I though I would take a few minutes to start a thread that I think has been too long in coming to this web site. Of course I need to preface this by saying that this is just one man’s opinion, mine.
Since I have been a member on this site I have seen several issues arise which pit sportsman against sportsman and I think that this is the worst possible thing for us to do to one another. The most recent and always re-occurring issue is the pros and cons of crossbow use and hunting. Another example might be muzzleloader hunters vs. bow hunters, or just bow hunters vs. gun hunters etc.
When we as sportsman become critical of how, (what method) others hunt, or what they choose to hunt, or what weapon they use it is just like “shooting our self’s in the foot”
As a video producer a few years ago, I was approached by a sportsman and outfitter from Maine who asked if I could produce his first DVD of Bobcat hunting. The title was to be called “Cats & Dogs”. I agreed to do the production and in fact did so. What I discovered while editing this project was how personally put off I was with this type of hunting. Chasing a Bobcat or Bear or Mountain Lion with dogs until it is treed or bayed up and then simply shooting is not for me. Having said that I also realized that hunting with dogs (hounds) is a time honored tradition dating back almost to when hunting began. So what I had to say to my self is that even tough I personally do not want to hunt like this, I should never bad mouth this type of hunting because it undermines the very fiber of what we all do. By taking a stand against another’s choice of hunting method, game, weapon, etc. we are giving support to all anti hunting organizations and that is not what I ever want to do. Do you???
I hope we can all stand back and simply agree to this… we all have the right to believe as we want to. We all should have the right to hunt what ever game we want to hunt, with what ever weapon we want to use, in what ever manner we choose to use for our hunts provided that all these things are ethical, and legal.
Every time I see us arguing with each other on things such as to “bait or not to bait?” use “long bows, compound bows, or cross bows,” “shoot muzzle loaders, rifles, or shotguns?” “Tree stand hunt, ground blind hunt, or still hunt?” the list goes on and on, it gets me sick. There is no need for such arguments. No one is more right or wrong, good or bad. We are just each DIFFERENT! The one thing we all share in common is that we are all SPORTSMEN and we need to STICT TOGETHER! Remember, to argue with one another is to become a partner to those who would take our privileges away from us. Bad mouth bow hunting until it is taken away for example, then we are weaker and they can go after gun hunting, I am sure you understand my point here.
I need to conclude this thread by saying this.
“I support any and all methods of hunting and fishing and all those who participate in these traditions, provided that they always remain ethical and legal in the pursuit of their particular endeavor.” While not everything will always be something I might want to personally participate in, I will not fault or bad mouth anyone who chooses to see things differently form me. If they are fellow sportsman who are ethical and legal in their pursuits, they are my brothers and sisters and I support them. I hope those of you who have read this will agree!
Yours in sportsmanship,
Greg (aka, Highguy)
Since I have been a member on this site I have seen several issues arise which pit sportsman against sportsman and I think that this is the worst possible thing for us to do to one another. The most recent and always re-occurring issue is the pros and cons of crossbow use and hunting. Another example might be muzzleloader hunters vs. bow hunters, or just bow hunters vs. gun hunters etc.
When we as sportsman become critical of how, (what method) others hunt, or what they choose to hunt, or what weapon they use it is just like “shooting our self’s in the foot”
As a video producer a few years ago, I was approached by a sportsman and outfitter from Maine who asked if I could produce his first DVD of Bobcat hunting. The title was to be called “Cats & Dogs”. I agreed to do the production and in fact did so. What I discovered while editing this project was how personally put off I was with this type of hunting. Chasing a Bobcat or Bear or Mountain Lion with dogs until it is treed or bayed up and then simply shooting is not for me. Having said that I also realized that hunting with dogs (hounds) is a time honored tradition dating back almost to when hunting began. So what I had to say to my self is that even tough I personally do not want to hunt like this, I should never bad mouth this type of hunting because it undermines the very fiber of what we all do. By taking a stand against another’s choice of hunting method, game, weapon, etc. we are giving support to all anti hunting organizations and that is not what I ever want to do. Do you???
I hope we can all stand back and simply agree to this… we all have the right to believe as we want to. We all should have the right to hunt what ever game we want to hunt, with what ever weapon we want to use, in what ever manner we choose to use for our hunts provided that all these things are ethical, and legal.
Every time I see us arguing with each other on things such as to “bait or not to bait?” use “long bows, compound bows, or cross bows,” “shoot muzzle loaders, rifles, or shotguns?” “Tree stand hunt, ground blind hunt, or still hunt?” the list goes on and on, it gets me sick. There is no need for such arguments. No one is more right or wrong, good or bad. We are just each DIFFERENT! The one thing we all share in common is that we are all SPORTSMEN and we need to STICT TOGETHER! Remember, to argue with one another is to become a partner to those who would take our privileges away from us. Bad mouth bow hunting until it is taken away for example, then we are weaker and they can go after gun hunting, I am sure you understand my point here.
I need to conclude this thread by saying this.
“I support any and all methods of hunting and fishing and all those who participate in these traditions, provided that they always remain ethical and legal in the pursuit of their particular endeavor.” While not everything will always be something I might want to personally participate in, I will not fault or bad mouth anyone who chooses to see things differently form me. If they are fellow sportsman who are ethical and legal in their pursuits, they are my brothers and sisters and I support them. I hope those of you who have read this will agree!
Yours in sportsmanship,
Greg (aka, Highguy)
