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Thought my blog was the most appropriate place to post this.

First let me say that what happened to Cecil the lion was wrong. Bad hunt, sloppy kill, (took 40 hours), idiotic corrupt guides, pompous dumb ass hunter, etc, etc. However, I don't feel that dweeb dentist represents the average hunter, I think he's a disgrace, and not a responsible sportsman in any sense of the word. A responsible sportsman would never have put themselves in that position in the first place, but unfortunately what he did WILL affect the rest of us. I haven't hunted for years, but I'm well aware that hunters do more to support conservation than almost ANY other group of people, and that the general public isn't aware of where conservation funds come from, namely licensing fees paid by hunters/fishers. Hunting is about family, friends and tradition for most folks, and this guy, along with all such greed oriented low self esteem "trophy" hunters just poked us all in the eye with a big stick. Ok, that being said, read what happened to me today.

I was listening to a local AM radio call-in talk show today, and they had a PETA-type person on as an in-studio guest taking calls & talking about that unfortunate lion. Basically the discussion quickly degraded to the point where every single caller, and of course the PETA-person felt that ALL hunting in general was just plain evil and they said so repeatedly. Usually the host tries to get both sides of an issue out there, but today that didn't happen. It turned from the tragedy of an improperly hunted lion to a genuine hatred of all things hunting, and a despising of all hunters. I know the host personally, and have been a guest on his show in the past, so I wanted to call in to "balance" the discussion somewhat. Unfortunately I couldn't get to a phone in time. Instead I posted a message of support for "responsible" hunters on the show's FB page, and you would think I had skinned a kitten and ate it raw in Sunday School or something. For over four hours I've been getting hate responses to my single post. Hunters, (me included of course), are evil, flawed, awful, you name it. I tried to respond with science and facts, but no, they didn't want to hear that. Right now I'm getting hate responses every few minutes, just for trying to inform how hunting/fishing license fees provide such a major portion of conservation income for most states, but the fringe element isn't having any of it. How supposedly intelligent people form opinions based totally on emotion, misinformation and hatred is beyond me. I know what I know because I know the facts, and my opinions are based on those facts. What a sad thing it is that so many actually choose to live their lives in ignorance! Beware hunters, we have now become the prey!

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Comment by Syd Carr on August 3, 2015 at 13:32

Ok guys, wish me luck, I'll be heading to town for my one hour radio segment in a little while, will try to talk some truth about hunting and hunters. You can listen live online here: http://920kvec.com/listen-live/.

You can call in live here: 800-549-KVEC (5832). Air time 3 PM PST.


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Comment by dead_left_knife_guy on July 31, 2015 at 22:40

Syd, I'll start off by saying that this Minnesota dentist was a total moron.  No one should be hunting the megafauna of Africa, certainly not any Americans, & lions, while not currently listed as "endangered," are a species of concern when it comes to populations & distribution.  Hunting & poaching are the primary reasons for the decline of so many large animals in Africa, & anyone who willingly contributes to that, especially directly, well I won't express my opinions any further on this.  Suffice it to say it enrages me.

I do not hunt, though I fish occasionally.  I wholly appreciate the contributions hunters and fishermen make to conservation efforts -- it's huge, and often in ways that go well beyond license & other fees.  It's part of the culture, and for this I am wholly grateful to those who hunt & fish legally and support this culture of conservation.  

Conservation is not the primary concern of the NRA, or the AKTI or Knife Rights -- that goes more to organizations like Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Izaak Walton League, and many other organizations that include hunting and fishing, as well as many that don't (Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, the International Wolf Center (also in Minnesota, by the way).

Setting aside the debate of the differences between hunting & hiking, there's just one thing you have to remember about hunting that, on a moral or ethical basis, cannot be overlooked, regardless of statistics:  when you hunt successfully, you are killing something.  Taking its life, removing it from its world.  

Not all those that kill think of the gravity of what they do, which is wholly unfortunate.  And this is the primary weakness when it comes to hunters & fishermen in dealing with those from PETA and other animal rights organizations -- even if they take killing seriously, they tend not to articulate that fact very well.  

If those who hunt and fish take killing seriously, if they truly care about the animals they kill, why would they have a problem with the fact that some people really are trying to save the lives of those animals?  On the other extreme, for those who just think "killing's fun," isn't there a pretty obvious problem with that?  And on that last point, THAT is why the NRA shouldn't have Ted Nugent as a spokesman -- he represents the most reprehensible of the lot.  Just like that dentist from Minnesota.  

Comment by Syd Carr on July 31, 2015 at 17:56

Thanks Jan, you can call in too if you want. According to the link I posted below from the US Sportsman Alliance it's in the billions. I talked to them today, and I'm hoping they will help to supply me with some accurate facts and figures, I'm waiting for a call or email from them right now. I just hope the crazies won't hijack the entire segment.

Comment by Jan Carter on July 31, 2015 at 17:40

Syd,

We will be right here listening to you!  We know you will do fine in presenting a case for why this moron is NOT someone that follows the rules but most hunters do!  I can't wait to hear the responses regarding the dollars hunters spend for conservation

Comment by Syd Carr on July 31, 2015 at 14:18

Thanks Max, i appreciate the support. I hope you will listen in on Monday afternoon.

I just found a good link in regards to the situation, I'll be quoting parts of this statement on Monday: http://www.ussportsmen.org/news/cecil-the-lion-sparks-another-big-g...

Comment by Max McGruder on July 31, 2015 at 10:49

Good luck with that Syd!  I'm on your side but there are so many stupid people out there now days and social media has made them even more unsociable idiots that haven't a real clue of what they're talkin bout! Worst part is that they tune you out and only hear what they want.

Comment by Syd Carr on July 31, 2015 at 0:14

Ok, Dave Congalton just sent me a message. I'll be on his show Monday Aug 3, 2015 at 3 PM PST for a one hour segment to talk about hunting. Here is the link to their online media player: http://920kvec.com/listen-live/. Please remember to adjust for your time zone, and here is there phone info: Studio Line: (800) 549-KVEC or (805) 543-8830. I may try to bring a local game warden or hunting advocate with me if I can find one in time, however, your phone calls very well might be the only advocates I have that day, so please call if you can. Spread the word, listen in....I'll do the best I can. Like I just told Charles, I'm not your typical hunting/firearms advocate by any means, but I WILL give it my best shot. If the time or date changes I'll let you know.

Comment by Syd Carr on July 30, 2015 at 23:11

Thanks Jan, I think he was too, but I still can't find that pole, so I'm definitely lettin' that one go.

I'll shout when I hear something.

Comment by Jan Carter on July 30, 2015 at 23:03

YES!  We want to listen in!

LOL, I think he was on your side.  I think he was asking those jokers that eat meat who kills them.  Best to let it go

Comment by Syd Carr on July 30, 2015 at 22:13

Will do. Dave typically emails me later in the evening, so I expect word from him sometime this evening, or possibly tomorrow morning. When we get things firmed up I'll post all the pertinent links, including one to their online media player.

I'm still getting comments on FB, a couple were supportive, but am getting a few weird ones too. One guy just asked "If you eat animals who kills them for you"....like I said, some of it is pretty weird. Not sure if that one is a pro or con. I can't find my ten foot pole, so I'm NOT answering that guy!!

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