening to reason and accurate scientific information. Haters are going to hate because they don't know any better. Sometimes,it's best to let them rant and say nothing because with those people ,the more you show them that they're wrong,the more entrenched they become to try to prove themselves right and that's usually what it comes down to,trying to defend an untenable position at all costs. Never argue with an idiot. They'll try to drag you down to their own level and then claim victory by default.

[Mr.Boiler]

Its amazing how twisted the general population can get when something like this happens. Just two days ago I'm in Sail picking up ammo and a good friend of mine catches me. "What are you doing?", he asks. No sooner do I mention I'm getting ammo to do some practicing at the range in preparation for fall hunting he pipes up about Cecil the lion. To a lot of people hunters are still viewed as animals. I explain how a hunter is expected to use every portion of the animal. Thats what responsible hunting is. A friend has started to call himself a "wild game harvester" to those who asks what he enjoys doing. They seem to accept that expression more than being a "hunter."
Media is a powerful tool and presently the medias view on what happened in Zimbabwe has really tainted our passion for wild game harvesting. There are some really good programs on TV that promote responsible hunting and fishing. But even then we have seen some of these programs like "Canada in the Rough" taken off Canadian TV because of the media and CRTCs convoluted view of hunting and guns.
What we need is the Food Network to feature a show on the culinary arts of wild game. Gradually people will want to explore that avenue. They will slowly see that wild game hunting/harvesting is a good thing. Or not...

[welsh]

Thats what responsible hunting is. A friend has started to call himself a "wild game harvester" to those who asks what he enjoys doing.

Please, no. That's an obnoxious euphemism and most of the general public views it as such. I do not harvest animals; I kill them. Using Orwellian euphemisms to hide the truth is tantamount to admitting that killing animals is wrong. I am frank with people: I kill animals for food. I don't get hassled about it.

But even then we have seen some of these programs like "Canada in the Rough" taken off Canadian TV because of the media and CRTCs convoluted view of hunting and guns.

Not to take this off-topic, but the CRTC didn't take CITR off the air. The CRTC simply relaxed the CanCon rules and allowed market forces to dictate what would be on the air, as the federal government directed.

[Mr.Boiler]

Please, no. That's an obnoxious euphemism and most of the general public views it as such. I do not harvest animals; I kill them. Using Orwellian euphemisms to hide the truth is tantamount to admitting that killing animals is wrong. I am frank with people: I kill animals for food. I don't get hassled about it.

That may be true but some seem to accept the term. Personally, I say that I hunt and thats it. His circle of friends differ. If it softens it for them and they eventually accept what it really is then all the better for us as a group.
Regarding the comment of why CITR was taken off the air I blame both CRTC and the media in general. I do know that the bottom line is $$$. This puzzles me though considering that hunting is second only to personal fitness as the big money making industries in North America. So what was the real reason.
Anyways, sorry for hi-jacking this thread with a personal rant...

[flowerjohn]

Please, no. That's an obnoxious euphemism and most of the general public views it as such. I do not harvest animals; I kill them. Using Orwellian euphemisms to hide the truth is tantamount to admitting that killing animals is wrong. I am frank with people: I kill animals for food. I don't get hassled about it.



Not to take this off-topic, but the CRTC didn't take CITR off the air. The CRTC simply relaxed the CanCon rules and allowed market forces to dictate what would be on the air, as the federal government directed.

Times two welshie boy.

[ET1]

Mr.Boiler

In this case I agree with you on your thoughts.
I don’t just kill animals for the sake of killing but to harvest their meat or for pest control.
I too use the term harvest that adds purpose to the killing of an animal. People around me also can more easily accept the killing of an animal for a purpose when the term harvesting is employed.

It’s a shame that we as hunters have to justify our actions of taking an animal’s life but if we can’t convince the public of our intentions of killing an animal for say meat then look at what happened to the Spring Bear Hunt.
Even though the public is not involved in hunting they seem to be getting a lot of say in what we do.


Ed