Why Hunters and the Hunting Industry Should Worry

[Hunter4Life]

Great article by Ace Luciano.  Here is the link to the article from Ace Luciano Outdoors.  I have also posted it here.  Great read.

http://aceluciano.com/hunting/why-hunting-and-the-hunting-industry-should-worry

Why Hunters and the Hunting Industry Should Worry
By Ace Luciano

Hunters and the Hunting Industry should be worried…  Really, really worried.

We, as an industry, are in a state of decline that, while there are some things to be excited about, there are many more reasons for concern.

My grandchildren may not hunt.  Not because they won’t desire to or be “against” it (although that is of increasing concern), but because we, as hunters can’t seem to “get our act together” and stop fighting.

Concern Number 1:  HOLLYWOOD AND MONEY

Recently, Leonardo DiCaprio et.al held a fundraiser for endangered tigers.
Nobody argues that tigers are endangered and that there is a need for their preservation. Also, nobody argues that raising money to help save tigers is bad.

What’s concerning is how and how much money was raised.  $25 MILLION in one evening.  That’s right.
More than most groups on the hunting side raise in YEARS. What happens when they decide to go after Elephant Hunting?  Lion?  Mountain Lion?

What happens when they pool their funds to buy huge swaths of land here and abroad, or lobby against hunting?  If you thing the closure of hunting in Botswana and Zambia had nothing to do with money, you need to wake up.  Africa and its various corrupt governments are easily bought for what most would consider paltry sums. Then the government thugs in power have free reign to poach and sell the animals that remain.
Don’t believe me?

Check out this article about POACHING in KENYA http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/africa/article4119967.ece.

They will happily take Leo’s money, and then take the poacher’s money as well… and remember, there has been NO LEGAL TROPHY HUNTING IN KENYA SINCE THE 70′s…



Concern Number 2:  ANTI HUNTER MOBILIZATION

Recently, as part of a little “social experiment,” I published an article with a very “Attention-Drawing” headline: “Hi, My Name is Ace, And I Kill Animals.” You can read it in it’s entirety HERE http://www.wideopenspaces.com/i-kill-animals/.

What was the experiment?  I wanted to prove that anti-hunters, while passionate about their cause, would largely ignore me because, after all, I was a white, Christian male that hunted and not a young, attractive female.  While I was 100% correct, there were several things I noticed that are of “concern.” I actually had to go after some of the groups with some “strategic” posts and messages before they “found” me, and find me they did. For the most part, these people are ignorant, rude, crude, vulgar, and quite violent in nature for a group that professes to be so “compassionate” about animals. I was threatened, called vile names (it appears that there is quite a fondness “across the pond” for the pejorative term for female genitalia) and ridiculed on my Facebook page. One said he wanted to “fight me” (a very amusing thought, as it came from a 130 lb. pot and paraphernalia store owner…people- we can see WHO YOU ARE, REMEMBER???)  It was also very good for my post reach and rankings.

However…  The coordination and absolute unification in their message and drive to end all hunting should be of concern.

Concern Number 3: HUNTER VS. HUNTER

It is looking more and more like I will not hunt a lion or elephant in my lifetime. Regardless of what you think, that in and of itself is a disappointment to me.  I was fortunate to sit in on a press meeting that addressed the violent attacks on several outdoor personalities as well as the loss of television show venues and sponsors.  Everything that was said in that meeting was true, and it was appalling at some of the treatment that these people received.

Even more appalling was the LACK OF SUPPORT THEY RECEIVED FROM OUR SIDE.

What do I mean?  Here are some quotes from discussions that I found:

From a waterfowl forum- “I hunt, but I would never shoot a lion or an elephant.  Shame on them for doing that. ”  From Facebook- “I’m a ‘meat hunter’ and believe that you should eat everything that you harvest. People that go to Africa and just kill a bunch of stuff to prove their manhood disgust me.”  “She’s not a ‘Hunter’ anyway- just a spoiled rich girl that daddy sent on some expensive trip.” – From a LinkedIn Group.

This should concern all of us.  You know what? I’m happy that girl’s father is so successful that he can spend $150K on hunting for his daughter. Success should be celebrated, not castigated. Think how many jobs his money provides. Think how many people were FED as a result of that safari! I say GOOD FOR THEM.

…But I am in the minority, and that’s a BIG PROBLEM.  While we fight, argue and spit at one another about baiting, leases, bow vs. gun, trapping, hunting with dogs, hunting in enclosures, trophy vs. meat hunting, television celebrities, women, etc., the “other side” is ABSOLUTELY UNIFIED in their ONE MISSION…

…To STOP ALL HUNTING.
and if you’re NOT worried, you SHOULD be.

He speaks the truth.  We can't be divided.  As Ace Luciano said, the animal rights people are 100% unified.  We can't battle each other and the antis too.  The baiting issue is a good one.  If you don't believe in baiting, don't do it, but don't take it away from those who do.  Hunter retention is critical.

[Elkaholic daWg]

 

[Bob33]

Posted here:

hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,166952.0.html

[BOWHUNTER45]

I totally agree except for the DiCaprio Fund is concerning Cats ..This is one animal that more people love more than others ..they simply do not see them as a concern or a predator like we do . I had permission to hunt some property yesterday ..When I started to make conversation with the owner his wife heard us talking about hunting .When see stepped out I knew I was finished but to my surprise she says to me , John we do not care if you hunt here BUT DO NOT SHOOT OUR CATS ? I said to why would I do that ..she says I mean our Bobcat and Cougar if you see them  I told her O.K but why would you not let me shoot the cougar ..she says I love all cats and I see no sense in anyone killing them .Well I figured I best leave it at that if I want to hunt ..Now ...as I head out the grade that goes behind their house I am on alert ...and it did not take long for me to find evidence that they were serious ..I see a huge track within minutes of being out there ..I find one set of deer tracks with the lion track right behind him    I went back and told them I found the tracks of the cougar ...she said he was probably watching you  they are backed up to state land and it is within 1 mile of where I killed one in 2010 ..I will post the picture of his track when I up load it ...

[csaaphill]

I totally agree except for the DiCaprio Fund is concerning Cats ..This is one animal that more people love more than others ..they simply do not see them as a concern or a predator like we do . I had permission to hunt some property yesterday ..When I started to make conversation with the owner his wife heard us talking about hunting .When see stepped out I knew I was finished but to my surprise she says to me , John we do not care if you hunt here BUT DO NOT SHOOT OUR CATS ? I said to why would I do that ..she says I mean our Bobcat and Cougar if you see them  I told her O.K but why would you not let me shoot the cougar ..she says I love all cats and I see no sense in anyone killing them .Well I figured I best leave it at that if I want to hunt ..Now ...as I head out the grade that goes behind their house I am on alert ...and it did not take long for me to find evidence that they were serious ..I see a huge track within minutes of being out there ..I find one set of deer tracks with the lion track right behind him    I went back and told them I found the tracks of the cougar ...she said he was probably watching you  they are backed up to state land and it is within 1 mile of where I killed one in 2010 ..I will post the picture of his track when I up load it ...

non hunting comunity is as if not far more dangerious to our rights than antis. lol ever see the hunting tail or whatever it was called on history chanel about hunting in CT? Guys there ask people to hunt their proprty, but get to use the balcony if they have one .
But this one lady ripped the guy a new one for even asking. He was being a smart ass and asked her he'd give her some of the meat. She said certainly not, and slammed the door lol was funny, but and not sure if she was just anti hunting or part of the non hunting comunity that eat meat, but still hate hunting/ers. But still shows you that the non hunting comunity is just as dangerious to us as the anti hunters are.
And cool ya show us the pic