Idiot arrows buffalo on refuge in Iowa!

[Old Buck]

I just read an article on page one, section B of the December 31, 2004, Des Moines Register. Someone shot a 3 year old buffalo at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge with an arrow. They show a photograph of the buffalo standing with an arrow sticking out of it's side. What an idiot.

Here are a couple paragraphs from the article.

'Refuge manager Nancy Gilbertson said the arrow was turned over to authorities, who will test it for fingerprints. The culprit could be fined several thousand dollars.'

"You think hunters are ethical," Gilbertson said. "Then you have something like this happen. It's such a disappoointment. This puts a bad mark on hunting."

I know hundreds of sportsmen who are ethical hunters and really care about wildlife and the habitat that supports it. They work hard to raise millions of dollars for a wide range of conservation causes. Then someone does something like this and gives us all a black eye.

 

[CamoMan]

I saw that article, and was bothered by the assumption that a 'hunter' shot it. An idiot shot it, not a hunter.

 

[katy]

What a jackass! Why would anyone do this? I hope they find the person and give them the long arm of the law!

 

[ironwood]

I could not believe it when I saw this article. I think the stating that a hunter did this is too bad. An idiot is accurate though.

 

[bowman]

Next we'll see an article in the DM Register by Juli Probassca-Sowers about how the person who shot the buffalo is the victim. After all, imagine the temptation of seeing that buffalo wandering so close and fearless of humans!

Just kidding of course. What a shame. The problem is that John Q Public will deem the person a "hunter" and we take the brunt of it.

 

[cornfield]

The whole thing makes me sick.

 

[River1]

I guess the first thing that enters my mind is, kids.

Anyway you look at it though, it's a black eye for us.

 

[teeroy]

[ QUOTE ]
Next we'll see an article in the DM Register by Juli Probassca-Sowers about how the person who shot the buffalo is the victim. After all, imagine the temptation of seeing that buffalo wandering so close and fearless of humans!

[/ QUOTE ]

damnit bowman, you took my post

 

[Deaner]

You know Old Buck, I saw that article in the paper this morning too and was disgusted by it. Then I got to thinking that that is the second time in a week that I can't believe how stupid "Hunters" (idiots) are and how bad it looks and how it just gives foder to the Anti's...
The first one I saw was last Friday morning we were traveling up Interstate 35 North of Ames. A van passed us pulling a trailer. Strapped on the trailer were 5 or 6 Does (and a puny little 6 point buck) frozen in various grotesque positions! I was furious to say the least! It's a perfect example of a couple of F---heads giving hunters a bad name! I understand they had to haul them home and I am glad to see they were mostly all does but cover them up for Christ sakes! I was wanting to chase the idiot down when he pulled off the exit after a couple miles but the wife (the boss) wouldn't let me. I was wishing afterwards I would of overruled the missus and did it. But man you just got to remember the perception of the public when it comes to doing stuff like this! I could go on and on so it's best to end it here...

 

[Old Buck]

deernut,

I know exactly what you are saying. I've seen the same thing and had the same reaction. My boss even told me the same thing. Some people either don't have a clue about the negative hunter image they are creating or they just don't care.

The fact is that 80% of the population does not hunt but are influenced by the actions of the 10% of us that do. If we want them to vote on our side we need to give some thought to the image we project any time we are in public.

Pulling a trailer of exposed, dead animals down an interstate has the potential to create a lot of negative impact.

The same applies to what we have written on our t-shirts, what we are overheard saying in a resturant as we describe the details of a hunt, etc.

Let's be a little smart out there folks and not shoot ourselves in the foot.

Old Buck

 

[teeroy]

today's register had letters to the editor, from hunters, outraged that we were lumped in the same category as these idiots that shot the bison

 

[GotRack]

There was an article in the Sioux City journal today about some jack a$$ shooting the prize 7x7 elk at Hill View Park in Hinton. The person used a small caliber rifle (.22?) and shot it twice. The parks guy tried to push it off as a person looking for a trophy mount (hunter) but Steve Jueron (sp?) the CO said that was nonsense. He said it was more than likely some sicko just wanting to kill something. If the person is caught he/she will face criminal charges as elk are protected in Iowa.

 

[kelcher]

Deernut,

I understand what you are saying, but I don't have a topper on my truck and I am not going to "hide" my harvest just to keep someone else from being offended. I am not going to strap it to my hood, but hiding it is almost like saying I did something wrong. People in this country need to thicken their skin a little and realize where food comes from. As far as I am concerned it is just like watching TV. If you don't like it, don't watch.

 

[teacher]

During shotgun season while heading into work, there was a load of shotgunners clad in blaze orange and speeding down 65/69 about 80mph. passing everybody. To add insult to injury, out flies two huge bags of McDonalds litter spilling over the highway. Another example of how others actions reflect on us all. At least the car in front of us was able to do the ol' Matt Roth statement as the truck went by.

 

[Old Buck]

The non-hunting public sees this stuff and the non-hunting public votes. Whether we want to admit it or not and whether we care or not what we are seen doing and heard saying when we are recognized as hunters all has an impact. It is up to you to decide whether you want to have a positive impact or a negative impact.

For the sake of all of us who love to hunt and all future generations I hope you each choose to project a positive image.

Old Buck

 

[hcsafari]

AMEN

 

[Crockett]

In other words put the damn tailgate up!! The only ones impressed with that, LOOK WHAT I CAN DO!, crap is other idiots!This isn't 1960 and dead animals hanging on or sticking out of your vehicle is bad business period!

 

[Jdubs]

I have to agree with Kelcher. I'm not going to give the non-hunting public that much credit or believe they have that much power. What's next? Make sure you don't drive in camo or be seen in public with a blaze orange cap on? Because it may offend someone. I hunt, I'm proud of it and won't suppress it for anyone. I'm tired of political correctness. Maybe if every state made yet another law making it mandatory to cover harvested game I'll go into the truck bed cover business. I'm taking partners.

 

[TimberPig]

Jdubs- I think what the guys are saying is that people shouldnt drive like jerks while wearing camo, or act like idiots while wearing blaze orange. I dont think anybody would be offended seeing a guy in camo changing a tire for a little old lady. Cutting her off in traffic is different. Forcing her and her granddaughter to look into the chest cavity of my deer as they drive behind me, because I'm not required by law to close the tailgate, is different.

I am about as non-politically correct as anyone you can think of. But, on the way to DesMoines the other day I saw a really nice buck eastbound on I-80 that was shoved onto the pile of hunting gear in the back of the truck. Looked like it was about to fall off the side. Didnt bother me in the slightest, but I can logically see why alot of everyday people would look at that and think that the hunter had very little respect for the deer he had killed. Looked like it was packed in there with a bunch of other junk on the way to a landfill or something.

"I'm not gong to give the non-hunting public that much credit or believe that they have that much power". I mean no offense to you personally, but are you actually serious?? Holy cow man, look around the country at all the bear and mountain lion seasons shut down by the non-hunters who vote. They absolutely do have the power to do it, they have done it, and people better recognize it.
Part of me would love to strap a deer to the hood and drive all over the state just to pi** off the complainers because I get sick of them too. But that would would be arrogant, self-destructive, and just rude.

I make no appologies to anyone about what I kill, but I'm not going to antagonize the general public by shoving it in their face just because I legally can. Closing tailgates is just alot easier than fighting anti's that we created through carelessness or disrespect for others.

Again, I mean no offense anyone in particular. I just dont understand the mentality of doing something if you know it bothers people, when we know those people can vote to stop you from hunting in the future. Its almost like daring them to do something about it.

 

[Kat]

Excellent reply, Timberpig! I’m proud of every deer that’s ever been in the back of my truck and I’m not about to cover them up, but I turn them so the body cavity doesn’t face anyone behind me and I put the tailgate up. I heard a few years ago about someone driving a truck full of deer piled on top of each other and the one on top was laying on its back, body cavity open and pelvic bone split for everyone driving behind to see. That’s not the way to win people over. I could be wrong, but I think that’s the kind of thing people here are talking about when they say cover your deer...