In today’s Black Bear Blog was a post from the Ithaca Journal about how Outdoorsmen maybe their own worse enemies. I would encourage you to read that and the following is my rambling thoughts on the subject.
I would agree but the problem often arrives in the ethical/ philosophical arena where many hunters have issue with each other. Bow Hunters Traditional vs Compound vs Crossbows, Muzzleloaders sidelocks vs inlines as well as scope use.
A major issue in parts of the country is the use of dogs for big game especially when it comes to property rights and dogs running over land they are not suppose to be on. That is a huge problem here in NC in counties that allow dog use for deer hunting. I know in Maine use of dogs for bears has had some issues with property owners. Then you get into the whole baiting debate for animals. I guess my question is what is the approach hunters should take?
In my situation I have issue with dog hunters running their dogs across my deer lease I’ve exhausted all other avenues. Talked to hunters asked them to release dogs away from property line they refuse, contact wardens and unless the hunters themselves are on the property there is little that can be done, we’ve attempted to kill all deer running in front of dogs or divert dogs off the deer prior to them reaching the other hunters. I feel I have little choice but to support any effort on landowners part to end dog hunting in the county I hunt. There was an effort in the past, which I did not participate in, and another one is brewing that I’m certain it will be widely supported by the typical anti groups.
I think that most of the support for Hunting and gun ownership is people on the “Right” and the animal wackos are made up of more people on the “Left” The people on the “Right” see more issues as black or white and the “Left” sees everything as gray. I’m unwilling to support someone doing something that I see as “wrong” or “cheating” and I think there are many others in our camp that think the same way and that is where our struggle is. Earlier this week the NC State Director for the Humane Society wrote an editorial opposed to the Sunday Hunting Study being conducted here in NC ( Earlier post about this in the Black Bear Blog) He basically said that 6 days a week is enough time for hunting, is he supportive of hunting? heck no!! He knows that if he takes the approach that 6 days is enough and the Sunday Hunting Prohibition remains that he has won. If the true views of his organization and the supports were put forth that they would support a total ban on hunting, that private ownership of pets be done away with, that all medical testing on animals be halted, and if necessary that terrorist acts be carried out to fulfill these goals the paper might not(it was the N&O so who knows for sure) of even printed his editorial.
This is a big dilemma for hunters and I’d be curious to hear what others think and what approaches we should take as our way of life is under attack.
