Ashamed to be a hunter some days

[RailRob]

 
My wife was at the grocery store in Deer Park at lunch time, she said almost every guy there was in full camo, scruffy, buying a half rack and couldn't speak in complete sentences.  This is what the majority of the non hunting public views all of us as.  Nothing wrong with buying beer, or not shaving, even not being very good with English, but when you put them all together, you have the stereotypical "hunter" in most people's eyes. 

Isnt that most of Deer Park? ..what does hunting have to do with it? hehehe kidding...

[GoldTip]

I've never been ashamed to be a hunter, nor have I ever presented myself as anything but a hunter.  Never, ever will I be ashamed to call myself a hunter. Period.  That would be like saying I was ashamed to be a Montanan because of the Freemen, or that I was ashamed to be white and have a shaved head because of the Aryan nations.   Just makes no sense to me if you are not part of the guilty or offending party, to say you are ashamed.

[twisp_river_slayer]

i will never be ashamed to be a hunter, i am ashamed sometimes though that other people are who make a bad reputation for use to deal with

[bearpaw]

Perhaps if this topic was titled "Slobs Claiming To Be Hunters" I would find the title more appropriate. 

I have to agree with the folks who say hunting is nothing to be ashamed of.

[kirkl]

This is precisely the topic that needs to be discussed on this forum more often.  We must never remove ourselves from the debate over the importance of operating in the highest of ethical standards.  Since so many refuse to conduct themselves ethically, the rest of us must encourage and influence them to do so. 

I am sick and tired of this nonsense attitude that “just because it’s legal… we should all be supportive”.  No I do not support it.  Just because you enjoy recreating a certain (unethical) way, does not mean others should allow it.  Your actions create a negative perception of hunters and do affect all of us.  Make no mistake, the non-hunting public will ultimately decide the future of hunting, so it is imperative we display good character.

Oh, and I don’t care if you choose to use archery equipment, or muzzleloader, or modern.  That choice makes you no more virtuous… and no less.  Your choice of weapon, race, or religion does not dictate whether you are ethical or not.  If you are a knucklehead…  you are a knucklehead.

Why does this need to be discussed more often, its the same yahoos that keep posting one after another in here. If its not your way its not right. probably the same people that tear someones picture apart cause he wasnt wearing orange or shooting to far for there likings. And yes I drink keystone light. Boy this site is getting to be something else.

[tbrady]

I hear ya...  I could have definitely titled it differently but the truth is, I do FEEL shame over these morons at times  .  It would be totally different if the general population understood that these creeps make up a minority of the people who "hunt".  But when their behavior is so damn blatant it's hard to see the other side of this (that's my guess anyway).  Try telling the people that go out and clean-up the natl forest land each year after the "hunters" are done that it's only a few leaving all the trash behind.

I totally get that I should not feel ashamed for being a hunter.  But I can sure as heck tell you it's a rare occassion that I hear something that makes me proud to be one.  I did have a good friend get lost in Alpine lakes wilderness last year during archery season.  A hunter found him and his friend, fed them, got them warmed up and trucked them right out of there.  They were both amazed that a "hunter" were so kind to them.  I tried to tell them that a lot more hunters than you realize would give you the shirt off their back without even knowing your name.

Maybe the answer to all this is for the "real hunters" to do more good for the environment/resources etc. (I mean more publicly/openly) and let the general public see the better side of the people who engage in this sport or even this lifestyle to some extent.

[tbrady]

Why does this need to be discussed more often, its the same yahoos that keep posting one after another in here. If its not your way its not right. probably the same people that tear someones picture apart cause he wasnt wearing orange or shooting to far for there likings. And yes I drink keystone light. Boy this site is getting to be something else.

I'm not sure I get what you're saying.  Are you saying that if I have a problem with some hunter doing something that makes US look horrible to the general public, then just deal with it??  This ain't got nothing to do with "if its not your way its not right". 

[Machias]

"Maybe the answer to all this is for the "real hunters" to do more good for the environment/resources etc. (I mean more publicly/openly) and let the general public see the better side of the people who engage in this sport or even this lifestyle to some extent."  

As a group we already do this, but you cannot get the liberal hunter hating media to cover it.  I bet your one of those fellas embarrassed because your white or because you live in American, am I right?  Same mentality.  We are the ones who clean up the environment, we are the ones clearing trails, we are the ones helping other folks out in the back country when they break down or get lost.  WE ARE THE ONES DOING LOTS OF GOOD THINGS IN and AROUND THE WOODS!

[.308shooter]

agree 100% some guy on opening day shot a 2x1 with no eye guards and once he saw that just laft it lay

[tbrady]

I bet your one of those fellas embarrassed because your white or because you live in American, am I right?  Same mentality

No, you're wrong.  I can walk into just about any restaurant as a white american and not get an "ugh" look.  But if I were to walk in with my blaze orange or camo, well... it wouldn't matter if I just spent the entire day restoring wildlife habitat or poaching, there are a lot of preconceived ideas out there about hunters.  And I could give a rat's butt about what most people think regarding me, but this is different imo, way different.  These people could very well severely impact a sport I dearly love.

Heck, who do you think pushed the ban on bear baiting or hound hunting through? Not that I support either of those, but that's an example of how public perception impacts us whether you like it (or believe it) or not.

[runamuk]

I bet your one of those fellas embarrassed because your white or because you live in American, am I right?  Same mentality

No, you're wrong.  I can walk into just about any restaurant as a white american and not get an "ugh" look.  But if I were to walk in with my blaze orange or camo, well... it wouldn't matter if I just spent the entire day restoring wildlife habitat or poaching, there are a lot of preconceived ideas out there about hunters.  And I could give a rat's butt about what most people think regarding me, but this is different imo, way different.  These people could very well severely impact a sport I dearly love.

Heck, who do you think pushed the ban on bear baiting or hound hunting through? Not that I support either of those, but that's an example of how public perception impacts us whether you like it (or believe it) or not.

Actually this whole perception thing is kinda fun for me......lets see 40 something female, blonde, wearing camo and orange....everywhere I have gone I have been asked politely if I have killed anything yet...almost every woman I have run into in gas stations, espresso stands stores the bank have asked how I am doing and then told me how their hunts are going....or not...lol...I actually have been pleasantly surprised a few times I have expected to be looked at funny but not so far......

[tbrady]

everywhere I have gone I have been asked politely if I have killed anything yet...almost every woman I have run into in gas stations, espresso stands stores the bank have asked how I am doing and then told me how their hunts are going

Where do you live?!  That's where I need to move.    It's a little bit different here in King County!

[runamuk]

everywhere I have gone I have been asked politely if I have killed anything yet...almost every woman I have run into in gas stations, espresso stands stores the bank have asked how I am doing and then told me how their hunts are going

Where do you live?!  That's where I need to move.    It's a little bit different here in King County!

I matriculate in Grays harbor county, mason county, thurston county, and lewis county   

[provider]

This is precisely the topic that needs to be discussed on this forum more often.  We must never remove ourselves from the debate over the importance of operating in the highest of ethical standards.  Since so many refuse to conduct themselves ethically, the rest of us must encourage and influence them to do so.  

I am sick and tired of this nonsense attitude that “just because it’s legal… we should all be supportive”.  No I do not support it.  Just because you enjoy recreating a certain (unethical) way, does not mean others should allow it.  Your actions create a negative perception of hunters and do affect all of us.  Make no mistake, the non-hunting public will ultimately decide the future of hunting, so it is imperative we display good character.

Oh, and I don’t care if you choose to use archery equipment, or muzzleloader, or modern.  That choice makes you no more virtuous… and no less.  Your choice of weapon, race, or religion does not dictate whether you are ethical or not.  If you are a knucklehead…  you are a knucklehead.



Can you clarify that middle paragraph for me?

Sure Fred.  I'm always willing to clarify things for you.  

Many examples of being witness to unethical actions were posted on this thread (no need to quote them all, you can re-read them if necessary), and then there were posts suggesting we should not be critical of others (unethical) actions, just because they are legal, regardless of ethics.  That is nonsense.  Does that explain to you sufficiently my middle paragraph?  Probably not?

There are many laws/regulation based on ethics.  Things we as a society deem unethical, immoral, unacceptable.  And because some members of society choose to operate unethically, lack moral code, we legislate to enforce it.  There is also unethical, immoral, and otherwise questionable acts that are legal and some members of society also choose to exercise these.  That does not mean they are acceptable.

I've been accused before of taking the moral high road.  My response...  "you're damn right."

Something as important as hunting leaves no room for nonsense.  The negative affects of unethical behavior (legal or not) threaten the very existence of hunting's future.  I won't sit back and allow that.  

[Machias]

I guess I'm not quite smart enough to follow your line of thought.  I am all against the illegal and unethical behavior outlined in the post above.  What your middle paragraph sounded like is things such as (and I'm adlibing here, hound hunting, baiting for bears and deer, trapping) etc, although at one time legal if YOU deem an activity as unethical you won't support it, in fact, you'll do things to make it illegal.  Now I know no where in your post did you specifically mention these activities and if that is NOT what you talking about, then I am jumping to the wrong conclusions and I apologize.  If this in fact what your discussing then I have serious problems with that line of thinking.  That is why I ask for clairifcation.  Maybe you could give an example or two.